PlayStation Plus is Sony's subscription service that gives members free games, perks, and access to online play for a set amount per month. It was overhauled last summer and split into tiers with different prices and benefits, so if you've yet to sign up, or are wondering if the tier you're in is right for you, we've got all the info you need to decide right here.
PS Plus went from a straightforward monthly membership with a flat fee, to a refreshed, three-tiered service for PS4 and PS5. At first glance, it all looks a little confusing, but basically, Sony scrapped its PS Now game streaming service, folding it into the new-and-improved PS Plus, and added an extensive back catalogue of games including titles from the PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP.
Existing subscribers of both were thrown into one of the three tiers, with the revamped offerings pretty much matching what they'd already been paying for. But while the price is the same, there may be freebies you're missing out on, perks you're passing up, or other member benefits you're not aware of that would prompt you to cough up that little bit extra every month – if only you knew about them. So let's dive in and get you on tier that's right for you.
PS Plus Price
You can opt to pay for your PS Plus membership on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. There'll be some measure of discount for opting for quarterly and monthly subscriptions, but it's up to you to decide what you can afford to pay up front, and offset that against any potential savings.
We'll delve into exactly what each tier offers in the next section, but for now, here are the prices for each PS Plus tier:
PS Plus Essential
- £6.99 monthly / £19.99 quarterly / £49.99 yearly
- $9.99 monthly / $24.99 quarterly / $59.99 yearly
- AU$11.95 monthly / AU$33.95 quarterly / AU$79.95 yearly
PS Plus Extra
- £10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly
- $14.99 monthly / $39.99 quarterly / $99.99 yearly
- AU$18 monthly / AU$54.95 quarterly / AU$134.95 yearly
PS Plus Premium
- £13.49 monthly / £39.99 quarterly / £99.99 yearly
- $17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $119.99 yearly
PS Plus Deluxe
- AU$21.95 monthly / AU$63 quarterly / $154.95 yearly
PS Plus tiers explained
There are three PS Plus tiers, with an alternative third tier for markets that don't support cloud streaming. PS Plus Essential is the equivalent of the old PS Plus, PS Plus Extra throws in a few additional perks, while PS Plus Premium is essentially a combination of the old PS Plus and PS Now cloud streaming service for games. You can take a look at the chart below for a quick overview of the perks and benefits of each tier.
PS Plus Essential
PS Plus Essential is the most basic of the three tiers. If you were an existing PS Plus member before the restructure, your account will have migrated over to this tier. The price for PS Plus Essential is the same as the price of PS Plus, pre-revamp. In terms of content, you're getting the same benefits you were paying for previously, and won't be losing anything. Here's what the PS Plus Essential tier gets you:
- Two monthly downloadable games
- Exclusive discounts
- Cloud storage for saved games
- Online multiplayer access
PS Plus Extra
PS Plus Extra includes all of the benefits of the PS Plus Essential tier, but throws in access to a library of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games. That includes first-party titles from PlayStation Studios, as well as third-party partners. So plenty to be getting stuck into. You can just download whatever takes your fancy to give it a whirl. Here's a more granular breakdown of what PS Plus Extra includes:
- Two monthly downloadable games
- Exclusive discounts
- Cloud storage for saved games
- Online multiplayer access
- Adds a catalogue of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Games in the Extra tier are downloadable for play
PS Plus Premium
The PS Plus Premium tier is a combination of the old PS Plus rolled up with the now-defunct PS Now game streaming service. You get all the benefits of the previous two PS Plus tiers, along with more titles to download as well as stream, that stretch back to older console generations. You can also take advantage of game trials to try before you buy. Here's a rundown of everything included in the PS Plus Premium tier:
- Two monthly downloadable games
- Exclusive discounts
- Cloud storage for saved games
- Online multiplayer access
- A catalogue of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Games in the Extra tier are downloadable for play
- Adds up to 340 additional games, including:
- PS3 games available via cloud streaming
- A catalog of beloved classic games available in both streaming and download options from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations
- Cloud streaming access for original PlayStation, PS2, PSP and PS4 games offered in the Extra and Premium tiers in markets that support cloud streaming. Customers can stream games using PS4 and PS5 consoles, and PC
- Time-limited game trials will also be offered in this tier, so customers can try select games before they buy
PS Plus Deluxe
No, this isn't a secret fourth tier. PS Plus Deluxe is an alternative third tier for markets that don't support cloud streaming. As it's not quite on a par with PS Plus Premium because of that, the price is slightly lower. However, it does include a catalogue of original PlayStation, PS2, and PSP games to download and play, as well as the time-limited game trials. This tier also includes all the benefits of PS Plus Essential and PS Plus Extra.
PS Plus games
PS Plus announcements are staggered over two blog posts every month. PS Plus Essential titles are revealed on the last Wednesday of a given month, to give subscribers a heads up before they actually drop on the first Tuesday of the brand new month. So the PS Plus Essential January 2023 games hit the service on Tuesday, January 3, after being announced on Wednesday, December 28.
PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium titles are added mid-month, as confirmed in a PlayStation blog post before the overhaul took effect. There's not been a consistent date for these tiers' announcements, and similarly, the dates of the drops haven't always been the same either. So just keep an eye on the PlayStation blog as we approach the vague window.
