GeForce Now Premium is a 12-month subscription that costs $99.99 per year

GeForce Now Premium is Nvidia's annual subscription tier that lets you stream games from Nvidia's servers to your device instead of running them locally. You pay $99.99 upfront for 12 months of access. This is cheaper than paying month-to-month ($9.99 per month), which would cost $119.88 over a year — so the annual plan saves you about $20.

The subscription does not include games themselves. You own or buy games through Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft+, or other platforms, and GeForce Now streams them to you. Think of it like renting the computer that runs the game, not the game itself.

Premium is the middle tier. Nvidia also offers a free tier with shorter session limits and lower priority, and a higher tier called Ultimate that costs more and adds ray tracing and higher frame rates on some games.

Key Takeaways

  • GeForce Now Premium costs $99.99 for 12 months when paid upfront, or $9.99 per month if you prefer to pay monthly.
  • You need to own or purchase games separately through Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft+, or similar platforms — the subscription only streams them.
  • Premium members get 6-hour play sessions, priority server access, and 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second on most games.
  • You can play on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Chromebooks, and some Samsung Smart TVs without downloading the full game files.
  • Your internet speed matters: Nvidia recommends at least 35 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps, and faster speeds for higher resolutions.

What Premium includes compared to free and Ultimate tiers

GeForce Now has three tiers, and Premium sits in the middle. The free tier lets you play for up to one hour per session before you are disconnected and must rejoin a queue. Premium removes that queue and gives you six-hour sessions, so you can play longer without interruption.

Premium also gives you priority access to Nvidia's servers. During busy times, free members wait in a queue; Premium members connect faster. You get 1080p resolution at up to 60 frames per second, which is sharp enough for most games on a monitor or TV.

Ultimate, the highest tier, costs more per month and adds ray tracing (realistic lighting effects in supported games), 4K resolution, and 120 frames per second on some titles. If you play competitive games where frame rate matters or want the sharpest visuals, Ultimate is worth comparing. If you play story-driven games or older titles, Premium is usually sufficient.

How to pay for a 12-month subscription

You buy the subscription through Nvidia's website or through the GeForce Now app on your device. Go to nvidia.com/geforce-now, sign in or create an Nvidia account, and select the Premium plan. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Nvidia will charge the full $99.99 at purchase.

If you already have a free account or a monthly subscription, you can upgrade to the annual plan. Nvidia prorates the cost if you have time remaining on a monthly plan — you pay the difference between what you already paid and the annual price.

The subscription renews automatically after 12 months unless you cancel it. You can cancel anytime through your account settings on the Nvidia website, and you will keep access until the 12 months are up.

Internet speed and device requirements

GeForce Now streams video and audio from Nvidia's servers, so your internet connection is the main thing that matters. Nvidia recommends at least 35 Mbps read speed for 1080p at 60 fps. If you have a slower connection, the stream will look blurry or stutter. If you have faster internet and a newer device, you can bump up to 1440p or 4K on Ultimate, which needs 50 Mbps or more.

You can play on almost any device: Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Chromebook, or select Samsung Smart TVs. You do not need a powerful computer — even an older laptop can run GeForce Now because the game is running on Nvidia's server, not your device. Your device just needs to display the video stream.

Wired internet (Ethernet cable) is more stable than Wi-Fi, especially for competitive games where lag matters. If you use Wi-Fi, stay close to your router and avoid interference from other devices.

Games you can play and library size

GeForce Now supports over 1,500 games. Most are from Steam, but the service also includes games from Epic Games Store, Ubisoft+, Amazon Prime Gaming, and other platforms. You can search the GeForce Now website to see if a specific game is supported before you buy it.

Not every game works on GeForce Now. Some publishers do not allow their games to be streamed, and new games are added regularly. If you already own a game on Steam or Epic, there is a good chance it works on GeForce Now at no extra cost — you just log in with your game account and play.

Nvidia adds new games to the service regularly, and you can check the full list on their website. If a game you want is not there, you can request it, though there is no may provide it will be added.

When to choose Premium over free or Ultimate

Choose Premium if you play for more than an hour at a time and want to avoid the free tier's queue. The six-hour session limit is long enough for almost any gaming session, and 1080p at 60 fps looks good on most screens. Premium is also the best value if you play a mix of games and do not need the highest frame rates or 4K resolution.

Stick with free if you play casually for short bursts and do not mind waiting in a queue during peak hours. Free is genuinely free and has no time limit on your account — you just restart after each one-hour session.

Upgrade to Ultimate if you play competitive shooters where 120 fps makes a real difference, or if you have a 4K TV and want the sharpest picture. Ultimate also includes ray tracing, which makes supported games look more realistic but uses more bandwidth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy games separately if I have a GeForce Now subscription?

Yes. GeForce Now is a streaming service, not a game library. You must own or purchase games through Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft+, or another platform. The subscription only streams the games you already own to your device.

Can I cancel my 12-month subscription early?

You can cancel anytime through your Nvidia account settings, but you do not get a refund for the unused months. You keep access until the 12 months are up. If you want to avoid this, start with a monthly subscription to test the service first.

What happens if my internet cuts out while I am playing?

Your game pauses and you are disconnected from the stream. When you reconnect, you can log back in and resume where you left off, as long as you do it within a reasonable time. The exact recovery depends on the game, but most save your progress automatically.

Is GeForce Now the same as Xbox Game Pass?

No. Xbox Game Pass includes hundreds of games you can read or stream, and you pay one subscription for both. GeForce Now only streams games you already own elsewhere. Game Pass is better if you want a large library included; GeForce Now is better if you already own games and want to play them on any device without downloading.

Can I use GeForce Now on my phone?

Yes. GeForce Now works on iPhone, iPad, and Android phones. You read the GeForce Now app, log in, and stream games to your phone screen. Performance depends on your phone's screen size and your internet speed, but it works on any modern phone.