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Now that the holiday season is here and the PlayStation 5 Pro is available far and wide, many people are figuring out what to play. One of the easiest ways to instantly get access to hundreds of quality titles is via a PS Plus subscription. While there aren't too many deals up for grabs at the minute, there are still ways to save money in the long run.
As mentioned, a PlayStation Plus subscription is one of the best ways to make the most of your gaming budget, with tons of benefits, like access to free games and exclusive discounts. Think Uncharted. Think God of War. Think Ghost of Tsushima. Think Final Fantasy. Think Spider-Man. Think The Last of Us. The list goes on with 100s of hours worth of amazing experiences to be had.
What you need to know is that there are three membership tiers to choose from. To help you find the one that's best for you, Max McHone — an avid PlayStation player and one of CNET's dedicated deals writers — has broken down the features and prices of each tier below.
While there aren't any retailers offering direct discounts at this moment, we have laid out how to save money in the long run. However, we'll continue to update this page as new deals become available, so be sure to check back often for the latest offers.
What is the best PlayStation Plus deal right now?
Neither Sony nor any third-party retailers are offering discounts on subscriptions right at the moment, so there aren't any standout deals at the moment. If you are looking to score some savings, it is worth noting that opting for a 12-month subscription saves you 33% on the Essential and Extra tiers, and 25% on the Premium tier compared to paying monthly.
Best PlayStation Plus deals
There are no direct discounts on PlayStation Plus right now, but the service itself is still a pretty solid value, as it includes access to free games and exclusive discounts. Opting for a 12-month subscription is the best bargain available at the moment, saving you 33% on the Essential and Extra tiers and 25% on the Premium tier compared to paying monthly.
PlayStation Plus Essential vs. Extra vs. Premium
Originally, Sony offered two different gaming subscriptions, known as PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now. But since an overhaul that took place last year, both of these subscriptions have been rolled into a single service that has multiple tiers available. There are now three membership packages available -- known as PlayStation Essential, Extra and Premium. To help you choose the one that's best for you, we've broken down the prices and what's included for each tier below.
PS Plus Essential
At $10 a month, $25 for three months or $80 for a year, PlayStation Plus Essential is basically no different than what was previously known as a PS Plus subscription. It offers all the same features, including access to online play, two monthly games for free, cloud storage and exclusive discounts at the PlayStation Store. If you had a PS Plus membership before the revamp, it was automatically converted to an Essential membership.
PS Plus Extra
At $15 a month, $40 for three months or $135 for a year, a midtier PlayStation Plus Extra subscription is somewhat similar to the Game Pass Ultimate membership offered to Xbox users. It includes all the benefits and features of an Essential membership but also gives you access to a catalog of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games. The selection includes plenty of hit titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Red Dead Redemption 2.
PS Plus Premium
A PlayStation Plus Premium membership is the highest tier available, and it clocks in at either $18 a month, $50 for three months or $160 for a full year. In addition to all the benefits of both an Essential and Extra subscription, it gives you access to a massive library of more than 700 games. That includes the recent PS4 and PS5 hits from the Extra subscription, but also a catalog of more than 300 classics from the PS1, PS2 and PS3 eras (similar to the previous PS Now subscription). It allows you to stream many of these classic titles, so you don't have to worry about them eating up your valuable storage space.
You also get access to time-limited game trials, so you can try out new games before you commit to buying them. If you had a subscription to PS Now before the revamp went live, it was automatically converted to a PlayStation Plus Premium membership.
How we choose PlayStation Plus deals at CNET
Savings on PlayStation gaming subscriptions can be pretty tough to come by. To help you get signed up for less, we scout the best deals being offered by Sony directly, as well as trusted third-party retailers like CDKeys. We evaluate the membership tier, subscription length and discount to help you get the best monthly price on the plan that works best for you.
At $15 a month, $40 for three months or $135 for a year, a midtier PlayStation Plus Extra subscription is going to give you the most bang for your buck. At this tier, you get access to a massive library of over 400 free games, including plenty of popular games like Red Dead Redemption 2, which makes it easy to get your money's worth. Unless you're a big fan of retro games, it's probably not worth upgrading to the Premium tier.
You can occasionally score a discounted PS Plus subscription when you sign up with Sony directly. However, these offers are typically reserved for special events like the summer Days of Play sale and are often exclusive to new subscribers.
A Plus subscription is not a requirement for PlayStation gamers, and there are hundreds of titles you can play without one. However, you will need a membership if you want to participate in online multiplayer. Access to online play is included in all tiers, starting at $10 per month for an Essential membership.
If you want the best bargain available, you'll want to sign up for an annual subscription. Opting for a 12-month membership saves you 33% on the Essential and Extra tiers and 25% on the Premium tier compared to paying monthly. Just note that once you sign up for a one-year subscription, you'll have only 14 days to cancel and get a refund.