Paramount+ did raise prices—but the U.S. increase took effect on January 15, 2026, not in October. A 2026 price guide reports that Essential now costs $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year, while Premium costs $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year. Your actual renewal amount can differ if you have a promotion, legacy plan, bundle, taxes, or third-party billing, so check the price and renewal date shown by your account or billing provider.
What Paramount+ costs in the U.S. after the increase
The following U.S. prices and the January 15 effective date are reported by Tom’s Guide’s 2026 price guide. Paramount’s May 2026 filing confirms that increases were implemented in January across Essential and Premium, but does not state these U.S. rates. It also says the increases affected the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Latin America; the prices below should not be applied to those other markets.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Paramount+ eGift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Paramount+ $25 eGift Card - Standard | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Paramount+ eGift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Netflix Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Visa Physical Gift Card $100 (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee) | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| Plan | Monthly price after increase | Annual price after increase | Reported prior price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.99, up $1 per month | $89.99, up from $59.99—a $30 annual increase | $7.99 per month; $59.99 per year |
| Premium | $13.99, up $1 per month | $139.99, up from $119.99—a $20 annual increase | $12.99 per month; $119.99 per year |
The monthly increase was $1 for each U.S. tier, but annual-plan prices rose by more in dollar terms. The prices shown are published general rates, not a promise that every subscriber will see the same renewal charge.
What the plans include
Tom’s Guide describes Essential as ad-supported. Premium includes Paramount+ and Showtime library content, ad-free on-demand viewing, offline downloads, and access to a local CBS live feed. Features and plan names can change, so confirm what is included on Paramount+ before switching plans.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall#1 Best Overall
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Why Paramount says it raised prices
Paramount says the increase supports investment in the service and its programming. In a 2025 investor statement, the company said, “These changes will fuel continued reinvestment in the user experience and deliver an even stronger slate of programming for our customers in the year ahead and beyond.” In its May 2026 filing, Paramount said the January increases were in line with expectations and would allow it to “continue reinvesting in the business.” These are the company’s stated reasons; they do not establish that a particular feature or programming improvement resulted for every subscriber.
How to check your renewal price
The general list price may not match your account. A legacy rate, promotion, bundle, tax treatment, or third-party billing arrangement can affect what you pay. Paramount says the signup page displays the plan price and currency, and its subscriptions renew at the then-current price unless canceled or otherwise changed.
Rank #2
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- If you pay Paramount directly: Sign in to your Paramount+ account and review the subscription or account billing details for your plan, next renewal date, and amount.
- If you subscribed through an app store, TV or wireless provider, or another service: Check that provider’s subscription or billing page. The provider may set the billing and cancellation process under its own terms.
- Before changing plans: Compare the displayed renewal total, billing frequency, ads, and included features—not just the monthly headline price.
How to cancel or look for another way to subscribe
For subscriptions purchased directly from Paramount, its U.S. terms say you can manage or cancel in your Paramount+ account. Cancellation ordinarily takes effect at the end of the current billing period, so access continues until then. If another company bills you, manage or cancel through that company instead.
Paramount’s U.S. terms say it may change prices with notice, that a price change will not take effect during the current billing period, and that a subscriber who does not want to continue at the changed price may cancel before the next billing period. Third-party subscriptions can be governed by the partner’s separate terms.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
If you want to keep the service, check whether a TV, wireless, or other provider you already use offers a Paramount+ benefit. Paramount and Charter announced distribution of Essential and Paramount+ with Showtime through Spectrum in May 2024, but that announcement does not establish that a particular bundle or discount is currently available to you. Confirm the tier, price, renewal date, and cancellation rules with the provider.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Rank #4
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
