Paramount+ Review

Paramount Plus offers two package tiers: Paramount+ Essential and Paramount + Premium. The Essential plan, at $9 per month, is one of the cheapest streaming packages available among major brands, making it a great option for the budget-conscious viewer. Upgrading to the Premium plan gets rid of ads, unlocks Showtime Originals, includes CBS Live, and allows you to download content.

Paramount Plus did increase its prices in January 2026, but only by about $1/month. Compared to HBO Max ($11/month), Disney Plus ($12/month), and Apple TV ($12/month), Paramount Plus maintains its affordability.

Along with the price hike, Paramount Plus also ended its free trial option, following the lead of Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max who have also moved away from free-service lures.

Paramount Plus has a less-than-ideal reputation for its interface. You can find many Reddit threads lamenting the user experience. As someone who has used Paramount Plus for years, I’d agree it offers one of the weakest experiences among streaming services. In the face of UI experts like Netflix and Apple, Paramount Plus can feel like we’re working with a 2007 Windows OS.

Loading times feel longer, and glitches aren’t uncommon, especially when rewinding or fast-forwarding over scheduled ad breaks. It’s not always clear when you’ve successfully clicked a button, and sometimes it glitches. Did I skip the intro? Did I hit play or not? Did it not let me pause after my fifth “Survivor” episode in a row? Yeah, in that last case, maybe Paramount Plus was just staging a necessary intervention.

That said, it’s improved over the years and continues to do so. Despite the app not being as smooth as competitors, it’s still easy enough to navigate. You’ll be able to explore different categories, search for content, and toggle on captions without difficulty.

I particularly enjoy Paramount’s “Keep Watching” section. Everything you’re currently viewing or want to watch is all kept in one collection. This is great for a viewer like me, who likes to go to “My List” and browse through the interesting documentaries I was intrigued by, but then just return to my rewatch of “Survivor”.

Paramount Plus may not be home to my favorite TV and movie content, but it hosts enough enjoyable content that I stay subscribed. Most viewers subscribe to watch “Yellowstone” and its spin-offs, the many “Star Trek” variations, and Sylvester Stallone’s “Tulsa King”. For families, there’s plenty of CBS and Nickelodeon content like SpongeBob and Paw Patrol. Sports fans will enjoy Paramount Plus’ exclusive offerings like UEFA Champions League soccer and March Madness coverage.

Its content library really only pales when compared to other content powerhouses. On its own, there’s plenty to watch for a variety of viewers. The Paramount Plus catalogue features Golden Globe-nominated originals like “1923”and “Landman”, longstanding classics like “Fraiser” and “Twin Peaks”, and blockbusters like “Running Man” and “Top Gun”. You’ll also find the reality TV shows where all your favorite “The Traitors” stars were born — “Big Brother”, “The Challenge”,  and “RuPaul's Drag Race”.

And let’s not forget the show that keeps me personally subscribed, “Survivor.” With “Survivor 50” on the horizon, the cultural giant alone will draw subscribers. And to prepare us for the event, Paramount Plus has a new “Survivor” collection that features iconic episodes, players, and villains.

While Premium subscribers benefit from the Showtime partnership, the broader library often feels stale. Unless you’re there for live sports, you can burn through the essential content in a month or two; there aren't many "cultural disruptors" to keep you in the conversation. Still, there’s hope on the horizon: Paramount’s deal with the Duffer Brothers promises new projects from the Stranger Things creators.