Paramount+ is about cost more, but you can still save on a subscription — heres how
It was only a matter of time until Paramount+ joined the price hike party. Following the lead of its peers — Netflix, Peacock, HBO Max, Apple TV+, YouTube TV, Disney+, and Hulu — Paramount+ is set to raise its monthly and annual subscription costs starting in January 2026. To make matters worse, the newly merged Paramount Skydance announced that it will also be ditching free trials.
This is the second price increase in as many years for Paramount+. In August 2024, the prices jumped from just $5.99 to $7.99 for the ad-supported tier and $11.99 to $12.99 for the ad-free tier. This time around, it's bumping up the cost by another dollar for monthly plans; Paramount+ Essential will cost $8.99 per month, and Paramount+ Premium will cost $13.99 per month. Annual plans are also increasing because of course they are. Paramount+ Essential will go from just $59.99 per year to $89.99 per year, while Paramount+ Premium will jump from $119.99 to $139.99 per year.
When do the new prices go into effect?
It's not all bad news. The new Paramount+ pricing doesn't go into effect until Jan. 15, 2026. That means you have plenty of time to lock in a deal (more on that below). The company announced its "ongoing investments in Paramount+ are enhancing the value we deliver to consumers. To support this continued investment, we plan to implement price increases in the U.S. early in the first quarter of 2026," in its reporting of Q3 2025 results. Those programming investments of over $1.5 billion include the rights to show UFC matches throughout the year, new Paramount+ originals and third-party catalog licensing, and a ramp-up of its film slate to 15 movies per year. So, at least your money will be going toward some new content.
How to save on a Paramount+ subscription
Along with the price hikes, Paramount also announced that it's "retiring" its free trials across all tiers and "reviewing discount practices." We're hoping that the review doesn't take place until the new year, as Paramount+ tends to offer a solid Black Friday streaming deal. Not to mention, the streamer puts out some of the best streaming discounts throughout the year — as much as 50% off annual plans.
The best option for most people on any given day will be signing up for an annual plan before the price increase. You'll save $30 on the Essential plan by signing up ahead of the hike and $20 on the Premium plan — and that's on top of the savings you'll already get from paying annually versus monthly.
If you're looking to sign up for Paramount+ before the price hike takes effect, we've rounded up the best ways to save on a subscription (as of Nov. 12). If you'd rather roll the dice and wait until Black Friday, most of these deals will be ongoing until Jan. 15, 2026.
