Last updated: October 29, 2026
PlayStation Plus has three tiers, and after Sony's May 2026 price increase the gap between them matters more than ever. Here is what each tier costs, what you get, and how to avoid overpaying.
PS Plus prices (US)
| Tier | Monthly | 3 months | 12 months | Effective monthly (yearly plan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $10.99 | $27.99 | $79.99 | ~$6.67 |
| Extra | $16.99 | $43.99 | $134.99 | ~$11.25 |
| Premium | $19.99 | $54.99 | $159.99 | ~$13.33 |
The monthly prices went up on May 20, 2026. The 12-month prices are by far the best value: on Essential, paying yearly costs about 40% less than paying month to month.
PS Plus Essential โ what you get
- Online multiplayer in games that require it
- Monthly games you can claim and keep playing as long as you stay subscribed
- Cloud storage for your save files
- Member-only discounts on the PlayStation Store
Best for: players who buy their own games and mainly need online play, for example for GTA Online, Call of Duty or sports games.
PS Plus Extra โ what you get
Everything in Essential, plus:
- The Game Catalog, a library of hundreds of PS5 and PS4 games, including many big first-party and third-party titles
Best for: players who want a steady stream of games to try. If you would otherwise buy two or three older games a year, Extra usually pays for itself.
PS Plus Premium โ what you get
Everything in Extra, plus:
- Classics Catalog with PS1, PS2, PSP and remastered PS3 games
- Game trials of selected new releases
- Cloud streaming of supported games, including streaming PS5 games on PS5 and playing on PS Portal
Best for: retro fans and PS Portal owners who want cloud streaming.
Which tier should you choose?
- "I just want to play online." โ Essential, on a 12-month plan.
- "I want a big library of games to explore." โ Extra.
- "I love retro games or use PS Portal a lot." โ Premium.
For most players, Extra on a yearly plan is the sweet spot between price and value.
Do you need PS Plus for GTA 6?
You will not need PS Plus to play the GTA 6 story mode. You will almost certainly need it for GTA Online, just like on PS4 and PS5 today. If you plan to play online after launch on November 19, make sure your subscription is active.
How to save money on PS Plus
- Always pay yearly if you know you will keep the service. It saves $50โ$80 per year compared with monthly billing.
- Wait for sales. Sony often discounts 12-month memberships during Black Friday (November 27, 2026) and Days of Play.
- Upgrade mid-subscription. You can move from Essential to Extra or Premium and only pay the difference for your remaining time.
- Turn off auto-renew if you are not sure you will keep the service, so you are not charged at the full price automatically.
Bottom line
PS Plus now costs $10.99, $16.99 or $19.99 per month, but the yearly plans bring that down to roughly $6.67, $11.25 and $13.33. Essential is enough if you only need online play, Extra gives the best value for most people, and Premium is mainly for retro fans and cloud players.
