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Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) enables online play for PS4/PS5 consoles through 3 tiers with free games. The higher tiers offer access to cloud gaming and classic titles.
  • PS Plus prices range from $10 to $17.99 per month with varying benefits and discounts. Pricing was last increased in late 2023.
  • Here's the difference between PS Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium.

PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) is Sony's gaming subscription service that enables most online play for PlayStation 4 and PS5 consoles. The service is split into three tiers, with the two higher tiers offering a large library of games to download or stream and play at no extra cost -- no extra apart from the cost of your PS Plus membership.

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In other words, the higher tiers offer something similar to Xbox Game Pass, and the highest tier (Premium) even gives access to some classic PS2, PS3, and PSP games. All three tiers offer great discounts on games bought through the PlayStation Store, too. Here's everything you need to know about PlayStation Plus, including how much each tier costs, their benefits, and whether they're worth it.

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What is PlayStation Plus?

PlayStation Plus is a monthly subscription service that enables online, multiplayer play for PS4 and PS5 games. It's required to play the vast majority of games online -- only some free-to-play titles are exempt.

PS Plus initially launched for PlayStation 3, but it was also available for PS Vita users. Both consoles have long since been discontinued and PS Plus is no longer active for either console.

PS Plus key features:

  • Online, multiplayer play for PS4 and PS5 games (required for most online games)
  • Cloud storage for game saves
  • Discounts.
  • Access to early trials of games
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PlayStation Plus to ditch PS3 and PS Vita games from 2019 image 1How many PS Plus tiers are available?

There are three separate PS Plus tiers. Each tier includes increasingly impressive add-ons.

PS Plus tiers

  • Essential
  • Extra
  • Premium

PS Plus Essential offers the same benefits as the previous standard PS Plus service, while Extra and Premium each add hundreds of free games delivered either over the cloud (replacing PS Now) or via download. You can learn more in the comparison table below.

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PS5What does each PS Plus tier include?

Here's a quick comparison table of the three PlayStation Plus tiers, but we also dive into their specifics below:

Essential vs. Extra vs. Premium

PS Plus Essential

PS Plus Extra

PS Plus Premium

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

Discounts

Yes

Yes

Yes

PS4/PS5 games

2-3 per month

Up to 400

Up to 400

PS2/PS3/PSP games

-

-

Yes

Cloud gaming

-

-

Yes

Game trials

-

-

Yes

PlayStation Plus Essential games, features, and benefits

There are a number of benefits included with a PS Plus Essential membership. These benefits also extend to the more expensive Extra and Premium tiers.

The main benefit of an Essential subscription is access to online gaming. Without it, you can't play most games where you compete with other players. You also get two to three new free PS4/PS5 games every month. You keep access to them as long as you're a Playstation+ membership. Beyond that, you'll also get access to exclusive deals and cloud storage as part of the Essential plan.

PlayStation Plus Extra games, features, and benefits

PS Plus Extra includes all the benefits of PS Plus Essential, but also gives you access to up to 400 downloadable PS4/PS5 games from Sony and third parties. You can see a full list of the games here.

Downloading games is a bit of a problem though, as it can take quite away for modern games to download, even with high speed internet connections. That's where the Premium subscription come into play.

PlayStation Plus Premium games, features, and benefits

PS Plus Extra includes all the benefits of PS Plus Essential and PS Plus Extra, but it also includes cloud gaming, letting you play the 400 games you get on the Extra subscription without having to download them. PlayStation Plus cloud gaming supports up to 4K resolution if your internet supports it. It also adds classic games from the PS3, PS2, and original PlayStation to your library. The Premium subscription will also give you access to demos of certain new titles as well.

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Which games do Premium and Extra offer?

The two more expensive tiers offer access to a huge catalog of PS4 and PS5 games. The most expensive Premium tier offers cloud gaming along with access to classic titles from earlier PlayStation consoles. You can check out a full list of all the games available here, but some of the biggest recent PlayStation titles are currently available on the platform, like:

Best PS Plus games

  • Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  • Horizon: Forbidden West
  • Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Far Cry 6
  • Grand Theft Auto 5
  • Ghosts of Tsushima
  • Lego Worlds
  • The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition
  • God of War
Got a new PS5? This is how to save 50% on a year's PlayStation Plus subscription (US accounts) photo 1
Pocket-lint

How much does PlayStation Plus cost?

PlayStation Plus starts at $10 per month for the Essential tier, but as you get more benefits with each higher tier, the price increases. Here are the prices for the three different options. PlayStation Plus can be paid for monthly, quarterly or annually.

PlayStation Plus square
PlayStation Plus

Pick up a gift card to get a year of PlayStation Plus Essential.

PS Plus subscription tier

Duration

Price (USD)

Price (GBP)

Price (EUR)

PS Plus Essential

1-month

$9.99

£6.99

€8.99

3-month

$24.99

£19.99

€24.99

12-month

$59.99

£49.99

€59.99

PS Plus Extra

1-month

$14.99

£10.99

€13.99

3-month

$39.99

£31.99

€39.99

12-month

$99.99

£83.99

€99.99

PS Plus Premium

1-month

$17.99

£13.49

€16.99

3-month

$49.99

£39.99

€49.99

12-month

$119.99

£99.99

€119.99

Which PS Plus tier should you try?

Choosing the right PlayStation Plus tier depends on your specific gaming needs and interests. For gamers who primarily focus on online multiplayer and want a few free games each month, PS Plus Essential is the most cost-effective choice. If you're looking for a broader library of games to download and play, including hundreds of PS4 and PS5 titles, PS Plus Extra offers significant value.

Meanwhile, PS Plus Premium is ideal for the most avid gamers who not only want access to a wide range of downloadable games but also appreciate the nostalgia of classic PS2, PS3, and PSP titles, along with the convenience of cloud gaming and game trials.

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PS5More PlayStation Plus FAQs

Q. How to sign up for PlayStation Plus

You can sign up for PS Plus either through your console or the PlayStation Store online. You can also pick up physical cards in stores that are redeemed on your PlayStation console by entering a code.

Q. When was PS Plus' last price increase?

In late 2023, PlayStation Plus's 12-month subscription got more expensive - you can find more about the existing benefits above, but on 6 September 2023 its prices changed, as follows:

PS Plus subscription tier

Old price (USD)

New price (USD)

Old price (GBP)

New price (GBP)

Old price (EUR)

New price (EUR)

PlayStation Plus Essential 12-Month

$59.99

$79.99

£49.99

£59.99

€59.99

€71.99

PlayStation Plus Extra 12-Month

$99.99

$134.99

£83.99

£99.99

€99.99

€125.99

PlayStation Plus Premium 12-Month

$119.99

$159.99

£99.99

£119.99

€119.99

€151.99

That's a substantial price hike across most regions (particularly in the US) -- and since it's now been fully rolled out, there's no getting around it.

Q. What is PlayStation Plus Deluxe?

An additional tier is an alternative to Premium, available only in markets that do not offer cloud gaming. PS Plus Deluxe is cheaper than Premium - you should check your regional PlayStation Store for pricing, where applicable.

Q. Where is PlayStation Plus available?

Available in Japan and many other Asian countries, plus the Americas, the UK and Europe, PlayStation Plus split into three different tiers in 2022: PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium.