Why You Can Trust CNET PlayStation Plus Deals: Get Sony's Gaming Subscription for Less
Here's a breakdown of how PlayStation's multitiered subscription works and the best ways to get signed up for a lower price.
Over two years after its release, it's finally getting easier to find the PlayStation 5 in stock (currently available at Best Buy, Amazon and Sony Direct). And if you're looking to get the most out of your sleek next-gen console, you'll want to check out a PlayStation Plus membership. The subscription service, which was overhauled last year, now has three different tiers and gives you access to online play, exclusive discounts and a massive library of free games.
Since the redesign, there haven't been too many ways to save on a subscription, but below we've broken down how the different tiers work and pretty much the only method of getting signed up for less at the moment. We'll continue to update this page as more deals and discounts pop up, so be sure to check back often. And for even more savings, you can check out our roundup of the best bargains on PlayStation games, gear and accessories.
What's changed?
Before the revamp, PlayStation offered two different subscription services. PlayStation Plus was a $10-per-month service similar to Xbox Live Gold that let you play games online and participate in multiplayer matches. PlayStation Now was a $10-per-month cloud gaming service that gave players access to a huge library of classic titles from the PS2, PS3 and PS4. The new PS Plus has essentially rolled both memberships into a single service with multiple subscription tiers. There are three different membership packages available, combining different features and benefits of both previous subscriptions.
PS Plus Essential
At $10 per month, $25 for three months or $60 for the year, PlayStation Plus Essential is basically no different than the previous 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 went live, it was automatically converted to an Essential membership.
PS Plus Extra
At $15 per month, $40 for three months or $100 for the 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 God of War, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima.
PS Plus Premium
A PlayStation Plus Premium membership is the highest tier available, and clocks in at either $18 per month, $50 for three months or $120 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 a purchase. If you had a subscription to PS Now before the revamp went live, it was automatically converted to a PlayStation Plus Premium membership.
PS Plus deals
Things were pretty chaotic leading up to the revamp, with people stacking discounted memberships and racking up hundreds in savings before Sony got wise to the loophole. It's been closed for a while now, and we haven't seen too many chances to save on a service since. Sony and retailers appear to have pulled any remaining membership codes to the now-discontinued PS Now service, but if you're only interested in the Essential-tier membership, there are still a few holdover deals on the original PS Plus.
It's pretty slim pickings for deals on the updated PS Plus at the moment, so if you're looking to save some cash, this is your best bet. This offer is technically for an original PS Plus subscription from before the revamp, which will automatically convert to an Essential membership. We haven't had a chance to test this deal ourselves, but several reviewers have stated that they've had no problem redeeming one of these older codes. An Essential membership is typically $60 for the year, which is already a 50% discount on the monthly plan pricing. But right now at CD Keys, you can get an annual subscription for $50, which drops the monthly cost to just over $4. You won't get access to the massive library of games, but you will be able to play online and you will receive two free games every month.
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