Quick answer: In the US, Paramount+ Essential costs $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year with ads. Paramount+ Premium costs $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year, with no ads on most content, live local CBS, downloads and the Showtime library. These prices took effect January 15, 2026. There is no separate Showtime plan anymore.
Paramount+ is one of the cheaper major streaming services in the US, but its two plans differ in ways that matter more than the $5 gap suggests. The ad-free tier is also the only one with live local CBS and the Showtime catalog, so the right plan depends on what you watch. This guide covers current prices, what each tier includes, the deals that are actually available, and whether you need Premium for Taylor Sheridan’s shows.
Paramount+ Plans and Prices
Paramount+ sells two plans in the US. Both are available monthly or annually, and the annual option saves money on each.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Ads | Key extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.99 | $89.99 | Yes | Full on-demand library of Paramount+ originals, CBS shows the day after they air, NFL on CBS and other live sports; no live local CBS feed, no downloads, no Showtime library |
| Premium | $13.99 | $139.99 | No (except live TV and a few shows) | Everything in Essential, plus live local CBS station, downloads for offline viewing, and Showtime series and movies |
Prices last checked November 4, 2026.
Paramount+ does not publish a single simple stream count on its marketing pages, and limits can vary by account, so check your account settings if several people in your home watch at once. For the official plan terms, see the Paramount+ Help Center.
What Each Plan Includes
The biggest practical difference is live CBS. Premium streams your local CBS station live, which means you can watch NFL games, local news and primetime shows as they air. Essential gives you most CBS shows on demand the next day, plus the NFL on CBS and select live sports, but not the full local CBS feed.
The second difference is Showtime. Paramount+ folded Showtime into its top tier, which used to be called Paramount+ with Showtime and is now simply Premium. Shows and movies that come from the Showtime side of the catalog sit behind the Premium paywall. The most cited example is Yellowjackets: newer seasons, starting with Season 3, require Premium, so Essential subscribers hit a lock screen when they try to keep going.
Downloads are the third difference. Only Premium lets you save episodes and movies to a phone or tablet for offline viewing, which matters for flights and commutes. Premium is also ad-free on demand, though live TV and a small number of titles still carry ads.
Everything else is shared. Paramount+ originals, the movie library from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon content, and CBS shows on demand are available on both plans.
Free Trial and Deals
Paramount+ no longer offers a standard free trial for direct US sign ups. The 7-day trial was dropped in early 2026, according to Rolling Stone and other outlets. The trial status can change with promotions, so check the sign-up page before you subscribe.
These are the deals that current 2026 sources confirm:
- Walmart+: Walmart+ members can choose Paramount+ Essential as their included streaming perk at no extra cost. Upgrading to Premium costs extra.
- T-Mobile: Paramount+ Essential is included with T-Mobile’s All-In Home Internet plan. It is not part of standard wireless lines. Eligible customers activate it in the T-Life app.
- Spectrum: Some Spectrum TV plans include Paramount+ Essential.
- Students, teachers and military: Paramount+ offers a 50% discount after verification for these groups.
Paramount+ is also sold as an add-on through Prime Video Channels and Apple TV Channels, and has been part of bundles like Xfinity StreamSaver. Prices and availability for these resellers were not confirmed in 2026 sources at the time of checking, so compare them with the direct price before you switch billing.
Price History
Paramount+ has raised prices several times since it replaced CBS All Access in 2021. The most recent increase took effect on January 15, 2026. It added $1 to each monthly plan and raised annual prices more sharply:
- Essential monthly: $7.99 to $8.99
- Essential annual: $59.99 to $89.99
- Premium monthly: $12.99 to $13.99
- Premium annual: $119.99 to $139.99
Paramount announced the change with its third quarter 2025 earnings and tied it to heavier spending on content, including its UFC rights deal. The previous increase took effect in August 2024. One trade report gave January 17 for the monthly change, but most coverage, including the company’s announcement, used January 15. Existing subscribers typically see the new rate at their next billing date after the change.
The annual Essential plan took the biggest hit, rising 50%. It still costs less than twelve months of the monthly plan ($107.88), but the savings shrank from roughly a third to about 17%.
Is Premium Needed for Taylor Sheridan Shows?
For most Taylor Sheridan series, no. His Paramount+ originals stream on both plans, so Essential is enough if you only want to binge them on demand.
- Landman: Paramount+ original, available on Essential and Premium. See where to watch Landman.
- Tulsa King: Paramount+ original, available on both plans. Our guide to where to watch Tulsa King covers every season.
- The Madison: Paramount+ original, available on both plans. Details at where to watch The Madison.
- 1883 and 1923: Both Yellowstone prequels stream on Essential and Premium.
- Marshals: This Kayce Dutton spin-off airs on CBS. Premium lets you watch it live on your local CBS station; Essential subscribers can stream episodes on demand after they air.
One catch for Dutton fans: Yellowstone itself is not on Paramount+ in the US. The flagship series streams on Peacock, so check where to watch Yellowstone before you sign up expecting the main show. If you have finished the whole franchise, our list of shows like Yellowstone has more picks.
Premium makes sense for Sheridan fans mainly if you want ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or Marshals live on Sunday nights.
FAQ
How much is Paramount+ per month in 2026?
Paramount+ Essential costs $8.99 a month with ads, and Paramount+ Premium costs $13.99 a month with no ads on most content. Both prices took effect January 15, 2026.
Is Showtime still included with Paramount+?
Yes, but only on Premium. The old Paramount+ with Showtime plan is now called Premium, and Showtime series and movies, including newer Yellowjackets seasons, require that tier.
Does Paramount+ have a free trial?
Not for direct US sign ups as of 2026. The standard 7-day trial was dropped in early 2026, though Walmart+ members and some T-Mobile and Spectrum customers get Paramount+ Essential included.
Can I watch live CBS on Paramount+ Essential?
No. Live local CBS is a Premium feature. Essential includes NFL on CBS and select live sports, plus most CBS shows on demand the day after they air.