PlayStation has three subscription tiers, each with different games, online features, and pricing

PlayStation offers three separate subscription services: PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium. Each tier stacks on top of the last — Extra includes everything Essential offers, and Premium includes everything Extra offers. The main differences are the size of the game library, access to classic PlayStation games, and cloud save storage. Your choice depends on how many new games you want to play each month and whether you want access to older titles.

PlayStation Plus is separate from PlayStation Network (PSN), which is the free online service that lets you create an account and use basic features. The subscription is what you pay for if you want online multiplayer, monthly games, and a larger library.

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation Plus Essential costs the least and includes online multiplayer, two free games monthly, and cloud saves, but no game library beyond those monthly titles.
  • PlayStation Plus Extra adds a rotating library of around 400 games from PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, costing more per month than Essential.
  • PlayStation Plus Premium includes everything in Extra plus classic games from PlayStation 1, 2, and 3, and game trials that let you play new releases for a limited time before buying.
  • All three tiers charge monthly, three-month, or annual rates, with annual payment offering the lowest per-month cost.
  • You can upgrade from Essential to Extra or Premium mid-subscription and receive a prorated refund for the unused portion of your current plan.

PlayStation Plus Essential: Online play and monthly games

Essential is the base tier. It includes online multiplayer for games that require it, cloud save storage for your game progress, and two free games each month that you keep as long as you stay subscribed. The monthly games rotate — Sony announces them in advance, usually on the first Tuesday of the month.

Essential does not include a library of older games you can browse and read. You only get access to the two monthly titles. If you want to play a game that is not one of that month's offerings, you must buy it separately.

Essential costs $11.99 per month, $32.99 for three months, or $119.99 per year in the United States. Pricing varies by region and currency.

PlayStation Plus Extra: A rotating library of 400+ games

Extra includes everything Essential offers, plus access to a rotating library of around 400 games. These are mostly PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 titles, though the exact number and which games are available changes over time. Sony adds and removes games from the library regularly — you can see the current list on the PlayStation website or in the PlayStation Store app.

The library is not permanent. If a game leaves the library, you lose access to it unless you own it separately. Sony typically gives notice before removing popular titles, but the library is not may provide to stay the same month to month.

Extra costs $17.99 per month, $49.99 for three months, or $179.99 per year in the United States. Pricing varies by region and currency.

PlayStation Plus Premium: Classic games and early access to new releases

Premium includes everything in Extra, plus a library of classic games from PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. It also includes game trials — limited-time access to new games before their release date, usually for up to two hours of play or a set number of days, whichever comes first.

The classic games library is smaller than the Extra library and focuses on older titles. Not every PlayStation 1, 2, or 3 game is available — Sony curates which ones are included. The game trials let you test a new release to decide whether to buy it, though the trial period ends on the game's release date.

Premium costs $23.99 per month, $69.99 for three months, or $239.99 per year in the United States. Pricing varies by region and currency.

How billing works and what happens if you cancel

All three tiers charge on a recurring schedule — monthly, quarterly (three months), or annual. Your subscription renews automatically on the same date each billing period unless you cancel. You can cancel anytime through your PlayStation account settings or the PlayStation website.

If you cancel, you lose access to the subscription benefits when ready, but you keep any games you own outright. Games you downloaded through the monthly free tier or the Extra library become unplayable once your subscription ends, though your save data remains in cloud storage if you resubscribe later.

If you upgrade from Essential to Extra or Premium before your current subscription ends, PlayStation calculates a prorated refund for the unused days and applies it to your new tier. The math depends on the price difference between the two tiers and how many days remain on your current plan.

Upgrading, downgrading, and switching between tiers

You can change tiers anytime through your account settings. Upgrading to a higher tier triggers a prorated refund as described above. Downgrading to a lower tier takes effect when your current subscription period ends — you do not get a refund for downgrading mid-cycle.

If you have a prepaid subscription code (from a retailer or gift card), you can redeem it on the PlayStation Store or through your account. The code adds time to your current tier at the same rate — a one-month code adds one month to whatever tier you are on.

You can also pause your subscription for up to three months without losing your tier or your save data. This is useful if you know you will not use PlayStation for a while but want to keep your subscription active when you return.

Regional pricing and currency differences

PlayStation subscription prices vary by country and region. The prices listed above are for the United States in US dollars. If you have a PlayStation account in a different region, your prices will be in that region's currency and may differ significantly from US pricing.

Your region is set when you create your account and is tied to the payment method you use. If you want to change your region, you must create a new account with a payment method from that region. Subscriptions do not transfer between regional accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer?

Yes, you need at least PlayStation Plus Essential to play online multiplayer on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5. Free-to-play games like Fortnite and Call of Duty Warzone are exceptions — they do not require a subscription. Single-player games do not require a subscription.

Can I share my PlayStation Plus subscription with family members?

Yes, if you set up console sharing on your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4. Any account on a console you designate as your "primary console" can use your subscription. On PlayStation 5, you can also set up a PlayStation Plus family group that lets up to six family members share Extra or Premium benefits, though each person needs their own PSN account.

What happens to my games if my subscription expires?

Games you own outright remain playable. Games from the monthly free tier or the Extra library become locked and unplayable. Your save data stays in cloud storage, so if you resubscribe, you can resume where you left off. Locally saved games on your console are not deleted.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind about my subscription?

PlayStation offers refunds within 14 days of purchase if you have not downloaded or streamed significant content from your subscription. After 14 days or if you have used the service substantially, refunds are not available. Contact PlayStation Support with your order details to request a refund.

Do the prices ever change?

PlayStation has raised subscription prices in the past and may do so again. Current prices are listed on the PlayStation website. You will receive notice before any price increase takes effect on your account, usually 30 days in advance.