Key Takeaways
- PlayStation Plus is Sony’s online gaming subscription service with three tiers that offer a game library and discounts.
- Plans range in price from Essential for online play to Premium for cloud gaming and classic games.
- Subscriptions can be purchased monthly, quarterly, or annually.
PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) is Sony’s game subscription service that allows you to play many games online on your PlayStation 4 and PS5 consoles. The service is divided into three tiers, with the top two tiers offering a vast library of games that you can download or stream and play at no additional cost on top of the cost of your PS Plus membership.
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Higher tiers offer something similar to Xbox Game Pass, and the top Premium tier gives you access to some classic PS2, PS3, and PSP games. All three tiers also offer discounts on games purchased from the PlayStation Store. Here’s everything you need to know about the PlayStation Plus tiers.
What is PlayStation Plus?
Sony’s online game subscription service
PlayStation Plus is a monthly subscription service that enables online multiplayer play for PS4 and PS5 games. The service is required to play most games online, with some free-to-play titles being exempt.
PS Plus was initially launched for the PlayStation 3 but was also available to PS Vita users. Both consoles have been discontinued for quite some time now, and PS Plus is no longer available on either console.
Main features of PS Plus:
- Online multiplayer play for PS4 and PS5 games (required for most online games)
- Cloud storage for game saves
- discount
- Access to early game trials
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What’s included in each PS Plus tier?
Some tiers are primarily for online gaming, while others provide access to games
PlayStation Plus has three levels: Required, Additional, and premiumEach level brings more perks but also a higher price. PS Plus Essentials A minimum tier is required to play most online games, but higher tiers offer extra perks like free games and access to cloud streaming.
Below is a quick comparison table of the three PlayStation Plus tiers.
PS Plus Essentials |
PS Plus Extras |
PS Plus Premium |
|
Price (1 month) |
$9.99 / £6.99 / €8.99 |
$14.99 / £10.99 / €13.99 |
$17.99 / £13.49 / €16.99 |
Price (3 months) |
$24.99 / £19.99 / €24.99 |
$39.99 / £31.99 / €39.99 |
$49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99 |
Price (12 months) |
$79.99 / £59.99 / €71.99 |
$134.99 / £99.99 / €125.99 |
$159.99 / £119.99 / €151.99 |
Online play |
yes |
yes |
yes |
Cloud Storage |
yes |
yes |
yes |
discount |
yes |
yes |
yes |
PS4/PS5 Games |
2-3 times a month |
Up to 400 |
Up to 400 |
PS2/PS3/PSP games |
– |
– |
yes |
Cloud Streaming |
– |
– |
yes |
Game Trials |
– |
– |
yes |
PlayStation Plus Essential Games, Features, and Benefits
Your PS Plus Essential membership comes with a range of benefits that also apply to the more expensive Extra and Premium tiers.
The main benefit of the Essential subscription is that you get access to online games, which would otherwise be impossible to play most of the competitive games against other players. You also get 2-3 free PS4/PS5 games every month, which you can access as long as you have a PlayStation Plus membership. Additionally, you also get access to exclusive offers and cloud storage as part of the Essential plan.
PlayStation Plus: Extra games, features and perks
PS Plus Extra includes all the benefits of PS Plus Essential, but in addition gives you access to up to 400 downloadable PS4/PS5 games from Sony and third parties. You can see the full list of games on the PlayStation website.
When it comes to downloading games, many games take a while to download even with a fast internet connection, which is where a Premium subscription can help.
PlayStation Plus Premium Games, Features, and Benefits
PS Plus Extra includes all the benefits of PS Plus Essential and PS Plus Extra, but also includes cloud gaming, allowing you to play the 400 games available with the Extra subscription without downloading them. This means you don’t have to wait for games to download or worry about running out of hard drive space. PlayStation Plus cloud gaming supports up to 4K resolution and also adds classic games from PS3, PS2 and the original PlayStation to your library. A Premium subscription also gives you access to demos of select new titles.
What games are offered in Premium and Extra?
As well as great PS5 games, there are some classic games from older consoles too.
The two more expensive tiers give you access to a vast catalogue of PS4 and PS5 games, while the most expensive Premium tier gives you access to cloud gaming as well as classic titles from previous PlayStation consoles. You can check out the full list of all available games here, but some of PlayStation’s biggest titles are currently available on the platform.
Some of the best games on PS Plus
For Extra and Premium users, there are hundreds of games available, including highly rated games such as:
How much does PlayStation Plus cost?
It depends on what benefits you want to get
PlayStation Plus starts at $10 per month for the Essential tier, with higher tiers increasing in price with more perks. PlayStation Plus can be paid for monthly, quarterly, or annually, with the annual subscription being the most cost-effective. For example, PlayStation Plus Premium paid monthly for 12 months would cost $215.88. A 12-month subscription would cost $119.99, saving you $95.89.
PS Plus subscription level |
interval |
Price (USD) |
Price (GBP) |
Price (EUR) |
---|---|---|---|---|
PS Plus Essentials |
1 month |
$9.99 |
£6.99 |
€8.99 |
Three months |
$24.99 |
£19.99 |
€24.99 |
|
12 months |
$59.99 |
£49.99 |
€59.99 |
|
PS Plus Extras |
1 month |
$14.99 |
£10.99 |
€13.99 |
Three months |
$39.99 |
£31.99 |
€39.99 |
|
12 months |
$99.99 |
£83.99 |
€99.99 |
|
PS Plus Premium |
1 month |
$17.99 |
£13.49 |
€16.99 |
Three months |
$49.99 |
£39.99 |
€49.99 |
|
12 months |
$119.99 |
£99.99 |
€119.99 |
PlayStation Plus
Buy a gift card and get 1 year of PlayStation Plus Essential.
Which PS Plus tier should you try?
Choose the option that best suits your gaming needs
Choosing the right PlayStation Plus tier for you will depend on your specific gaming needs and interests. For gamers who care mostly about online multiplayer and want to play a few free games each month, PS Plus Essential is the most cost-effective choice. If you’re looking for a broad library of games to download and play, including hundreds of PS4 and PS5 titles, PS Plus Extra offers great value.
For gamers who care primarily about online multiplayer and want to play a few free games each month, PS Plus Essential is the most cost-effective option.
Meanwhile, PS Plus Premium is perfect for avid gamers who want access to a wide range of downloadable games, as well as the convenience of cloud gaming and game trials, plus the nostalgia of classic PS2, PS3 and PSP titles.
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FAQ
Q: How do I sign up for PlayStation Plus?
You can sign up for PS Plus on your console, in the app, or online at the PlayStation Store, or you can pick up a physical card in-store that you can redeem by entering a code on your PlayStation console.
Q: What is PlayStation Plus Deluxe?
PlayStation Plus Deluxe is an additional tier that replaces Premium and is only available in markets that don’t offer cloud gaming. PS Plus Deluxe is cheaper than Premium because it doesn’t offer all of the same perks. Check your local PlayStation Store for pricing.
Q: When was the last time PlayStation Plus had a price increase?
upon September 6, 2023PlayStation Plus has undergone a major price increase. Prices have changed as follows:
PS Plus subscription level |
Old price (USD) |
New Price (USD) |
Old Price (GBP) |
New Price (GBP) |
Old price (EUR) |
New price (EUR) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PlayStation Plus Essential 12 months |
$59.99 |
$79.99 |
£49.99 |
£59.99 |
€59.99 |
€71.99 |
PlayStation Plus Extra 12 months |
$99.99 |
$134.99 |
£83.99 |
£99.99 |
€99.99 |
€125.99 |
PlayStation Plus Premium 12 months |
$119.99 |
$159.99 |
£99.99 |
£119.99 |
€119.99 |
€151.99 |
Hopefully, there won’t be any major price increases in the near future, but only time will tell.