PlayStation Plus Explained: Features, Tier Differences & Price

You're wondering what the benefits of a PlayStation Plus subscription are? In this article, we'll explain how PlayStation Plus works, including the differences between the three PS Plus tiers Essential, Premium and Extra with their individual perks.

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PlayStation Plus explained: We'll show you what PS Plus is and which Tiers are available. | © Sony

PlayStation Plus is a premium subscription service offered by Sony for PlayStation gamers. As a PS Plus subscriber, you gain access to a selection of free games every month.

There are several PlayStation Plus Tiers available by now. We'll break down the differences for you so you can decide which tier will suit you best.

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PlayStation Plus Explained: The Differences Between Essential, Extra And Premium

There are three different PlayStation Plus membership tiers. We've got the PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium, of course all with different prices and benefits. Let's check out what the perks of each subscription model are:

PS Plus Essential

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PS Plus: The Essential Tier gives you acces to three games every month. | © EarlyGame

This tier is basically for everyone who doesn't like changes. The membership continues the way it already is – so the old PS Plus basically just got a new name. You'll get one PS5 and two PS4 games each month, and you gain access to online multiplayer and the cloud storage, as well as some exclusive discounts.

The PS Plus Essential will cost you $9.99 a month, but you could save nearly 40 bucks if you should decide to pay yearly $79.99 and if you'd like to save a some money but don't want to commit for a whole year you can also pay $24.99 quarterly.

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PS Plus Extra

If you're collecting games like a dragon collects gold, you can add some bonus PS5 and PS4 games to your collection. PS Plus Extra is essentially a fusion of the already existing PS Plus and PS Now. With PS5 titles on top. Meaning access to a library with up to 400 PS5 and PS4 games you can download. The launch lineup includes over 30 games like The Last of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghost of Tsushima, Bloodborne and Red Dead Redemption 2 to only name a few.

You'll get the PS Plus Extra subscription for $14.99 a month or, again, choose to pay quarterly $39.99 or even yearly $134.99 which sounds much but if you're sure you'll use it every month that's a pretty good deal considering you'd pay $179.88 if you pay $14.99 every month.

PS Plus Premium

PS Plus Premium is the highest and also most expensive tier – and contains of course the most features. In addition to the benefits of Essentials and Extra, you'll be able to stream PS3 games to dwell in nostalgia. But they won't be available for download other than the PS1, PS2 and PSP titles you can download. These additional games add up to 340 games for you to play, if you should find the time for that.

For the PS1 and PSP games, there will be some updates, including improved resolutions and frame rates. As far as the newest games are concerned, you'll get access to time-limited game trials. These will enable you to play the game for 2 hours to see if you'd like it. If you decide to by the game afterward, your saved data will be transferred, and you don't have to start again.

If you should live in a region where there's no PS3 game streaming, the highest tier will be called PS Plus Deluxe instead of PS Plus Premium. It includes everything PS Plus Premium does except the PS3 games. PS Plus Premium will cost you $17.99 a month and $49.99 quarterly, while you'll save $55.89 compared to the monthly subscription if you chose to pay $159.99 a year.

PS Plus Tiers Compared

To sum it all up, we've got a chart for you so you can compare them easily.

PS Plus Essential

PS Plus ExtraPS Plus Premium
Monthly PS4 & PS5 Downloadable GamesYesYesYes
Exclusive Discounts,

Cloud Storage,Online Multiplayer

YesYesYes
Downloadable library of

400 PS5 & PS4 games

XYesYes
PS3 Game StreamingXXYes

PS1, PS2 & PSP libraryfor download/streaming

XXYes
Time-limited game trialsXXYes
Price (monthly/yearly)

$9.99/$79.99

$14.99/$134.99$17.99/$159.99

Now it should be easier for you to decide which membership tier suits you best!

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Inga Mainka
Inga Mainka