PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) is Sony’s gaming subscription service that enables online play for many games onPlayStation 4andPS5consoles. 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 aside from that of your PS Plus membership.
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The higher tiers offer something similar toXbox Game Pass, with the highest Premium tier giving access to some classic PS2, PS3, and PSP games. All three tiers offer discounts on games bought through the PlayStation Store, too. Here’s everything you need to know about the PlayStation Plus tiers.
What is PlayStation Plus?
Sony’s subscription service for online gaming and more
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 Both consoles have long since been discontinued and PS Plus is no longer active for either console.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:
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What does each PS Plus tier include?
Some tiers are primarily for online gaming, others offer access to games
There are three PlayStation Plus tiers available:Essential, Extra,andPremium. Each tier adds more benefits, but is also more expensive. You’ll need at least thePS Plus Essentialtier to play most online games, but the higher tiers offer additional benefits such as access to free games and cloud streaming.
Here’s a quick comparison table of the three PlayStation Plus tiers:
PS Plus Essential
PS Plus Extra
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
Cloud storage
PS4/PS5 games
2-3 per month
PS2/PS3/PSP games
Cloud streaming
Game trials
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 Plus 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 afull list of the gameson the PlayStation website.
If you’re downloading games, it can take a while for many games to download, even with high speed internet connections. That’s where the Premium subscription comes 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. It means you don’t have to worry about waiting for games to download, or about running out of hard drive space. PlayStation Plus cloud gaming supports up to4K resolution, and 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.
Which games do Premium and Extra offer?
There are some excellent PS5 games available as well as classics from older consoles
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’re able to check out afull list of all the games available, but some big PlayStation titles are currently available on the platform.
Some of the best PS Plus games
There are hundreds of games available for Extra and Premium users, including highly-rated games such as the following:
How much does PlayStation Plus cost?
It depends which benefits you want to have
PlayStation Plus starts at $10 per month for the Essential tier, with the price increasing for the higher tiers as you get more and more benefits. PlayStation Plus can be paid for monthly, quarterly or annually, with an annual subscription being the most cost-effective. For example, paying for 12 months of PlayStation Plus Premium on a month-by-month basis will cost $215.88. A 12-month subscription costs $119.99, saving you $95.89.
PS Plus subscription tier
Price (USD)
Price (GBP)
Price (EUR)
PlayStation Plus
Pick up a gift card to get a year of PlayStation Plus Essential.
Which PS Plus tier should you try?
Choose the best option for your gaming needs
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.
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.
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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Q: What is PlayStation Plus Deluxe?
PlayStation Plus Deluxe is an additional tier as an alternative to Premium, which is available only in markets that do not offer cloud gaming. PS Plus Deluxe is cheaper than Premium, since it doesn’t offer all of the same benefits. You should check your regional PlayStation Store for pricing, where applicable.
Q: When did PlayStation Plus last have a price increase?
On6 September 2023, PlayStation Plus had a significant price increase. The prices changed as follows:
Old price (USD)
New price (USD)
Old price (GBP)
New price (GBP)
Old price (EUR)
New price (EUR)
PlayStation Plus Essential 12-Month
PlayStation Plus Extra 12-Month
PlayStation Plus Premium 12-Month
Hopefully this means that there won’t be any major price rises in the near future, but only time will tell.
