Paramount+ Set to Raise Prices and Eliminate Free Trials in 2026
Paramount+ will raise its subscription prices and end free trials in the U.S. starting January 2026. The streaming service confirmed that both its Essential (ad-supported) and Premium (ad-free) plans will see a $1 monthly increase.
The Essential plan will rise to $8.99 per month, while Premium will go up to $13.99. Annual plans will also increase, with Essential at $89.99 per year ($7.50/month) and Premium at $139.99 per year ($11.67/month).
The company said the price hike will help fund new premium content, including UFC events available to all subscribers without requiring pay-per-view.
Student and military discounts will continue, offering 50% off the new prices. In addition, Paramount+ will phase out its free trial program, meaning all new users will be charged immediately upon signing up.
David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, explained in a Q3 2025 letter to shareholders that the changes are part of the company’s plan to improve the streaming service. “These changes will fuel continued reinvestment in the user experience and deliver an even stronger slate of programming for our customers in the year ahead and beyond,” he said.
Paramount+ has also made big content deals recently. The service signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion contract with UFC, making it the exclusive rightsholder for the sports organization’s events. It also secured a five-year exclusive agreement with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, reportedly worth $1.5 billion. According to Ellison, South Park was the top driver of new subscribers in Q3 2025.
Even with the January price increases, Paramount+ will remain competitive in the U.S. streaming market. The platform offers original series like Landman and Tulsa King, franchises including Star Trek and South Park, films such as Mission: Impossible and The Naked Gun, CBS shows like Tracker and Survivor, and sports coverage including Sunday NFL games and UEFA Champions League matches.
The subscription price changes follow the closing of Skydance Media’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global in August 2025. Paramount+ previously raised prices in August 2024, with Premium climbing to $12.99 and Essential to $7.99. The company also renamed its higher-priced tier from Paramount+ With Showtime to Paramount+ Premium.
Starting in Q4 2025, Paramount+ will only report paid subscribers in its figures, excluding those on free trials. At the end of Q3, free trial subscribers accounted for 1.2 million.
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