How to Watch Paramount+: Pricing, Free Trial, NFL Games, Shows, More

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Since 2014, the streaming service now known as Paramount+ has gone through a few evolutions. First, there was CBS All Access, and then as the streaming wars ramped up, the service had a name change and Paramount+ was born. Then, two years later, the service integrated Showtime’s library to become Paramount+ with Showtime.

Confusing? A little bit! But the content on Paramount+ is largely the same as it was from the CBS All Access days, and right now, the service is gearing up for one of their main events: the end of the 2023-24 NFL season.

Since this year’s Super Bowl is airing on CBS, you’ll be able to stream it on Paramount+, giving cord-cutters an easy and inexpensive way to stream the big game.

Do you want to learn more about Paramount+? Wondering what else there is to watch if you signed up for sports? Looking for info about a free trial? Keep reading for all of the As to your Qs.

What is Paramount+?

Paramount+ is the streaming service owned by Paramount Global, which means it’s primarily streaming titles from the CBS Media Ventures/CBS Studios/Paramount Media Network family.

Expect to see shows from the CBS broadcast network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and more, with hit movies from Paramount Pictures streaming as well.

In late 2023, Paramount+ fully integrated Showtime into the platform; this ended Showtime’s days as a standalone streaming service/app. The higher Paramount+ subscription tier now gets access to all things Showtime from original series to a rotating selection of blockbuster movies.

Subscription Plans and Pricing:

Paramount+ has two different subscription plans. Per the streamer’s website, here’s the difference between both plans:

Paramount+ Essential

  • Tens of thousands of episodes and movies
  • NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League
  • Limited Ads
  • 24/7 live news with CBS News

Paramount+ with Showtime

  • Everything in Essential, plus
  • No ads except live TV and a few shows
  • Showtime originals and movies
  • Live TV with your local CBS network and college football
  • Download shows to your mobile device

Paramount+ Essential costs $5.99/month or $59.99/year, while Paramount+ with Showtime is $11.99/month or $119.99/year.

Does Paramount+ Have Free Trials?

Yes! Paramount+ offers a seven-day free trial for all new subscribers, no matter which plan you subscribe to. To take advantage of it, simply head over to the Paramount+ homepage, click Try It Free, and create an account.

Right now, though, the code STREAMNFL will get you a one-month free trial for either plan instead of the typical seven days.

Can You Watch Sports on Paramount+?

Patrick Mahomes throwing
Photo: Getty Images

You sure can! Paramount+ has live sports available to stream on both subscription plans, though the Essential plan is limited in what’s available to stream. Here’s what you can expect to be able to watch:

Paramount+ Essential:

  • NFL on CBS (including the Wild Card, Divisional, and Conference playoffs, plus the Super Bowl)
  • UEFA Champions League

Paramount+ with Showtime:

  • Everything included in Essential, plus
  • SEC on CBS
  • The Masters
  • NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship
  • PGA Tour
  • The PGA Championship
  • Women’s soccer (NWSL)
  • Combate Global MMA
  • Bellator MMA
  • SHOWTIME Championship Boxing

What Shows Are On Paramount+?

Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford in '1923'
Photo by: Emerson Miller/Paramount+

As a hub for CBS, you can expect to see new episodes of currently-airing CBS shows a day after they air on TV; this includes all of the FBI series, NCIS, Ghosts, Survivor, Big Brother, and more. The service also has shows from MTV (like RuPaul’s Drag Race), Nickelodeon, and more, though those shows don’t have the same next-day premieres as CBS titles.

In addition to those here’s just a handful of the shows you can expect to see on Paramount+, no matter which plan you subscribe to. (Note: Paramount+ originals are identified with a *)

  • Yellowstone universe spin-offs:
    • 1883*
    • 1923*
  • Mayor of Kingstown*
  • Special Ops: Lioness*
  • Criminal Minds: Evolution*
  • Star Trek universe series:
    • The Original Series
    • The Next Generation
    • Deep Space Nine
    • Voyager
    • Enterprise
    • Discovery*
    • Lower Decks*
    • Strange New Worlds*
  • Fraiser*
  • The Challenge
  • Paw Patrol
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars*

Below, check out some of the titles that become available to you when you add Showtime to your subscription. New episodes of any currently airing titles become available as they air on the Showtime linear cable channel.

  • The Curse
  • Fellow Travelers
  • Yellowjackets
  • Billions
  • Dexter
  • Ziwe

What Movies Are On Paramount+?

Mission Impossible 7 on Paramount Plus
Photo: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Movies from the Paramount Pictures catalog generally make up the selection available to stream on Paramount+, from recent releases to classics:

  • The Mission: Impossible franchise
    • Mission: Impossible
    • Mission: Impossible II
    • Mission: Impossible III
    • Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
    • Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
    • Mission: Impossible – Fallout
    • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning
  • The Godfather
  • The Godfather Part II
  • Top Gun
  • Top Gun: Maverick
  • South Park (Not Suitable for Children)*
  • Scream VI
  • Mean Girls (2004)
  • Babylon
  • June*
  • Milli Vanilli

The following movies are only available with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan:

  • Everything Everywhere All At Once
  • Beau is Afraid
  • The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
  • Earth Mama
  • The Fabelmans
  • Pearl
  • X

Is Yellowstone On Paramount+?

No, it’s not. Even though Yellowstone airs on the Paramount Network, you won’t be able to stream it on Paramount+.

To watch Yellowstone, you’ll need a Peacock subscription instead.

What Devices Can I Use to Stream Paramount+?

You can watch Paramount+ on the following devices:

  • Computer
  • Apple TV
  • iPhone and iPad
  • Android TV
  • Android phone and tablet
  • Chromecast
  • Fire TV
  • Portal TV
  • PlayStation 4 and 5
  • Samsung TV
  • Vizio TV
  • LG TV
  • Roku
  • Xbox
  • Xfinity and Xumo
  • Cox Contour box
  • VIDAA TV
  • Google TV

To find out more about supported devices, check out the Paramount+ website.


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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, how to watch your favorite sports teams and movies on each streaming service and the very best in tech, like soundbars, to enhance your viewing experience. Not only does Angela test and compare the services, devices and merch she writes about, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and the New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews. 


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