Paramount Plus Review: Is It Worth Subscribing?

Is Paramount Plus worth it? Here’s our hot-take on CBS’ new film and TV streaming platform. Is it as good as Netflix and Amazon? Let’s find out…

Does anybody really need yet another streaming app? As of right now, there’s almost too many to choose from. You have Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, HULU, Apple TV+, and Paramount Plus – and that’s just the bigger ones.

In addition to these streaming platforms, there’s a host of additional, smaller movie and TV streaming apps like Tubi and Peacock. And if you subscribe to all of them, you’re looking at a rather hefty monthly bill.

I know this because, at one point last year, I had NINE active film and TV streaming app subscriptions. I’ve since slimmed it down to a much more fiscally responsible three.

But I did recently add in Paramount Plus for the purpose of this review. And you know what? I think I’ll be keeping it for the time being. Here’s why…

What is Paramount Plus?

Pin

Paramount Plus is the latest entrant into the now INSANELY crowded streaming market. Like Netflix and HBO Max, it is a subscription service and prices start from just $5.99/£6.99 per month which makes it cheaper than both Disney, Amazon, and Netflix.

There’s also a free 7-day trial which you can access here.

On top of this, Paramount Plus boasts over 30,000 films and TV shows, covering everything from Hollywood blockbusters and classic films to TV shows from CBS’ arsenal of channels which include Comedy Central, Paramount Network, BET, MTV, and VH1 to name just a few.

You also have exclusive TV shows like The Offer and Star Trek: Discovery that are only available on Paramount Plus and a host of new shows planned for the next 12 months. As of right now, here’s a selection of some of the best Paramount Plus originals:

• Mayor of Kingstown
• 1883
• Guilty Party
• Star Trek: Lower Decks
• Star Trek: Prodigy
• The Game
• The Good Fight
• Evil
• Mike Judge’s Beavis & Butt-Head
• iCarly
• Star Trek: Discovery
• Star Trek: Picard

It’s also got news, sports, live TV on certain plans, kids programming, and exclusive Paramount films – like Top Gun: Maverick – that are usually only available for rent or purchase on other digital film and movie streaming platforms like Amazon and iTunes.

In this respect, Paramount Plus is closer to Disney Plus and HULU in how it works. CBS, Paramount’s parent company, controls A LOT of IP and it is this IP, which includes a never-ending stream of new films and shows, that makes it, arguably, a more compelling platform than Netflix.

What’s On Paramount Plus?

As for what is currently available on Paramount Plus, we kind of touched on this above. In total, and not included its Live TV element (only available in the US on certain plans), you have around 30,000 TV shows and films at your disposal with new content added every week.

Basically, if you’re worried about there not being enough content on Paramount Plus to warranty signing-up for an account, you can put that concern to bed for good. Paramount Plus has a ton of content and most of it, unlike on Apple TV+ and Netflix, is actually really good too.

It is arguably one of the best streaming platforms for new films, easily on a par with Disney+ and HULU, and its original shows – Star Trek: Discovery and Evil, for instance – are well worth checking out. In fact, if you’re a Star Trek fan, Paramount Plus is literally the streaming platform of your dreams – it has ALL the Star Trek, old and new.

CBS All Access vs. Paramount Plus: What’s The Difference?

CBS All Access was the precursor to Paramount Plus and, for the most part, it was a relatively good platform. But since its rebrand into Paramount Plus, the platform has come on leaps and bounds. It includes everything you got with CBS All Access plus WAY more films and shows.

CBS likely saw what Disney was doing with its Disney+ and HULU platforms and decided it wanted a piece of the action. Like Disney, CBS controls a lot of popular brands and franchises, so it is uniquely placed to achieve similar things to Disney.

Disney’s collective streaming platforms (Disney+, HULU, and ESPN) are now bigger than Netflix. CBS has made ALL the right moves with Paramount Plus to make it not only a competitor but likely one of the more dominant streaming platforms inside the next 12 months or so.

If you like having early access to new films, fresh out of the cinema Paramount Plus is an easy recommendation. I knew little about the platform going in but its selection of movies, new and old, blew me away; there’s just so much awesome stuff available.

And for $4.99/£6.99 a month, it is massively cheaper than Netflix and Apple TV+ and, arguably, a lot better when it comes to the available selection of films. I got a free trial for Top Gun: Maverick, but I ended up keeping my subscription because the selection of film and TV shows was just so good.

Paramount Plus Compatible Devices

Paramount Plus is compatible and will run on the following devices, streaming hardware, consoles, and phones and tablets:

Is Paramount Plus Worth It?

In a market as saturated as the film and TV streaming one, in order to compete – or even get a look in – you need great pricing and A LOT of amazing content, including original TV shows and the latest films.

Whoever oversaw the development and release of Paramount Plus, clearly knew this. Whilst the platform is newer than Netflix and Apple TV+, it has a couple of major USPs over these platforms.

The first is the price; Paramount Plus is cheaper than everything else on the market right now (prices start from just $4.99/£6.99 per month).

And the second is its selection of films and TV shows: Paramount Plus has more to offer than most other streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon, and, in some respects, Disney too. For this reason, it is well worth checking out Paramount Plus if you haven’t already.

Just get the free trial here and you’ll quickly understand why I am being so bullish about Paramount Plus and its potential growth in the coming weeks and months.

Paramount Plus FAQs