PlayStation Plus Essential vs Extra vs Premium: Prices and What You Get in 2026
PlayStation Plus comes in three tiers: Essential, Extra and Premium. Each tier includes everything in the one below it and adds more games and features. Sony raised monthly and three month prices for new subscribers in May 2026, so this guide lists the current United States prices and explains what you actually get. If you are new to the console, our PS5 guide covers models, prices and storage.
PS Plus Prices in the United States (2026)
| Tier | 1 month | 3 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $10.99 | $27.99 | $79.99 |
| Extra | $16.99 | $43.99 | $134.99 |
| Premium | $19.99 | $54.99 | $159.99 |
The monthly and three month prices went up for new subscribers from May 20, 2026. Before that, the monthly prices were $9.99, $14.99 and $17.99. Existing subscribers kept their old price as long as their plan did not change or lapse. Prices differ by country, so check the PlayStation Store in your region before you buy.
What PS Plus Essential Includes
- Online multiplayer in games that need it, such as most paid online shooters and sports games. Free to play games like Fortnite do not need PS Plus.
- Monthly games: a few games every month that you can keep playing while you stay subscribed.
- Cloud storage for saved games.
- Discounts on the PlayStation Store.
What PS Plus Extra Adds
- The Game Catalog: a library of hundreds of PS5 and PS4 games you can download and play while subscribed. Games join and leave the catalog over time.
- Ubisoft+ Classics, a collection of older Ubisoft games.
What PS Plus Premium Adds
- The Classics catalog with games from PS1, PS2 and PSP.
- PS3 games that you play by cloud streaming.
- Cloud streaming of many PS5 and PS4 games from the catalog, so you can play without downloading them first.
- Game trials that let you try some full games for a limited time before buying.
Cloud streaming needs a fast, stable internet connection. A wired connection works best.
Which PS Plus Tier Should You Get?
- Choose Essential if you mainly play a few online games with friends and buy the games you want.
- Choose Extra if you finish games quickly and like trying many different ones. The catalog can replace several game purchases a year.
- Choose Premium if you want older PlayStation classics, PS3 streaming or cloud streaming. For most players, Extra is the better value.
How to Save Money on PS Plus
- The 12 month plan costs far less per month than paying monthly.
- Watch for PlayStation Store sales, where 12 month plans are sometimes discounted.
- You can upgrade from Essential to a higher tier at any time, and you pay the difference for the time left on your plan.
How to Change or Cancel PS Plus on PS5
- Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Payment and Subscriptions > Subscriptions.
- Select PlayStation Plus.
- Choose Change Plan to move to another tier, or Turn Off Auto-Renew to cancel at the end of your current period.
When auto-renew is off, you keep your benefits until the paid period ends.
Does PS Plus Work on PS4?
Yes. Essential gives PS4 owners online multiplayer and monthly games, and the Extra and Premium catalogs include many PS4 games you can download on a PS4. PS5 games in the catalog need a PS5.
PS Plus vs Xbox Game Pass
Xbox has a similar three tier service. Our guide to Xbox Game Pass tiers compares Essential, Premium and Ultimate, including which tier gets new games on day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need PS Plus to play online on PS5?
For most paid games, yes. Free to play games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone and Rocket League can be played online without PS Plus.
Did the 12 month PS Plus price go up in 2026?
The May 2026 increase covered monthly and three month plans for new subscribers. The 12 month prices listed above were the current prices at the time of writing.
Do I keep my monthly games if I cancel?
You keep them in your library, but you can only play them again when you renew PS Plus.
Can I play PS3 games on PS5?
Only through PS Plus Premium cloud streaming. The PS5 cannot read PS3 discs.
Last updated: October 18, 2026
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