If you’ve just come across Paramount Plus and you are wondering whether to sign up or not, this review will help you make a decision.
Paramount Plus is currently available in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, parts of Europe and Asia, and launching soon in the United Kingdom.
So why should you sign up for the service? Does it offer a better movie and TV selection in comparison to its competitors like Showtime, Peacock TV, or Amazon Prime Video?
What about its prices? Is it offered in packages and the pricing unbeatable? Well, let’s find out.
7 things to know about Paramount Plus before signing up
These are the top 7 things you should know before signing up for the Paramount Plus streaming service.
1. Paramount Plus is a subscription service
Unlike Paramount Network which requires a participating TV provider, Paramount Plus is a standalone subscription service.
You can visit its website, sign up, and start watching your favorite shows instantly. That is as long as you are in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the UK, Australia, parts of Asia, South America, and North America.
Can you get Paramount Plus for free? Yes. You can watch Paramount Plus for free. But only as a 7-day free trial.
After the trial period ends, you will have to part with $4.99 monthly for the Essential plan or $9.99 monthly for the Premium plan.
If you prefer to pay once a year, you can choose its annual packages which go for $49.99 for Essential and $99.99 for the Premium plan. The difference between the Essential and Premium is that the former is ad-supported while the latter doesn’t have ads.
You can register for the service right from ParamountPlus.com or through your CBS All Access membership.
With its pricing, Paramount Plus is one of the cost-friendliest streaming services you can find. But if you prefer a totally free service, you might want to consider Sling TV.
2. It offers exclusive content
Now that you have to pay for the subscription, is Paramount Plus worth it? Yes, mainly because it offers exclusive TV shows and high streaming quality.
So, what exactly does Paramount Plus show? The streaming service boasts of one of the biggest collections of hit shows and movies.
You’ll get to enjoy shows like Yellowstone and channels like BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Pictures, and Smithsonian.
Paramount Plus is also a haven for sports lovers. It has channels like CBS Sports and the NFL. You’ll enjoy the English Premier League, Champions League, Combat Global, March Madness, and so much more.
In addition, there are lots of drama and reality TV shows. If you want content for kids, there are lots of channels and TV shows to choose from.
3. Paramount Plus supports multiple streaming devices
You can watch Paramount Plus directly on all the major streaming devices including:
- Apple TV
- Apple’s iPhone and iPad
- Android Television (Android TV)
- Android devices (including phones and tablets)
- Chromecast
- Amazon Fire TV
- PlayStation
- Samsung Television
- Vizio TV
- LG TV
- Roku
- Xbox
- Xfinity Flex by Xfinity.
Some of the mobile platforms on this list will allow you to cast on a bigger TV screen.
4. Watch simultaneously on up to 3 devices
You can watch Paramount+ on up to 3 devices simultaneously. This is much better in comparison with streaming services like Hulu that only allow streaming on up to 2 devices.
Paramount Plus is, therefore, one of the best streaming services for families. You can easily set it up on 3 screens to allow your kids to watch cartoons while other family members enjoy their favorite shows on other screens.
NOTE: Reduce the quality on one or both devices if you’re having trouble streaming on both. To do so, go to the settings icon next to your stream, then to the cogwheel symbol, then to “Stream Quality”, and select “Good.”
5. Paramount Plus is free with Amazon Prime
If you have Amazon Prime, you can stream Paramount+ as a channel.
Is Paramount Plus free with Amazon Prime? Yes, with Amazon Prime, you get access to Paramount Plus at no cost that is if you sign up for the Paramount Plus free trial.
As a member of Amazon Prime, follow these steps to add the Paramount Plus channel to your account:
- Go to Amazon.com/channels on the web or from the Prime Video app
- Search or select Paramount Plus in the channels category
- From the banner at the top of the screen, choose “Learn More”
- Choose the “Start your free 7-day trial” option
- Choose the Premium plan ($9.99), then select “Start your free trial”.
You’ll be charged through your Amazon account when your free trial has ended.
NOTE: The Paramount Plus Essential package is currently not accessible through Prime Video.
6. Paramount Plus is not Paramount Network
The Paramount Plus is different from the Paramount Network. It’s easy to confuse the two because they have a similar name, but they’re different in ratings.
So, what’s the difference between Paramount Network and Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus broadcasts live sports and television series and movies drawn from CBS libraries. It started out in the US but is slowly rolling out to other counties including the United Kingdom.
Paramount Networks, on other hand, started out as a TV service that was suited to the culture of the Southern United States.
Unlike Paramount+, Paramount Networks doesn’t have a lot of content. However, it boasts the home of one of the greatest TV shows –Yellowstone.
7. Who Owns Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus Limited is a joint venture company between Paramount Pictures and the Viacom Media Networks.
The company is owned by ViacomCBS Media Networks, which owns also Comedy Central, MTV, Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon.
Should you sign up for Paramount Plus?
Paramount+ is ideal for you if you are looking for a massive library of TV shows, movies, and series. You will also love it if you are into sports.
The main advantage of Paramount Plus over its competition is that it is priced competitively. Besides, it has an intuitive interface and isn’t plagued with issues. It is also available outside the United States.