Paramount+ Set to Raise Prices and Eliminate Free Trials in 2026

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As a big streaming fan, I just heard some news about Paramount+. Starting in January 2026, they’re getting rid of free trials, which is a bummer, and they’re also raising the price of both their plans by a dollar a month. So, whether you’re watching with ads on the Essential plan or paying for ad-free viewing with Premium, you’ll be paying a bit more soon.

The Essential plan will now cost $8.99 monthly, and the Premium plan will be $13.99 per month. Yearly plans are also increasing: Essential will be $89.99 annually (equivalent to $7.50 per month), and Premium will be $139.99 per year ($11.67 monthly).

The company announced a price increase to help pay for new, high-quality content. This includes UFC events that will be available to all members without any extra pay-per-view fees.

As a big fan of Paramount+, I’m glad to hear they’re still offering those student and military discounts – 50% off is a great deal! However, it looks like the days of free trials are over. From now on, anyone signing up will have to pay right away, which is a bit of a bummer, but hopefully the content is worth it!

In a recent letter to shareholders, David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, explained that the company is making changes to improve its streaming service. He stated that these changes will allow them to continue improving the user experience and offer even better content to customers in the future.

Paramount+ has been investing heavily in content lately. They recently signed a major seven-year deal with UFC worth $7.7 billion, giving them exclusive rights to broadcast all UFC events. They also made a five-year, $1.5 billion agreement with the creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. According to reports, South Park was a key factor in attracting new subscribers during the third quarter of 2025.

Despite raising prices in January, Paramount+ is still expected to be a strong competitor in the U.S. streaming landscape. It boasts a diverse library of content, featuring original shows like Landman and Tulsa King, popular franchises such as Star Trek and South Park, blockbuster movies like Mission: Impossible and The Naked Gun, well-known CBS series like Tracker and Survivor, and live sports coverage, including NFL games on Sundays and UEFA Champions League matches.

Following Skydance Media’s planned $8 billion purchase of Paramount Global in August 2025, Paramount+ subscription prices will be adjusted. This comes after a price increase in August 2024, which raised the cost of the Premium plan to $12.99 per month and the Essential plan to $7.99. At that time, the company also rebranded its most expensive plan, changing its name from Paramount+ With Showtime to Paramount+ Premium.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025, Paramount+ will change how it reports subscriber numbers. It will only include paying customers, no longer counting those who are on free trials. Currently, 1.2 million subscribers are using free trials.

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2025-12-19 11:45