PlayStation Plus pricing and tier structure

PlayStation Plus costs $9.99 per month for the Essential tier, $17.99 per month for Extra, or $23.99 per month for Premium. You can also pay annually: Essential is $99.99 per year, Extra is $179.99 per year, and Premium is $239.99 per year. The annual option saves you about $20 compared to paying monthly.

Sony introduced this three-tier system in 2022, replacing the older two-tier structure. Each tier stacks on top of the previous one — Extra includes everything Essential offers, plus additional games and features. Premium includes everything from both lower tiers, plus cloud saves and classic PlayStation games.

Prices are the same whether you play on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5. A single membership covers one account on one console, though other accounts on that same console can use the benefits if you set it as the primary console.

Key Takeaways

  • Essential ($9.99/month) gives you online multiplayer and two free games monthly, which is the baseline tier most players choose.
  • Extra ($17.99/month) adds a library of around 400 games including recent PlayStation exclusives, but not brand-new releases on day one.
  • Premium ($23.99/month) includes cloud saves, classic PlayStation 1 and 2 games, and a trial period for new releases before you buy them.
  • Annual subscriptions cost about $20 less per year than paying month-to-month on any tier.
  • Your membership covers only one account on one console, though other accounts on that console can use online features if you set it as primary.

What Essential tier includes

Essential is the entry-level membership and the only tier you need for online multiplayer in games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Madden. Without it, you cannot play online with other people, though you can still play single-player games and use streaming apps like Netflix.

Essential also includes two free games every month. These rotate — past months have included games like God of War, Uncharted 4, and Astro's Playroom. You keep these games in your library as long as your membership is active, but lose access if you cancel.

Cloud saves are included with Essential, meaning your progress backs up automatically to Sony's servers. If your console breaks or you get a new one, you can read your saves and pick up where you left off.

What Extra tier adds

Extra includes everything from Essential, plus access to a rotating library of around 400 games. This library includes PlayStation exclusives like Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure, but not brand-new releases on the day they launch.

The library changes monthly — Sony adds new games and removes others. You can browse the full current list on the PlayStation Store before you subscribe. Games stay in the library for varying lengths of time, so a game you want to play might disappear in a few months.

Extra does not include classic games or game trials. If you want those features, you need Premium.

What Premium tier adds

Premium includes everything from Extra, plus a game trial system that lets you play new releases for up to two hours before deciding whether to buy them. This applies to games published by Sony and some third-party publishers, though not all new games participate.

Premium also includes access to classic PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games. The library includes titles like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, and Crash Bandicoot, though the selection is smaller than the Extra library and rotates periodically.

Premium members also get cloud streaming, which lets you play PlayStation 5 games on a compatible device like a phone or tablet over the internet, provided your internet connection is fast enough. This requires a separate compatible device and does not work on all games.

How to check your current membership

On your PlayStation console, go to Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. You will see your current tier, the date your membership renews, and how many days remain. If you have a free trial, it will show the trial end date.

You can also check your membership on the PlayStation website by signing into your account and going to Account Settings, then Subscriptions. From there you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your membership.

Changing or canceling your membership

You can upgrade from Essential to Extra or Premium at any time. Sony prorates the cost — if you have three months left on Essential and upgrade to Extra, you pay the difference for those three months. You do not lose any remaining time.

Downgrading works the same way. If you downgrade from Premium to Essential mid-cycle, your membership continues at the lower tier when your current billing period ends, and you get a prorated refund for the difference.

To cancel, go to Account Settings on the PlayStation website, select Subscriptions, and choose Cancel Subscription. Your membership remains active until the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again after that date.

PlayStation Plus vs. Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online

Xbox Game Pass costs $11.99 per month for console-only access or $16.99 per month for console plus PC, and includes day-one access to new Microsoft games. PlayStation Plus Extra does not include new releases on day one, making Game Pass the better choice if you want to play new games when ready.

Nintendo Switch Online costs $7.99 per month for the basic tier or $12.99 per month for the Expansion Pack, which includes classic NES and SNES games. It is cheaper than PlayStation Plus Essential but offers a much smaller game library.

If you own multiple consoles, you may want to compare the total cost of all three memberships against what you actually play on each one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my PlayStation Plus membership with someone else?

Yes, if you set your console as the primary console for your account, other accounts on that console can use your membership for online play and access to the game library. However, the membership covers only one console, so you cannot share it across multiple households or devices.

Do I lose my games if I cancel PlayStation Plus?

Games from the Extra and Premium libraries disappear from your library when you cancel. Games you purchased separately remain yours. The two free games from Essential also disappear, but you can redownload them if you resubscribe later.

Is there a free trial for PlayStation Plus?

Sony occasionally offers free trial periods, usually seven days, for new members or returning members who have been inactive. Check your account on the PlayStation Store to see if a trial is available to you. Trials are not may provide and vary by region.

What happens if my subscription expires mid-game?

You can finish playing any game you started, but you cannot access online multiplayer or read new games from the library. Your cloud saves remain backed up, so you can pick up where you left off if you resubscribe.

Can I use PlayStation Plus on PC or mobile?

PlayStation Plus membership is for PlayStation consoles only. Cloud streaming through Premium works on some mobile devices and computers, but that requires a separate compatible device and a PlayStation 5 console at home to stream from.