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Paramount Plus is one of the best streaming services available, especially if you're a fan of CBS programs and you follow an AFC NFL team. It's also one of the most affordable — an ad-supported plan starts at $6 a month, while an ad-free plan costs $12 a month and adds access to Showtime.
The service features a growing collection of original series and films, including several "Star Trek" shows, a "Yellowstone" prequel called "1923," and the new "iCarly." Popular sports are available as well, including NFL and SEC football games. You can also live stream CBS, but only with the ad-free tier.
New Paramount Plus subscribers get a one-week free trial, and the service is also included for no extra cost as part of a Walmart+ membership ($13/month).
To help you decide whether a subscription is right for you, we've rounded up everything you need to know about Paramount Plus, including pricing, packages, and available programming. For detailed impressions, check out our Paramount Plus review.
What is Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus is a subscription streaming service from ViacomCBS. It includes select programs from CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, The Smithsonian Channel, and more. You also get 24/7 news programming and next-day access to news programs like "60 Minutes" and "Face the Nation."
New and classic movies from Paramount are included as well, and the library features Paramount Plus originals you won't find anywhere else. The premium plan also adds access to everything on the Showtime cable channel as well as livestreaming support for your local CBS network.
How much is Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus offers two plans: an ad-supported Essential plan for $6 a month ($60 a year) and an ad-free Premium plan with Showtime for $12 a month ($120 a year).
All Paramount Plus memberships give subscribers access to the entire Paramount Plus collection of on-demand programs and select live sports, but the Essential plan is subject to commercial interruptions when streaming on demand.
Meanwhile, the premium plan with Showtime gives you ad-free streaming of on-demand content, plus live access to your local CBS station and full streaming access to Showtime's entire library of programs. Since it's live, however, CBS streaming still features regular commercial breaks.
You can sign up for the Paramount Plus with Showtime or Paramount Plus Essential plans through the Paramount Plus website. The premium plan is also available as an add-on channel to Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Is Paramount Plus merging with Showtime?
Paramount Plus merged with Showtime on June 27, allowing viewers to access content from both properties under the same membership.
Paramount Plus previously offered a bundle with Showtime, but following the merger, Showtime is now included with Paramount Plus' top tier by default. The cheaper Paramount Plus Essential plan, however, does not include Showtime.
The Paramount Plus with Showtime plan replaces the old Paramount Plus Premium tier. The new plan costs $12 a month, which is $2 more than the previous plan.
This development comes as other digital platforms carry out similar mergers, with HBO Max and Discovery Plus bringing content together under their rebranded Max streaming service, and Disney CEO Bob Iger announcing a "one-app experience" that will allow Hulu and Disney Plus users to watch content from both services in the same app.
Is Paramount Plus included with Walmart+?
Walmart+ memberships include a Paramount Plus Essential subscription at no extra cost. Walmart+ is a shopping service designed to compete with Amazon Prime. It costs $13 a month or $98 a year.
In addition to Paramount Plus, Walmart+ gives subscribers other other perks like free shipping and fuel discounts. Check out our Walmart+ guide for a full breakdown of the service.
Does Paramount Plus offer a free trial?
Paramount Plus currently offers a one-week free trial for new members. You can also get 25% off Paramount Plus if you're a student at a US college or university. This offer is only available for the monthly ad-supported plan. Students are eligible for the discount for a span of four years.
Can you watch live sports on Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus lets you watch live CBS sports. The Essential and Premium plans both include support for streaming local NFL games on CBS, as well as some live soccer content like the UEFA Champions League.
That said, to get access to the platform's entire lineup of live sports — which includes The Masters, NCAA basketball (including March Madness), PGA Tour, SEC football, and MMA — you need the Premium plan.
What devices can I use to watch Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus is compatible with the following devices:
- iOS
- Android
- Chromecast
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Fire TV
- Portal TV
- Samsung smart TVs
- Vizio TVs
- LG TVs
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series S
- Xbox Series X
- Xfinity Flex
- X1
- Cox Contour Box
Can you stream Paramount Plus in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR?
Select Paramount Plus titles are available to watch in 4K, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. These formats are only available to subscribers of the Premium plan ($10/month), and are not supported on the cheaper Essential plan ($5/month).
Shows available in these advanced video formats are marked with "badges" on their title pages, while movies that support these formats mention them in their description boxes.
Paramount Plus supports streaming in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 on the following devices:
- Select Roku models
- Amazon Fire TV (Stick 4K, Cube)
- Select Android TV models
- Apple TV 4K
You can also stream select Paramount Plus titles with advanced Dolby Atmos sound on some devices. Dolby Atmos is supported on iPhone and iPad as well as on Apple TV.
What movies and shows can I watch on Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus offers access to classic, new, and original programs from the likes of Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, Paramount Pictures, and CBS. The Premium plan also adds live access to your local CBS network and on-demand access to Showtime.
Currently airing shows on CBS are available on-demand via Paramount Plus the day after they air on TV, so you can catch up on all of your favorites, including "Survivor," "NCIS," and "Ghosts" without a cable subscription.
The streaming service is home to brand-new movies too, including select Paramount theatrical releases 30 to 45 days after they debut on the big screen, including big-budget titles like "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," and "Top Gun: Maverick." Older films and shows are also available, including Paramount classics like "Indiana Jones" and "Top Gun."
Popular Paramount Plus original shows include "Halo," "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," and "Yellowstone: 1883" and "1923." More recent releases include "Rabbit Hole" and "Picard."
Check out our full breakdown of Paramount Plus movies and shows for an overview of what this streaming service has to offer.
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