Is Paramount Plus worth it in 2026? Paramount raised prices in January, and the service has been changing since its merger with Skydance, adding UFC fights to every plan and promising more theatrical releases. The answer depends mostly on which of its shows, sports, and CBS content you’d actually watch.

This review is based on published pricing and plan details rather than personal use, so double-check the numbers on Paramount+’s site before subscribing. It works alongside my Peacock review, since the two are close competitors, and my Walmart+ review, because Walmart+ members can get Paramount+ as a perk.

This is part of my ongoing series reviewing subscriptions and software to help you figure out what’s worth paying for.

Note: Paramount+ raised US prices on January 15, 2026, and some older articles still list the previous rates. Double-check current details directly on paramountplus.com before subscribing.

Paramount+ Pricing in 2026

Paramount+ has two US plans, with prices before taxes:

• Essential (with ads): $8.99/month, up from $7.99, or $89.99/year
• Premium: $13.99/month, up from $12.99, or $139.99/year

Annual billing saves money on both. Essential costs about $17.89 less per year than paying monthly, and Premium saves roughly $27.89. Students and teachers can get a 50% discount, and Paramount has said it’s scaling back free trials and promotional deals, so don’t count on the very cheap intro offers of past years.

Essential vs Premium

Both plans allow three simultaneous streams and six profiles. The differences are:

• Essential: includes originals, movies, next-day CBS shows, kids’ programming, and selected sports, with ads and only select SHOWTIME series
• Premium: adds ad-free on-demand viewing, the full SHOWTIME catalog, and a livestream of your local CBS station

One catch: Premium isn’t completely commercial-free. Live TV still carries ads, and Paramount may show trailers or sponsorships even on demand. Sports fans also don’t automatically need Premium, since both plans include the listed sports feeds.

Is Paramount Plus Worth It? The Value Case

The strongest case for Paramount+ is its mix of CBS content, kids’ shows, movies, and now UFC and Champions League soccer, all at a lower price than most competitors. Essential at $8.99 is one of the cheaper ways to get a full streaming service, and it matches Netflix’s ad-supported price.

The weaker case is the depth of its library. It has fewer must-watch prestige shows than HBO Max and less franchise pull than Disney+, so its value depends heavily on whether the specific content it does have matches what you watch.

Who Should Get It

Is Paramount Plus worth it for your household? It tends to make sense for:

• CBS viewers who want current shows on demand or their local station streamed
• Sports fans, especially those interested in UFC or Champions League
• Families with kids, thanks to Nickelodeon and other kids’ programming
• Walmart+ members, who may get Paramount+ Essential included at no extra cost

Who Should Skip It

• Viewers who mainly want prestige dramas or franchise content, who are usually better served by HBO Max or Disney+
• Anyone already juggling several streaming services, since Paramount+ is often one of the easier ones to pause
• People who only want one show, where a month of Essential is usually enough

Paramount+ vs Other Streaming Services

Paramount+ Essential is priced at the low end of the group. For a broader side-by-side, see my Netflix vs Disney+ vs HBO Max comparison.

Check Walmart+ Before Paying

If you’re considering Essential, check whether you already have access. Coverage of Walmart+ says members can choose Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium as a free perk, and Walmart+ costs $98/year, so it can effectively offset a chunk of the subscription cost if you already shop there. The perk terms can change, so confirm which plan tier is included before counting on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Paramount+ cost in 2026? Is Paramount Plus worth it at the new prices? Essential is $8.99/month or $89.99/year, and Premium is $13.99/month or $139.99/year, after the January 15, 2026 price increase.

Is Paramount+ Premium worth the extra cost? Only if you want ad-free on-demand viewing, the full SHOWTIME catalog, or a livestream of your local CBS station. Otherwise, Essential covers most of what people watch.

Does Paramount+ include UFC? Paramount announced UFC fights would be available to all subscribers without pay-per-view, and sports feeds are listed on both plans. Check the current schedule before subscribing for a specific event.

Can I get Paramount+ through Walmart+? Coverage says Walmart+ members can pick Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium as a free perk. Confirm the current terms on Walmart’s site.

Is it worth paying annually? If you’ll keep the service all year, yes. Essential saves about $17.89 and Premium about $27.89 compared with monthly billing.

Final Verdict

Is Paramount Plus worth it in 2026? For CBS fans, families, and sports viewers, Essential at $8.99/month is a reasonable value. For people who mostly want prestige dramas or big franchises, it’s a harder sell compared with HBO Max or Disney+.

If you’re not sure, start with Essential rather than Premium, and check whether a Walmart+ membership already covers it. Like most streaming services, it works well as something you pause between shows, and it belongs in your regular subscription audit.

My rating: 3.8/5, good value for CBS, kids’ content, and sports, less compelling for prestige TV fans