As consumers look to replace cable TV with cheaper, more convenient live TV streaming services, there are many new streaming services to consider. Paramount Plus is one of these newer streaming platforms.
Though it may lack the name recognition of established players like Netflix or Hulu, Paramount+ offers a solid mix of on-demand and live content for an affordable monthly price. The company’s nostalgia-rich library of movies and TV shows, combined with live news and sports streaming, provide excellent value for most viewers.
Company Overview
Paramount Plus is owned by CBS. The company launched in 2014 as CBS All Access, rebranding as Paramount+ in 2021. Today, Paramount Plus delivers both on-demand content and live TV channels, which are primarily focused on sports and news.
Pros
- Big library of nostalgic movies and TV shows
- Offers live NFL football and Champions League soccer games
- Large selection of kid’s content from Nickelodeon
- Streams some new movies shortly after theatrical release
Cons
- Not a lot of original content
- Requires premium plan for local CBS TV stations
- Some programs are not available due to licensing (ex. Yellowstone, Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men)
Highlights
BBB rating: A
Price: $5.99-11.99 /month
Year founded: 2014
Areas served: Worldwide
Contract required: No
Number of channels: 24+
Ad-Free: With premium-tier plan
Paramount Plus has over 67 million subscribers worldwide. In September 2022, the company launched an ad-free premium plan that includes SHOWTIME.
Why We Like Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus offers a huge variety of content – over 30,000 TV show episodes and 2,500 movies. Paramount+ also streams many major films shortly after their theatrical releases.
Hit series like NCIS, reality TV shows like Survivor, and tons of Nickelodeon children’s programming are included. Paramount Plus also has the entire Star Trek catalog, including every episode from the original TV series as well as from new spinoffs like Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks.
Though not as extensive as Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+ also makes its own original series, including the popular Yellowstone spinoff 1883, The Twilight Zone re-boot,and new South Park specials.
However, some TV shows you might expect to be included, such as Yellowstone and CBS staples like Two and a Half Men or The Big Bang Theory are not available since other streaming services hold the licensing rights.
The Paramount Plus live TV channel line-up is much more selective, mostly focused on live sports and news channels. Live NFL and major soccer games are included. Over 1,000 live sports events are streamed on Paramount Plus through CBS sports channels each year.
Live news through national CBS networks is available 24/7. The premium-tier plan also includes your local CBS News stations.
Paramount Plus stands out for its huge collection of nostalgic and children’s content, including Nickelodeon shows from the 1990s like All That or Kenan & Kel, classic series like Frasier and Cheers, and even Comedy Central stand-up specials are included.
As for children’s programs, Paramount Plus offers over 7,000 episodes of popular kids and family shows, including SpongeBob and Spongebob spinoff Kamp Koral, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Paw Patrol, and iCarly.
The standard Paramount+ subscription includes commercials, but customers can go ad-free by upgrading to the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan which also includes over 600 titles of premium SHOWTIME content.
Paramount+ Streaming – How It Works
Paramount Plus is a monthly or yearly subscription service. There are no annual contracts, and customers pay a subscription for access to the vast library of Paramount+ movies, TV shows, and 24/7 live channels.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount Plus Essential | $5.99 | $59.99 | Access to thousands of movies and TV shows, live news via CBS News, live sports including NFL and Champions League, limited ads. |
| Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME | $11.99 | $119.99 | Includes everything in the Essential plan, plus SHOWTIME original TV shows and movies, live local CBS station, download capability for offline viewing, no ads (with exceptions for live TV). |
Plans/Packages
Paramount Plus offers two plans: Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME. Customers can pay monthly or annually. There is a 1-week free trial for both of these plans.
Paramount Plus Essential – $5.99/month or $59.99/year
With the Paramount+ Essential plan, viewers get access to tens of thousands of movies and TV shows. Live around-the-clock news is included with CBS News. You can also watch live sports channels, including NFL games through CBS Live and top soccer games like Champions League Live. The Essential plan does have limited ads.
Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME – $11.99/month or $119.99/year
As its name implies, this plan includes access to SHOWTIME original TV shows and movies. With Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, you get also all the features of the Paramount+ Essential plan, plus your local CBS station live and the ability to download shows to watch offline later.
You get more sports channels from CBS Sports like March Madness®, The PGA Tour, and B1G Football. There are also no ads, except for commercials on live TV channels and a few shorts.
Channels/Categories
The Paramount Plus live TV channel line-up mostly focuses on news and sports channels. Live sports games and events are available through CBS sports channels. 24/7 news is available through the CBS network.
Local CBS News stations are available only with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan.
In addition to CBS channels, Paramount Plus has BET, MTV, Comedy Central, and the Smithsonian Channel. There are also 18 live channels that broadcast TV shows and movies around the clock, as follows:
- 24/7 Laughs
- Adult Animation
- All Day Drama
- Animation Favorites
- Black Voices
- Crime & Justice
- History & Undiscovered
- Kids & Family Fun
- Nostalgic Hits
- Paw Patrol
- Preschool Corner
- Reality TV: Competition
- Reality TV: Shores
- SpongeBob Universe
- Star Trek
- Survivor
- The Challenge
- TV Classics
How To Watch Paramount+
To watch Paramount Plus, you will need two things: a high-speed internet connection and a streaming device. Paramount+ works with a range of devices from a variety of different brands, including Android, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, LG, Playstation 4 & 5, Roku, Samsung, Vizio, Xbox One & Series X, Xfinity, and the Xumo Stream Box.
You will need to download the Paramount+ App to watch on devices like phones, Smart TVs, computers, tablets, and streaming devices. Keep in mind that you can stream on up to 3 devices simultaneously. Paramount Plus also allows you to create up to 6 user profiles, including Kids Mode profiles.
The Paramount Plus App is available to download for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store. To begin watching, you will need to log in to your Paramount+ account.
How To Sign Up
To sign up for Paramount Plus online, click the “Try it Free” button in the top left corner of the website. From here, you can choose which Paramount Plus plan you want to subscribe to. You can also select if you want to pay monthly or annually.
After picking a plan, you will be prompted to create a Paramount Plus account and enter your payment method. Then, your free 1-week trial will start. You begin watching content right away. After 7 days, you will be billed automatically for your first payment cycle.
How To Cancel
You are free to cancel your Paramount Plus service at any time. Specific instructions for canceling your Paramount Plus subscription vary depending on the device and platform you used to sign up for the streaming service.
If you signed up for Paramount+ via your computer, mobile web browser, smart TV (LG TV, Vizio TV, Samsung TV), or gaming console, visit the Paramount Plus website and log in to your account. Scroll down and select Cancel subscription.
If you used a different platform, like Google Pay, the Apple App Store, Amazon, or Roku to sign up for Paramount+, you will need to cancel your subscription directly through that platform instead. Full cancellation instructions for each specific platform are available on the cancellation help page.
Customer Service Contact Info
If you have questions or need assistance with your Paramount Plus service, there is a useful Help page on the website full of useful information and solutions to common issues.
You can also contact Paramount Plus customer service directly in one of the following ways:
- Phone: Call 888-274-5343 (U.S. customers only)
- Live Chat: Available on the Paramount Plus website
- Text Message: Fill out a form to send an SMS message
- Social Media: Reach out to a Paramount Plus agent through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
Is Paramount Plus a Logical Choice?
Paramount Plus offers a lot of value to a niche set of customers at an affordable price. In particular, families who want a streaming service packed full of Nickelodeon kid’s programs and/or viewers who enjoy throwback ’90s content and classic CBS hits will appreciate Paramount Plus’s unique on-demand library.
While customers do not get instant access to big-name movies, Paramount Plus does release a lot of new films not too long after their theatrical release. So, if you don’t mind waiting around 45 days to watch the latest movies, this could be a benefit to you.
Paramount Plus is also a great choice for budget-conscious customers who want to watch live football and soccer games or 24/7 live news. But, if you have more money to spend, then other streaming platforms, like DIRECTV STREAM or Sling TV, offer a more robust live TV channel line-up.
With so many streaming services on the market in 2024, it’s important to compare and contrast platforms before deciding which is best for you. Be sure to browse our Best TV Streaming Guide to weigh the pros and cons against each other before settling on a video streaming service for your home.
Is Paramount Plus free?
The service is not free, but Paramount Plus offers a 1-week free trial when you sign up. After this, you will need to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to continue watching.
What is the cheapest way to get Paramount Plus?
The cheapest way to get Paramount Plus is by signing up on the website directly. Their least expensive plan costs just $5.99 per month (or $5/month when you sign up for a whole year), and you can try it free for 1 week.
Is Paramount Plus free with Amazon Prime?
No. Paramount Plus is not free with Amazon Prime. You can get Paramount+ through Amazon Prime for $9.99 per month, and there is a 7-day free trial
Can I watch Yellowstone on Paramount+?
No, Yellowstone is not available on Paramount Plus. Peacock negotiated exclusive streaming rights before Yellowstone became a huge hit. However, Paramount+ does offer several Yellowstone spinoff series like 1883 and 1923.
