What is Paramount Plus? Price, content, and more

Publish date: 2022-07-09

CBS All Access, we hardly knew ye. The streaming service launched a little over six years ago, but it has morphed into a new and more significant competitor to Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, and others. The service is now called Paramount Plus (branded as “Paramount +”), and it’s aiming to use the vast content library of Paramount Pictures and ViacomCBS’s TV properties to its advantage.

Read more: Best video streaming services

As you will see, the name change will be more than just cosmetic. Paramount Plus has significant plans to offer tons of new and exclusive content. A lot of them will be revivals or spin-offs of its most famous properties. It will also provide something for film fans who don’t want to go back to movie theaters immediately.

If you want to jump in head first, you can sign up for a free 7-day trial. 

Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus includes thousands of movies and TV shows from CBS, Showtime, and Paramount Pictures. It also includes new and original movies like The Good Fight, Infinite, and more.

What is Paramount Plus?

This is the renamed streaming service from ViacomCBS that was previously known as CBS All Access. It has all of the content of CBS All Access, plus a ton of new and upcoming shows and movies. The company first announced the name change back in September 2020.

Why change the name, anyway?

CBS was previously a part of its parent company Viacom (which owned Paramount Pictures and many cable TV networks). In 2006, the companies split in two. In October 2014, CBS launched its All Access streaming service to offer live streaming of its network programs and original programming.

In late 2019, Viacom and CBS merged again into one company, dubbed ViacomCBS. The company soon announced that the CBS All Access service would be rebranded as Paramount Plus because the Paramount name is more well known internationally.

How much is Paramount Plus?

You can subscribe, with ads, for $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. There’s also a no-ad option that costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. The no-ad option adds a few other extra features, including 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision support for select shows and movies. The $9.99 monthly plan also adds offline viewing, letting you download up to 25 titles at a time. Finally, you can livestream from your local CBS station with the $9.99 a month plan.

If you have already signed up for the previous $5.99 a month, or $59.99 annual, plan under the old CBS All Access, you will be grandfathered into Paramount Plus and can continue to stream live content from your CBS station. However, if you cancel, you’ll lose access to this grandfathered privilege for good and will have to switch to one of the two new plans.

Bundle with Showtime for a special price

You can also bundle Paramount Plus with ViacomCBS’s pay cable network Showtime for a special price. Paramount Plus with ads plus Showtime costs $11.99 a month. The Ad-Free plan plus Showtime costs $13.99 a month. You can also get annual plans with Paramount Plus (with ads) and Showtime for $109.99 a year and without ads for $139.99 a year.

Read more: Best Showtime shows

Can I get Paramount Plus for free?

ViacomCBS has established a standard 7-day free trial for Paramount Plus. Also, T-Mobile and grandfathered Sprint postpaid wireless customers and T-Mobile Home Internet customers can get one year of the ad-based Paramount Plus plan for free.

Beyond that, ViacomCBS has confirmed that each account on the service will support up to six individual profiles. You can share your login and password with up to five of your family and friends, and each one can have their own profile, so they can access the service for free and see their own content.

Paramount Plus on Pluto TV

While there isn’t a free tier plan on Paramount Plus, there is an alternative (sort of). ViacomCBS also owns Pluto TV, the completely free live and on-demand streaming service. It offers lots of the same library of content found on Paramount Plus on its over 100 channels. In fact, Pluto TV launched a channel, Paramount Plus Picks. It will offer select content from the streaming service, including episodes of shows that are usually Paramount Plus exclusives.

Read more: Best Pluto TV channels

How does it work?

Paramount Plus works like other streaming services: Log in to the service via your PC, mobile phone, tablet, or another connected device. Select the show or movie you want to watch and start streaming. If you are signed up for the $9.99 a month plan, you can also select Live TV to stream from your local CBS affiliate channels.

If you’re subscribed to the cheaper ad-supported plans, you will occasionally see advertisements as you stream. The more expensive ad-free plan will allow you to stream without those commercials. However, streaming from the Live TV option will still show ads, no matter what plan you choose.

Is it worth it?

As usual, the answer to that is “it depends.” If you sign up for the $9.99 a month plan, you will be able to access lots of live sports events, including live streaming of NFL football games. If you are a Star Trek fan, the service will be your one-stop place to watch both classic, new and upcoming content from the sci-fi franchise.

There will also be lots of other library content to stream from Paramount Pictures, CBS, and the Viacom family of cable TV networks (Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and others). If you are a fan of shows and movies from those sources, signing up for the service might be worth it. However, the new and exclusive content for Paramount Plus will take a year or two to debut, so if that’s all that you want to watch, you may want to hold off and save your money.

Where is it available?

The service has launched in the following countries:

In Australia, it is available under the 10 All Access brand name. 

In early 2022, the service is scheduled to launch in other parts of Europe as part of Comcast’s Sky platform. When that happens, Sky Cinema subscribers will get Paramount Plus at no additional cost.

What devices does Paramount Plus support?

Officially, ViacomCBS has confirmed that the service will support PC web browsers at ParamountPlus.com. It will also have apps for iOS and Android devices. Here’s a list of the devices that currently support that service.

Other Paramount Plus features

We have already mentioned that the service will reserve some of its extra features for the paid $9.99 a month tier. That includes streaming select movies and shows in 4K resolution, HDR, and Dolby Vision. Those movies and TV shows will have a special badge on their info pages. Supported 4K devices include:

Downloads of movies and shows for no-ad subscribers are supported on iOS and Android devices for offline viewing. Also, you can access up to three concurrent streams on one account.

Parental controls

The service also has parental controls for keeping certain content away from young children. Here’s how they work:

  • Go to your Paramount Plus account page and then scroll down to the Parental Controls section. The feature is turned off by default, so you will have to click or tap on the toggle to turn it on. You will then have to type in your account password to proceed.
  • Type in a four-digit PIN code that will appear below the Parental control toggle. 
  • You should see a list of content ratings. Tap or click on the content rating that you want to require typing in the PIN to watch. You also have an optional toggle to lock out live TV streams. This might be helpful since some live content, particularly from the Big Brother Live Streams, has mature content.
  • Finally, click or tap “Save” to save your parental control settings.

    • In addition, when you set up a new profile, you can set it up for Kids Mode. Anyone watching from that profile will automatically see content specifically for younger audiences. You can set it up so that the Kids Mode profile shows content for really young children (TV-Y) or older kids.

    What’s on Paramount Plus?

    Paramount Plus has all the exclusive shows and content available on CBS All Access, including its original series like The Good Fight, Star Trek Discovery, The Stand, and others. It also has a ton of library content from Paramount Pictures, CBS, and the many Viacom cable TV networks. You will be able to watch movies like all the Indiana Jones films, The Mission Impossible movies, and more.

    Exclusive and upcoming films

    Paramount plans to release a few films on Paramount Plus just 45 days after they debut in theaters. It has already done so with A Quiet Place II and has done the same for 2022’s Scream and Jackass Forever. The Paw Patrol Movie was released day-and-date in theaters and Paramount Plus in August 2021. Other Paramount movies, like the G.I. Joe spin-off Snake Eyes and the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick, will debut on Paramount Plus in 2022. 

    In addition, ViacomCBS has set up a deal with the Epix pay-cable service. That allows Paramount Plus subscribers to access over 2,500 films from the Epix library. Also, new films from MGM, including the latest James Bond film No Die To Die, will stream on the service after their theatrical and Epix pay-cable runs.

    On June 10, 2021, Paramount Plus released Infinite, a new action movie starring Mark Wahlberg. The film was initially set for a theatrical release, but Paramount decided to make it available exclusively on the streaming service. Since then, the service has added yet another movie that was originally slated for theaters, the animated kids movie Rumble. It’s possible more films will make that same move in 2022.

    Finally, the service will produce its own original films. That includes new entries in the Paranormal Activity movie franchise. the first of which launched in late October 2021. A new Pet Sematary horror movie is in the works, along with films based on the shows Beavis & Butt-head and Workaholics. 

    Upcoming exclusive drama TV series

    ViacomCBS is developing a ton of original scripted drama series for Paramount Plus, including some spin-offs from established franchises:

    In addition, the service is developing new series based on iconic films like Flashdance, Love Story, The Italian Job, The Man Who Fell To Earth, and The Parallax View.

    Upcoming exclusive comedy series

    John Callaham / Android Authority

    Look for some significant revivals of popular comedy shows and some all-new series on the service. That includes the recently released adult animated series The Harper House. Here’s a look at what’s coming up.

    Upcoming exclusive kids and family shows

    Miranda Cosgrove

    The company behind the Nickelodeon channel will have a ton of new content for Paramount Plus. Some of them have already debuted on the service. That includes a new CGI animated version of the hit kids Rugrats series, with the original voice cast. Also, the hit teen sitcom iCarly is back with many of its original cast, now all grown up. It’s already been renewed for a second season. Here’s a look at what’s upcoming on the service.

    In addition, new shows based on Lassie, George of the Jungle, Danger Mouse,  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Mr. Magoo are being developed for the service.

    Upcoming exclusive reality and music shows

    In addition to The Real World: Homecoming: New York, new and returning reality and music shows are available now or coming soon, to Paramount Plus. That includes new seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars, Road Rules, The Challenge: All-Stars, Ink Master, and Dating Naked. Also, the service will be the home for the Big Brother Live Feeds when new seasons of that show debut, along with extra content for fans of another CBS reality show Love Island.

    Upcoming exclusive sports, news, and documentaries

    Sports fans will have a ton of stuff to watch on Paramount Plus. In addition to live NFL football games and the Inside The NFL TV show, the service will feature PGA golf, including The Masters and The PGA Championship, along with NCAA basketball, coverage of SEC division sports, and several soccer leagues, including UEFA Champions League, Concacaf, Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and the National Women’s Soccer League.

    The services offers live streams of the CBSN news network, and local live news from over 200 CBS affiliates.

    More new documentaries are coming to the service as well. It will include shows like The Real Criminal Minds, about real FBI profiler cases and agents, along with a new series on the Watergate scandal of the 1970s.

    Paramount Plus vs the competition

    Because this service is an expansion of the previous CBS All Access, Paramount Plus will likely lag behind many of the top-tier streaming services in terms of content. 

    Below we’ve compared Paramount Plus to a few other leading streaming services on the market. This way, you can be sure of your decision before spending your hard-earned money.

    Netflix

    No discussion of streaming services would be complete without talking about Netflix. It has a deep library of older movies and TV shows and a constantly growing amount of original content.

    The cheapest Netflix plan costs $10 a month and only includes SD quality streaming and one concurrent stream. That’s still several dollars lower than the most affordable Paramount Plus plan and just $1 a month higher than its no-ads plan. To stream in HD, you’re looking at $14.49 a month, which is several dollars less than Paramount Plus and to stream in 4K on Netflix, you will have to spend $20 a month.

    Not all of Netflix’s original content is of high quality, but there will always be something new to watch. It will take a while for Paramount Plus to match Netflix’s content. However, there’s no doubt the prices of Netflix’s plans are much higher.

    Netflix

    Netflix is still the leading premium streaming service, with over 200 million worldwide subscribers. It offers thousands of movies and TV shows to binge watch, including its always growing list of original films and series, including Stranger Things, The Witcher, Bridgerton, and many more.

    Disney Plus

    Paramount Plus will already have a lot of great children’s content right out of the gate, thanks to its  Nickelodeon library of shows and movies.  Disney Plus also offers a lot of movies and shows for kids and the whole family, and its library of content is perhaps of an even higher quality.

    Disney Plus also has a growing list of completely original content, including hit shows The Mandalorian and WandaVision, with more to come. It remains to be seen if the upcoming original content for Paramount Plus will yield shows as popular as those two series.

    At just $7 a month, Disney Plus is one of the most affordable streaming services out there. If you want even more TV shows or sports content, you can get a great bundle deal of Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus for just $13 a month. Paramount Plus does offer a variety of content for all audiences, but at prices that are lower than the Disney Plus-Hulu-ESPN Plus bundle.

    Disney Plus bundle

    Peacock

    NBCUniversal

    NBCUniversal’s Peacock is perhaps the closest to Paramount Plus in terms of its content. Peacock has some great shows to stream, particularly on the comedy side like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and more. It also offers a selection of live news, sports, and a growing amount of original content.

    Read also: Peacock: Pricing, content, and everything else you need to know

    Peacock’s ad-supported free tier has more than 13,000 hours of classic and modern tv shows to stream, and for $4.99 a month (about the same as Paramount Plus’s upcoming ad-supported plan), you can bump that up to 20,000 hours. Honestly, it’s hard to beat free, and perhaps ViacomCBS will offer a free ad-supported tier in the future.

    Peacock

    NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service offers a lot of great movies and TV shows to stream on demand, along with live news and sports. Best of all, you can watch lots of its content for free, or watch all of it with a paid subscription starting at just $4.99 a month.

    Paramount Plus – Other FAQs

    Is Paramount Plus free with Amazon Prime?

    No, Paramount Plus is not free with Amazon Prime. You have to subscribe to each service separately, though you can add the Paramount Plus channel in Prime Video for faster access.

    What does Paramount Plus include?

    Paramount Plus includes unlimited access to thousands of episodes and movies from CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more. The Premium plan also offers access to your local CBS station.

    What's coming to Paramount Plus in 2022?

    Paramount Plus announces new titles on a monthly basis, but we’ve already seen shows like Halo land on the service in 2022. You can check out some of the best exclusive titles right here.

    How many people can stream at the same time on Paramount Plus?

    The service can be streamed on up to three devices at once.

    Can the service be shared with friends and family?

    Yes. Thanks to the generous allowance of three simultaneous streams, the service can be shared without worrying about interrupted streams.

    Does Paramount Plus offer streams in 4K?

    A limited amount of content will be available in 4K on the service.

    Does Paramount Plus have a free plan?

    Currently, the service does not have a free plan.

    Does Paramount Plus feature advertisements?

    The grandfathered $5.99 a month plan and the $4.99 plan it replaces include video advertisements. The $9.99 a month plan offers no ads for on-demand content, but live streams will still feature ads.

    When will Paramount Plus launch internationally?

    The service has launched in Latin American countries and will be available in the Nordic countries in Europe on March 25. It will launch in Australia in mid-2021.

    Does Paramount Plus work with a VPN?

    Although it’s not officially supported, many VPN services work with Paramount Plus. Learn more about the best VPN services.

    Can I download shows from the service and watch them offline?

    You can download shows and movies to watch offline, but only on the iOS and Android apps.

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