Paramount+ Review 2021

What is Paramount+, you might ask?

Well, Paramount+ is a rebranding of CBS All Access. It’s a live and on-demand TV streaming service where you’ll find all of your favorite CBS TV shows and movies, including Star Trek: Picard, NCIS, The Good Fight, and The Twilight Zone.

But the entertainment doesn’t stop there. You’ll also find some of your favorite BET, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon series and movies, as well!

And you’ll only have to budget $5–$10 per month for this entertainment on the go. Not bad.

Here’s our take on Paramount+ and how it stacks up with other on-demand streaming services.

How much does Paramount+ cost?

You’ve got two choices: with commercials or no commercials at all

With Paramount+ you’ll get all the premium channels you’re used to as well as added channels.

You’ll get the same drama shows, classic movies, and live TV channels as before.

And here’s a bonus: if you pay for an annual membership upfront, you’ll save 15%. If you’re a student, you get a student discount of 25% off. Noice.

Paramount+ Essential plan

The basic Paramount+ plan is the Essential plan. However, while we were streaming the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery, there were five commercial breaks.

We’d say paying that extra $5 per month will be worth avoiding these ads because those ads can really add up when you’re trying to binge ten episodes. (That means 50 commercial breaks, ugh.)

Paramount+ Premium plan

The other Paramount+ plan, Premium, is just $5 more than the Essential (with ads) plan. You won’t find any difference in content—you’re just paying more for no commercials.

If you ask us, it’s worth spending those extra few dollars to avoid those pesky interruptions.

Keep in mind that if you do get the Premium plan, you cannot skip the ads when you watch live TV on Paramount+. There’s just no way of escaping commercials on live TV. It’s just the nature of the live TV beast—and it’s the same with every other live TV streaming competitor.

Which TV shows are on Paramount+?

Paramount+ gives you access to stream Paramount+ originals and network programming

What is Paramount+?

Paramount+ is the answer to any classic TV fanatic’s prayers. For the price of a cup of coffee, you get access to live TV channels, popular TV shows, classic TV shows, original content, and on-demand movies.

You can watch Sunday afternoon NFL football games on Paramount+ with your family on your smart TV, on your smartphone while waiting for your Lyft, or on your tablet while you’re running on the treadmill.

Paramount+ includes six different types of programming, including:

• Live TV channels
• Episodes of current CBS network shows (Big Brother, Love Island, and The Fairly OddParents)
• Episodes of classic CBS shows (The Brady Bunch, Cheers, Frasier, and more)
• Library of BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel TV series and movies
• Original programming (iCarly, The Good Fight, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and The Stand)
• On-demand movies (A Quiet Place, Daddy’s Home, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Grease)

Paramount+ promises 30,000 TV episodes and movies for your on-demand entertainment.

Paramount+ top 20 TV shows list

Can I stream live TV with Paramount+?

Streaming live TV is possible, but it’s not available in all markets

Paramount+ gives you access to watch live television with your subscription! You don’t even have to pay an extra fee or sign in with your existing TV provider.

You can watch CBS (local station), CBSN (24/7 news), CBS Sports HQ, and ET Live , but there’s a catch.

Unfortunately, Paramount+ Live TV is only available in 200 or so markets. Also, you won’t know if you’re in one of those markets until you have a subscription, so make sure you double-check to see if you’re in one of those markers during your free trial.

On which devices can I stream Paramount+?

Of course you need to stream Star Trek while you’re waiting at the DMV

If you want to stream the Barcelona or Chelsea game while you’re on the train, you can easily pull the UEFA Champions League game up on the Paramount+ app.

And you can share your account with one other person as you can have two simultaneous streams. So you and your son who is away at college can watch CBS Sports at the same time.

You can watch Paramount+ on any of these streaming devices:

What features does Paramount+ have?

Paramount+ allows you to stream on three different devices, and in 1080p

You can’t expect too much with an inexpensive streaming service, and Paramount+ does come with pretty standard features.

You get three simultaneous streams, 1080p maximum resolution, and playback options for on-demand content.

Paramount+ used to be limited to 720p resolution, but they’ve finally bumped up their resolution for your TV that’s larger than 50 inches.

How does Paramount+ compare to other streaming services?

Should you go for Paramount+, or is another streaming service better? Great question. Honestly, it depends on what you want out of it.

If you want access to your favorite CBS, MTV, and Comedy Central shows, and access to CBS news as well as sports aired on CBS, $5–$10 per month is nothing. 

If you want access to a high number of live TV channels, a wide range of TV shows, movies, premium channels, and original content, check out the competition.

^{*Paramount+ channels include a local CBS channel if one is available in your area, CBS Sports HQ, CBSN, and CBS This Morning.}

^{† Date effective 8/13/2021.}

Recap: Is Paramount+ worth it?

Paramount+ is for the fans of CBS and other network shows

If you live for CBS dramas, like the snarky back-and-forth commentary between McGarrett and Danno on Hawaii Five-0, or if you need a daily dose of NCIS (how does Gibbs fit that boat in his basement, anyway?), Paramount+ is a dream come true at a great price.

You’ll also get access to Paramount Pictures movies, and a library of TV series from networks like BET, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and the Smithsonian Channel.

If you’re looking for more channels, check out our top live TV streaming services. If you’re looking for more on-demand content, check out our top on-demand streaming services.