As of October 2026, Paramount+ has undergone significant changes to its subscription model and pricing following the completion of the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, now operating as Paramount Skydance. Following a service-wide price hike that took effect on January 15, 2026, subscribers now pay more for both ad-supported and ad-free tiers.
The service currently offers two primary tiers. The Paramount+ Essential plan, which includes limited commercial interruptions, is priced at $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year. For those seeking an ad-free experience, the Paramount+ Premium tier costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year. This top-tier plan recently underwent a branding reversal, dropping the “with SHOWTIME” suffix while still maintaining the full SHOWTIME library as a core feature.
Understanding the 2026 Pricing and Plan Differences
The cost increase in early 2026 represented a $1 monthly hike across both plans for new and existing subscribers. Along with the price changes, the service began phasing out standard free trials as part of a broader corporate strategy to prioritize profitability under the new Paramount Skydance leadership.
The choice between the two plans involves more than just the presence of ads. The features are structured as follows:
- Paramount+ Essential ($8.99/mo): This plan includes thousands of TV episodes and movies with commercial breaks. It provides access to the NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, and live UFC events, including the upcoming UFC 332 on October 3, 2026. However, it does not include the local live CBS feed or the SHOWTIME library.
- Paramount+ Premium ($13.99/mo): This tier removes most ads and includes the full SHOWTIME catalog. It also supports 4K UHD video formats and allows users to download titles for offline viewing. This tier is required for major October premieres like Avatar: Seven Havens, debuting October 9, 2026.
Why the Premium Plan Still Shows Ads
A common point of confusion for subscribers is the presence of commercials on the “ad-free” Premium plan. While on-demand movies and series are presented without interruptions, certain live broadcasts are subject to existing advertising agreements. Even on the Premium tier, commercials will appear during:
The live local CBS station feed, which broadcasts the same advertisements as the over-the-air signal. Live sports broadcasts, including NFL games and UEFA matches, which contain standard television commercial breaks. Additionally, a limited number of titles may feature brief promotional “pre-roll” clips highlighting other Paramount+ content, though these can typically be skipped.
Bundle Options and Walmart+ Integration
For consumers looking to offset the 2026 price increases, third-party bundles remain a primary alternative. Most notably, Walmart+ members now receive a “Video Streaming Choice” benefit. This allows members to choose between a Paramount+ Essential subscription or a Peacock Premium subscription at no additional cost.
While the annual payment option for Paramount+ offers a discount of roughly 16% compared to monthly billing, the removal of standard free trials means new users generally must commit to at least one month of service to evaluate the platform. For those prioritizing a completely ad-free experience, the Premium tier remains the only option, provided they understand the technical exceptions for live sports and local news broadcasts.
