Is Paramount+ worth it?
Is Paramount+ worth it?
As a longtime user of Paramount+, I’ll offer my thoughts on whether or not the streamer is worth your time.
Every person values their streaming services differently. For many, Netflix is a must-have utility, but other customers think of more obscure platforms like Acorn TV or Curiosity Stream as their go-to for a new TV show, movie, or documentary. That makes it a bit difficult to assess whether or not a streaming service like Paramount+ is worth subscribing to for each individual cord-cutter.
But as a frequent Paramount+ user, I have plenty of thoughts on whether or not keeping the streamer is a worthwhile endeavor. What it comes down to is that fans of specific franchises and content will want to make sure they always have a Paramount+ subscription, while others may not find the streamer worth keeping at all times.
Is Paramount+ worth keeping permanently?
What’s on Paramount+?
Paramount+ is a general entertainment streaming service, with no particular emphasis on any one individual genre. The streamer prides itself on having a wide range of TV shows and movies to watch for the average American, such as next-day streams of CBS broadcast series like “Ghosts” and “NCIS: Origins.” CBS was the most-watched network for the 17th season in a row in 2024-25, and Paramount+ is the best place to find the Eye Network’s titles on demand.
Audiences will also find plenty of originals on Paramount+. There’s no bigger draw on the service than the works of Taylor Sheridan, including shows set in the universe of the Dutton family like “1923,” gritty dramas like “Mayor of Kingstown,” and star-studded series like “Tulsa King.” Paramount+ is also home to franchises like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible, so fans of these shows will want to keep Paramount+ close at hand.
Paramount Pictures has been home to some true blockbuster films over the years, including the aforementioned “Mission: Impossible” films, the “Top Gun” movies, and more. Paramount+ is the streaming home of Paramount Pictures titles from throughout the decades.
Finally, Paramount+ also offers a great selection of on-demand entertainment from Paramount-owned cable channels like Comedy Central and MTV. “South Park” is found on Paramount+, as are titles from BET like “Tyler Perry's Divorced Sistas,” and even kids’ shows from Nickelodeon such as “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Customers of the Paramount+ Premium tier can also watch the SHOWTIME library on Paramount+, including titles like “Yellowjackets.”
Does Paramount+ have live sports?
Sports fans without live TV streaming access to CBS will love Paramount+. The streamer offers live sports on both its ad-supported and ad-free plans, but only Paramount+ Premium customers get access to a live stream of CBS and all the sports that air on that channel.
Sports on the Paramount+ Essential plan include:
- NFL games on CBS in local markets on Sundays
- UEFA Champions League matches and more soccer
- UFC numbered events and fight nights
Sports on the Paramount+ Premium plan include:
- Everything on Paramount+ Essential
- NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games
- Big Ten, Pac-12, and Mountain West college football
- The Masters and other PGA coverage
- PBR
- NWSL games
How much are Paramount+’s plans?
| Plan | Ads? | Monthly price | Annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ Essential | With ads | $9 | $90 |
| Paramount+ Premium | Without ads | $14 | $140 |
How’s the ad experience on Paramount+?
When we tested the service in 2025, Paramount+ had one of the worst ad experiences of any streamer. At that time, it showed around seven to eight minutes of ads per hour of content, with pause ads also in use. At that time, The Streamable recommended upgrading to the ad-free plan if possible.
What do I like about Paramount+?
To be frank, I mostly use Paramount+ to re-watch Star Trek whenever the mood strikes, as well as old favorites like “Frasier.” I’ve never been partial to primetime titles from CBS or the works of Taylor Sheridan, but I have always appreciated that Paramount+ offers me a single place to go for every Star Trek series and movie, without having to search around various services and track licensing deals to find titles from the franchise.
As a Paramount+ Premium subscriber, I have to say that the CBS stream is highly convenient — particularly as an NFL fan. Traditionally, I have chosen not to subscribe to live TV streaming services, so being able to pull up the NFL on Sunday afternoon on my phone is a big plus. Fans of the Champions League and the college sports found on CBS would no doubt say the same.
My other favorite use for Paramount+ is as a vehicle for nostalgia. I grew up watching titles like “SpongeBob” on the service, and when the mood strikes, it’s nice to be able to go back to those kinds of shows without having to watch the commercials that used to accompany them on cable.
What are the worst parts about Paramount+?
I’ve written about the quality of the Paramount+ app before, but it will continue to bear repeating until the streamer decides to do something about it. I experience frequent crashes while using the Paramount+ app, most often while starting playback of a show or movie.
It’s not just crashing issues, however. I prefer to watch my TV shows and movies with subtitles, and for reasons that escape me, Paramount+ often places the subtitle block over a character’s face, making it fairly difficult to see their reaction in a given shot. And, as pictured below, the Skip Intro button that helps the user move past the opening credits isn’t always available from episode to episode in a given series.
The Skip Intro button should be at the bottom-right corner of the screen, but it’s nowhere to be found. Click to expand.
These little annoyances can add up fast when you watch a lot of Paramount+, as I do. Paramount CEO David Ellison has made lofty promises regarding his intentions to improve Paramount+ and the company’s other streaming platforms, but those plans have not been executed yet, as far as I can tell.
So, is Paramount+ worth it?
In summation, I think viewers who have a particular love for the titles of Taylor Sheridan, fans of “South Park” and “Star Trek,” and lovers of CBS will find Paramount+ a worthwhile subscription to keep permanently. Its ad plan isn’t the best, but at $9 per month, it’s cheap enough to justify a worse experience, especially considering the inclusion of Sunday afternoon NFL games.
If you’re a true diehard of any of this programming, however, an upgrade to the Premium plan is a worthwhile consideration. It does cost $5 per month more, but Paramount+ still has one of the cheapest ad-free streaming plans on the market overall.
Getting away from commercials on Paramount+ upgrades the experience in a major way, and it unlocks all the live sports and news found on CBS as well. Ultimately, I don’t think Paramount+ is a must-have streamer for everyone, but those who really love the service’s content will find an upgrade to the ad-free Premium plan worth it.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.