What PlayStation Plus costs and what each tier includes

PlayStation Plus is Sony's subscription service for PlayStation consoles. It comes in three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Each tier costs a different amount per month or year, and each one unlocks different features — online multiplayer, game libraries, cloud saves, and access to older PlayStation games.

The Essential tier is the cheapest option and gives you online multiplayer, cloud saves for your game progress, and a small monthly selection of free games. The Extra tier adds a library of several hundred PS4 and PS5 games you can read and play as long as your subscription is active. The Premium tier includes everything in Extra, plus access to classic games from PlayStation 1, 2, and 3, game trials that let you play new releases for a limited time before buying, and streaming of some games without downloading them first.

Pricing varies by region and changes periodically. In the United States, Essential runs roughly $11 per month or $120 per year; Extra runs roughly $17 per month or $180 per year; and Premium runs roughly $18 per month or $220 per year. Prices in other countries differ. You can also buy three-month or one-month subscriptions at higher per-month rates if you do not want to commit to a full year.

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation Plus Essential is required to play online multiplayer on PlayStation consoles, and it includes monthly free games and cloud saves.
  • Extra tier adds a rotating library of several hundred PS4 and PS5 games, but those games disappear from your library if your subscription ends.
  • Premium tier includes classic PlayStation 1, 2, and 3 games, game trials, and cloud streaming, but costs the most per month.
  • You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time through your PlayStation account settings; you keep access until your current billing period ends.

How to start a subscription and link it to your account

To set up PlayStation Plus, you need a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. If you already have one, you can add a subscription directly from your PS4 or PS5 console by going to Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. You can also buy a subscription through the PlayStation Store website or through a retailer that sells PlayStation Store gift cards.

When you buy a subscription, it attaches to the PSN account you used to purchase it. That account becomes the subscription holder. If you want other people on your console to use the subscription, you can set that console as your "primary PS4" or "primary PS5" in your account settings, and anyone with a profile on that console can then access the subscription's features and game library.

If you buy a PlayStation Store gift card or a subscription code from a retailer, you redeem it by going to the PlayStation Store, selecting Redeem Code, and entering the code. The subscription then adds to your account when ready.

What games are in the Extra and Premium libraries

The Extra tier library includes several hundred PS4 and PS5 games, but the exact list changes every month. Sony adds new games and removes others on a rotating schedule. The library typically includes popular titles from the past few years across different genres — action, sports, RPGs, indie games — but it does not include the newest releases on their launch day.

The Premium tier includes everything in Extra, plus a separate library of classic games from PlayStation 1, 2, and 3. This classic library is smaller and also changes periodically. Premium also includes game trials, which are time-limited versions of new games (usually 2 to 10 hours of play) that let you test a game before deciding whether to buy it.

You can browse the full current library on the PlayStation Store website or on your console before you buy a subscription, so you can see whether the games available right now interest you. Keep in mind that the library you see today will not be the same library in three months.

How cloud saves and game sharing work

All three tiers of PlayStation Plus include cloud saves, which automatically back up your game progress to Sony's servers. If your console breaks or you get a new one, you can read your saved games on the new console and pick up where you left off. Cloud saves happen automatically for most games; you do not have to do anything to turn them on.

Game sharing works through your console's primary account setting. If you set your console as your primary PS4 or PS5, any profile on that console can play games that your subscription account owns or has access to — including games from the Extra or Premium library. This means if you buy a subscription on your account and set your console as primary, your family members or roommates can play those games on their own profiles without needing their own subscriptions.

However, you can only set one console as your primary console per account. If you try to play on a different console where your account is not set as primary, only your own profile can access the subscription's games and features.

Online multiplayer, cloud streaming, and other features by tier

Online multiplayer requires PlayStation Plus Essential or higher on all three tiers. Without a subscription, you cannot play online games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Destiny 2, though you can still play single-player games and use streaming apps like Netflix.

Cloud streaming is only available on Premium tier. This feature lets you play certain games without downloading them — the game runs on Sony's servers and streams to your console or compatible device. Not all games support streaming, and the feature requires a stable internet connection. Streaming quality depends on your internet speed.

All tiers include monthly free games that rotate on a set schedule, usually the first Tuesday of each month. These games are yours to keep as long as your subscription is active; if you cancel, you lose access to them. All tiers also include exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store purchases and early access to certain sales.

How to cancel or pause your subscription

You can cancel your PlayStation Plus subscription at any time through your PSN account settings on your console or through the PlayStation website. Go to Account, then Subscriptions, then PlayStation Plus, and select the option to cancel or manage your subscription. You keep access to all features until your current billing period ends — if you paid for a month, you have access through the end of that month; if you paid for a year, you have access through the end of that year.

Some accounts can pause a subscription instead of canceling it. Pausing temporarily stops your billing without canceling the subscription entirely, so you can restart it later without losing your subscription history. Not all regions or account types support pausing, so check your account settings to see if that option is available to you.

If you cancel and then want to restart your subscription later, you can do so at any time. Your cloud saves remain on Sony's servers for a limited time after cancellation, so you can read them again if you resubscribe within that window.

PlayStation Plus on different devices and regions

PlayStation Plus works on PS4 and PS5 consoles. You cannot use a PlayStation Plus subscription on a PC, mobile phone, or Nintendo Switch. However, Premium tier subscribers can use cloud streaming on some compatible devices like certain Samsung Smart TVs and phones through the PlayStation app, though the game itself still requires a Premium subscription.

Subscription prices and availability vary by region. The United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia all have PlayStation Plus, but the price in your local currency and the exact games in the library may differ. If you travel or move to a different region, you can update your PSN account region, but you may need to buy a new subscription in that region's pricing.

Some countries do not have PlayStation Plus available at all. If you are in a region where it is not offered, you cannot purchase a subscription through normal channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need PlayStation Plus to play single-player games?

No. You only need PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer games. Single-player games, story modes, and offline features work without a subscription. You also do not need it to use streaming apps like Netflix or Disney+.

What happens to my games if I cancel my subscription?

Games from the Extra or Premium library disappear from your library and you cannot play them. Games you purchased outright stay on your console. Monthly free games you claimed while subscribed also disappear. Your cloud saves remain on Sony's servers for a limited time, so you can read them again if you resubscribe.

Can I share my subscription with someone else?

Yes, through console sharing. If you set your console as your primary PS4 or PS5, any profile on that console can use your subscription's features and game library. However, only your account can use the subscription on other consoles.

Is there a free trial for PlayStation Plus?

Sony occasionally offers free trial periods for new subscribers, usually 7 days for Essential tier. Trial availability changes and is not always offered. Check the PlayStation Store to see if a trial is currently available in your region.

Can I upgrade from Essential to Extra or Premium mid-subscription?

Yes. You can upgrade at any time through your account settings. Sony will prorate the cost — if you paid for a full year of Essential and upgrade to Premium after six months, you pay the difference for the remaining six months at the Premium rate.