How to Make the Most of Your Paramount Plus Subscription

In the crowded landscape of streaming services, Paramount+ has carved out a significant niche as a powerhouse for fans of CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and the legendary Showtime. With its deep library of beloved franchises like Star Trek, hit dramas from Taylor Sheridan, and an increasing array of live sports, a Paramount+ subscription offers incredible value. However, to truly make the most of it, you need to navigate its tiers, unearth its hidden features, and curate your viewing experience. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to become a Paramount+ power user.

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1. Table of Contents

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   Choose the Right Plan for Your Lifestyle

The first and most crucial step to maximizing your subscription is understanding the two primary tiers and selecting the one that aligns with your viewing habits. As of early 2026, Paramount+ has streamlined its plans following a price adjustment .

• Paramount+ Essential (With Ads): Priced at $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year, this is the most budget-friendly option . It provides access to the same massive on-demand library of over 40,000 episodes and movies, including massive hits like South Park, NCIS, and the Yellowstone prequels. You also get access to live sports, including NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, and newly added UFC events . The trade-off is that you will encounter commercials during on-demand content.

• Paramount+ Premium (No Ads): Formerly known as “Paramount+ with SHOWTIME,” this tier costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year . This is the ultimate plan for entertainment junkies. It removes commercials from the vast majority of on-demand content (though live TV and a few other programs may still have ads) . It also unlocks the entire Showtime library, giving you access to critically acclaimed series like Yellowjackets, Dexter, and Billions . Furthermore, it enables 24/7 access to your local CBS live stream, offline downloads, and streaming in 4K UHD where available .

Which one should you pick?

• Choose Essential if: You are a casual viewer, primarily interested in catching live sports (especially the new UFC deal) or a specific CBS show, and don’t mind watching a few ads to save money .

• Choose Premium if: You are a binge-watcher who hates interruptions, a fan of Showtime originals, a traveler who needs offline access, or a cinephile who wants the best possible picture quality with 4K HDR .

2. Master the Art of Saving Money

Even the best subscription feels better when you know you got a deal. There are several strategies to lower your monthly bill.

• Go Annual: If you know you’ll keep the service for the long haul, the annual plan is a no-brainer. For Premium subscribers, paying $119.99 upfront saves you over $35 a year compared to paying monthly .

• The Walmart+ Hack: This is arguably the best-kept secret for streaming deals. A Walmart+ membership (around $12.95/month or $98/year) comes with a free subscription to Paramount+ Essential . You can then log in to your Paramount+ account and pay the difference to upgrade to the Premium (No Ads) plan. This method often works out cheaper than subscribing to Paramount+ directly, effectively giving you Walmart+ perks (like free shipping and fuel discounts) for the same price .

• Rotate Your Services: Don’t feel locked in. Treat your streaming subscriptions like a seasonal wardrobe. Activate Paramount+ during the NFL season or when a show like Yellowjackets returns, and pause it during the summer lulls .

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3. Curate Your Content Experience

With a library that spans decades, it’s easy to suffer from decision paralysis. A little curation goes a long way in ensuring your subscription feels valuable.

• Create Individual Profiles: Paramount+ allows you to set up to six profiles per account . This is essential for households with diverse tastes. It ensures that your “Continue Watching” list isn’t cluttered with kids’ cartoons and that your recommendations are actually tailored to you. You can even set up a dedicated Kids Profile with a restricted interface and content ratings .

• Build and Manage Your Watchlist: Don’t rely on memory. Whenever you see a movie or show that piques your interest, hit the “Add to Watchlist” button . This creates a curated queue of content you actually intend to watch, turning endless scrolling into a focused selection.

• Clean Up Your “Keep Watching” Row: Ever had a show you abandoned months ago still staring at you from the “Keep Watching” row? You can remove it. On the Paramount+ website, navigate to your account settings and find the option to edit your watch history. This cleans up your interface and makes it easier to find what you’re currently binging .

4. Unlock Hidden Features and Technical Tweaks

Paramount+ is packed with features that go beyond the basic play button. Knowing these can significantly enhance your viewing experience.

• Download for Offline Viewing (Premium Only): This is a game-changer for commuters and travelers. Premium subscribers can download movies and shows directly to their mobile device. To get a truly 100% ad-free experience, even from promotional previews, try this pro tip: download your content, then switch your phone to Airplane Mode before you hit play. This often prevents the app from loading any dynamic ads or trailers .

• Customize Your Subtitles: Struggling to read the default subtitles? You can change the font, size, color, and background opacity. On the mobile app, go to Settings > Subtitles & Captions. On the web player, click the speech bubble icon and select Subtitle Settings .

• Control Autoplay: If you prefer to savor an episode without being immediately thrown into the next one, you can turn off the autoplay feature. This can be managed in the settings menu on your TV, mobile device, or via your account page on the web .

• Watch with Friends: While Paramount+ doesn’t have a native “Watch Party” feature, you can use third-party browser extensions like Kast or Teleparty to synchronize playback and chat with friends while watching movies or shows together .

• Use a VPN for Travel: Planning a trip abroad? Remember that Paramount+ is region-locked. To keep binging your favorite shows while on vacation, you’ll need a reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) that connects to a U.S. server .

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5. Discover What to Watch: A Curated Content Guide

Knowing what’s available is half the battle. Here’s a breakdown of the content pillars that make Paramount+ shine.

• The Taylor Sheridan-Verse: If you love gritty, neo-Western dramas, this is your home. The service is packed with hits from the co-creator of Yellowstone, including the originals 1883, 1923, Tulsa King (starring Sylvester Stallone), Mayor of Kingstown, and Lioness .

• The Star Trek Universe: For sci-fi fans, Paramount+ is an absolute must. It hosts every iteration of the franchise, from The Original Series to The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. It’s also the home of new, critically acclaimed series like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Picard .

• The Showtime Powerhouse (Premium only): Upgrading to Premium unlocks a treasure trove of prestige TV. This includes Showtime staples like Dexter (and its many spinoffs), Billions, Ray Donovan, and the modern hit Yellowjackets . Notably, new episodes of shows like Yellowjackets often drop early on Paramount+ before their linear Showtime debut .

• Live Sports Central: Paramount+ is no longer just for scripted content. With the Premium plan’s CBS live stream, you get access to SEC on CBS college football, The Masters, and March Madness . The platform also streams NFL on CBS games, UEFA Champions League soccer, and is now the exclusive streaming home for UFC events, with major fights included in your subscription at no extra cost .

• Comedy Gold & Comfort Food: Sometimes you just want to laugh. Paramount+ has the entire 28-season back catalog of South Park, every episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, and classic comfort shows like Cheers, Frasier, and Everybody Loves Raymond .

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Conclusion: Stream with Intention

Paramount+ is a versatile streaming service that offers far more than just a back catalog of old TV shows. By being intentional about your subscription—choosing the right plan, taking advantage of money-saving bundles like the Walmart+ deal, and customizing your profiles and settings—you can transform it from a simple utility into a tailored entertainment powerhouse.

Whether you’re a die-hard Trekkie, a sports fanatic eager for UFC, or a drama lover catching up on the latest from Taylor Sheridan, the key to maximizing your subscription is to engage with it actively. Curate your watchlist, explore the hidden features, and download content for your commute. By following these tips, you’ll ensure that every dollar of your subscription is well spent, unlocking the full potential of everything Paramount+ has to offer.