PlayStation Plus offers a free trial period before you pay for a subscription

PlayStation Plus is Sony's subscription service that gives you online multiplayer, monthly games you can read, and cloud storage for your save files. Sony offers a free trial — usually seven days — so you can test the service before committing to a paid plan. The trial works on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and the PlayStation App on your computer or phone.

To start a trial, you need a PlayStation Network account (your PSN username and password), a valid payment method on file, and to have never used a free trial on that account before. Sony requires the payment method upfront because the trial converts to a paid subscription automatically when it ends — you can cancel anytime before that happens to avoid the charge.

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation Plus free trials last seven days and require a valid payment method, but you will not be charged if you cancel before the trial ends.
  • You can start a trial on your PlayStation console, through the PlayStation App on your phone or computer, or on the PlayStation website.
  • Each PSN account gets only one free trial in its lifetime, so you cannot create multiple accounts to get multiple trials.
  • The trial converts to a paid monthly subscription automatically on day eight unless you cancel it in your account settings.
  • If you cancel during the trial, you keep access to PlayStation Plus features until the seven days are up.

Starting a trial on your PlayStation console

On a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, go to the home screen and select your profile icon in the top-left corner. Choose Account, then Services, then PlayStation Plus. You will see an option to start a free trial if your account has never used one before.

Select Start Free Trial. The console will ask you to confirm your payment method — this is the card or account already linked to your PSN account. If you have not added a payment method yet, you will need to do that first. Once you confirm, the trial begins when ready and you can start using PlayStation Plus features right away.

Starting a trial through the PlayStation App or website

You can also start a trial without turning on your console. On your phone or computer, open the PlayStation App or go to www.playstation.com and sign in with your PSN username and password. Look for the PlayStation Plus section — it is usually visible on the home page or under a menu labeled Services or Subscriptions.

Select the option to start a free trial. You will be asked to confirm your payment method, just as you would on the console. Once confirmed, the trial is active on your account when ready. You do not need to be on your console for this to work — the trial applies to your entire PSN account across all devices.

What happens when your trial ends

Your free trial lasts seven days from the day you start it. On day eight, Sony will charge your payment method for the first month of PlayStation Plus. The standard PlayStation Plus plan costs a set amount per month (the exact price varies by region and changes occasionally). You will receive an email reminder a few days before the charge happens.

If you do not want to be charged, you must cancel the subscription before day eight. Cancelling during the trial does not end your access when ready — you keep all PlayStation Plus features for the full seven days. After day seven, your access stops and you are not charged.

How to cancel your trial before being charged

On your PlayStation console, go to your profile icon, select Account, then Services, then PlayStation Plus. You will see your subscription status and an option to Manage Subscription or Cancel. Select cancel and confirm.

On the PlayStation App or website, sign in and go to your account settings. Look for Subscriptions or Services, find PlayStation Plus, and select the option to cancel or manage the subscription. Confirm the cancellation. You will receive an email confirming that your subscription has been cancelled, and your trial will end on its scheduled date without charging you.

The key is to cancel before day eight. If you wait until after you have been charged, you can still request a refund from Sony within a certain window, but it is simpler to cancel during the trial period.

Reasons your trial might not be available

If you do not see an option to start a free trial, your account may have already used one. Sony allows only one free trial per PSN account, ever. If you created your account years ago and started a trial then, you cannot start another one on that same account.

You also cannot start a trial if you currently have an active PlayStation Plus subscription — you would need to cancel that subscription first and wait for it to fully expire. Some regions or account types may have different trial availability, though most accounts in North America and Europe can access the standard seven-day trial.

What you get during the trial

During your seven-day trial, you have full access to everything PlayStation Plus offers at the tier you chose. This includes online multiplayer for games that require it, the monthly games library (a rotating selection of titles you can read and play), cloud storage for your save files, and exclusive discounts on games in the PlayStation Store.

The trial does not include PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Plus Premium features if you started the basic tier — those are higher-cost subscriptions with larger game libraries. If you want to test those tiers instead, you would need to start a trial for one of those plans, though availability and trial length may differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start a free trial if I have had PlayStation Plus before?

No. Each PSN account gets one free trial in its lifetime. If you have ever used a trial or paid subscription on that account, you cannot start another trial. You would need to pay for a subscription to continue using PlayStation Plus.

What if I forget to cancel and get charged?

Contact PlayStation Support through the official PlayStation website and request a refund. Sony typically allows refunds within a limited window after a charge — usually 14 days. Explain that you did not intend to be charged and ask them to reverse the transaction. They may grant the refund as a one-time courtesy.

Do I need a credit card to start a trial?

You need a valid payment method on file with your PSN account. This can be a credit card, debit card, or a digital wallet linked to your account. You will not be charged during the trial, but Sony requires the payment method to be valid and active.

Can I use the trial on multiple consoles?

Yes. Your trial applies to your entire PSN account, so you can use PlayStation Plus on any PlayStation console where you sign in with that account. However, the trial is still only seven days total — it does not reset on each console.

What games can I read during the trial?

You can read any game in the PlayStation Plus monthly games library during your trial. These games change each month. Once your trial ends or you cancel, you lose access to those games unless you pay for a subscription or buy them separately.