PlayStation Plus has three pricing tiers, and the cost depends on which one you choose
PlayStation Plus comes in three separate tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Each tier costs a different amount per month or per year, and each one gives you different things — online multiplayer, game libraries, cloud saves, or retro games. You pick the tier that matches what you actually use, not what sounds fanciest. Most people start with Essential because it is the cheapest and covers the basics.
Sony changes these prices from time to time and charges different amounts in different countries. The prices below are current in the United States, but check the PlayStation Store on your console or at playstation.com to confirm what you would pay in your region before you commit to a subscription.
Key Takeaways
- PlayStation Plus Essential costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year and includes online multiplayer, cloud saves, and a small monthly game library.
- PlayStation Plus Extra adds a larger game library of hundreds of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 titles for $17.99 per month or $159.99 per year.
- PlayStation Plus Premium is the highest tier at $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year and includes everything in Extra plus retro PlayStation games and game trials.
- You can switch between tiers at any time, and your subscription will adjust on your next billing date.
- Family plans are available for all three tiers and let multiple people in your household share the same subscription at a discounted rate.
PlayStation Plus Essential: the baseline tier
Essential is the entry-level subscription and the one most people choose. It costs $9.99 per month if you pay monthly, or $79.99 per year if you pay upfront. You get online multiplayer for most games, automatic cloud saves so your progress backs up to Sony's servers, and two free games every month that you can read and keep as long as your subscription is active.
If you only play online multiplayer games with friends and do not care about a large library of titles, Essential is usually enough. You still need it to play games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Madden online — you cannot play multiplayer without an active subscription, even if you own the game.
PlayStation Plus Extra: the mid-tier with a game library
Extra costs $17.99 per month or $159.99 per year. It includes everything in Essential, plus access to a library of hundreds of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games that you can read and play. The library changes regularly — Sony adds new games and removes old ones — so you do not own these games, but you can play them as long as your subscription is active.
Extra makes sense if you like to try different games without buying each one individually, or if you have a backlog of older PlayStation titles you never got around to. The library includes popular franchises like God of War, Horizon, and Sackboy, though not every game ever made for PlayStation is included.
PlayStation Plus Premium: the full package
Premium is the most expensive tier at $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. It includes everything in Extra, plus access to a library of classic PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PSP games. It also includes game trials — you can read and play new releases for a limited time (usually a few hours) before you decide whether to buy them.
Premium is aimed at people who want the deepest library and want to try new games before committing money. If you grew up playing original PlayStation games and want to revisit them, or if you buy a lot of new releases and want to test them first, Premium pays for itself. Otherwise, Extra or Essential is probably the better choice for your wallet.
How to compare the tiers side by side
| Feature | Essential | Extra | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online multiplayer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud saves | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly free games | Yes (2 games) | Yes (2 games) | Yes (2 games) |
| PS4 and PS5 game library | No | Yes (hundreds) | Yes (hundreds) |
| Classic PlayStation games | No | No | Yes |
| Game trials | No | No | Yes |
| Monthly cost | $9.99 | $17.99 | $19.99 |
| Annual cost | $79.99 | $159.99 | $199.99 |
Family plans and sharing subscriptions
PlayStation Plus offers family plans for all three tiers. A family plan lets up to four people in your household use the same subscription on different consoles. The cost is higher than a single subscription, but when you divide it among four people, it usually works out cheaper per person.
Family plan pricing varies by region and tier. In the United States, a family plan for Essential costs more than a single subscription but less than buying four separate ones. You set up a family plan through your PlayStation Network account settings, and each family member gets their own login and their own game library access.
Switching tiers and canceling your subscription
You can change your tier at any time through your account settings on your console or at playstation.com. If you upgrade to a higher tier, you pay the difference for the remainder of your billing period. If you downgrade to a lower tier, the change takes effect on your next billing date. You do not lose your progress or saved games when you switch tiers — those stay with your account.
Canceling your subscription is also straightforward: go to your account settings, find your active subscription, and select cancel. Your access ends on your next billing date. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until that date arrives. You can restart a subscription at any time without penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need PlayStation Plus to play single-player games?
No. You only need PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer games, read the monthly free games, or use cloud saves. Single-player games work without any subscription. You do need a free PlayStation Network account to play anything, but that is different from PlayStation Plus.
Can I use the same subscription on multiple consoles?
Yes, if you set up your account on each console. Your subscription follows your account, not the console. However, only one person can use the subscription at the same time on different consoles unless you set up a family plan, which lets multiple people play simultaneously.
What happens to my games if my subscription expires?
Games you downloaded from the PlayStation Plus library become unplayable once your subscription ends. Games you bought with your own money stay yours forever. The monthly free games you claimed stay in your library, but you cannot play them until you renew your subscription.
Is the game library the same in every country?
No. The PlayStation Plus game library varies by region due to licensing agreements. A game available in the United States library might not be available in Europe or Asia. Check your regional PlayStation Store to see which games are in your library.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about my subscription?
Sony's refund policy depends on how long you have had the subscription and whether you have used the benefits. If you cancel within a few days of purchasing, you may be able to request a refund through your account or by contacting PlayStation Support. After that window, refunds are not may provide.