By So you’re thinking about getting Paramount Plus UK? Smart move. With streaming services popping up left and right, it’s good to know what you’re actually signing up for before handing over your card details.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know about Paramount Plus UK. We’ll cover the pricing (including the recent changes), what’s actually worth watching, and whether it makes sense for your viewing habits. No corporate jargon, just straight talk.
•• What Actually Is Paramount Plus UK?
Paramount Plus UK is the streaming service from Paramount Pictures. It launched in the UK back in June 2022, bringing together content from CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and Showtime.
Think of it as Paramount’s answer to Netflix and Disney+. You get movies, TV shows, some live sports, and a growing collection of original content. The service has been around in the US since 2014 (under different names), but it’s still finding its feet in the UK market.
The big selling point? It’s cheaper than most competitors while offering a pretty solid mix of content. Whether that’s worth your money depends on what you like to watch.
•• How Much Does Paramount Plus UK Cost?
Here’s where things got interesting in late 2024. Paramount Plus UK changed from a single subscription option to three different tiers. Let me break down each one.
••• Paramount Plus Basic Plan
The cheapest option will set you back £4.99 per month or £43.99 for a full year.
What you get:
- Access to the full content library
- Ads before and during videos (the trade-off for the lower price)
- Stream on one device at a time
- 1080p Full HD quality
- No downloads for offline viewing
This plan works if you don’t mind ads and mainly watch on your own. It’s genuinely affordable compared to other streaming services.
••• Paramount Plus Standard Plan
This is the middle ground at £7.99 per month or £70.99 annually.
What you get:
- Full content library (obviously)
- No ads during your shows and movies
- Stream on two devices simultaneously
- 1080p Full HD quality
- Download content to watch offline
Most people will probably go for this one. It’s still cheaper than Netflix’s equivalent tier, and you can share it with someone else in your household without fighting over who gets to watch.
••• Paramount Plus Premium Plan
The top tier costs £10.99 per month or £97.99 yearly.
What you get:
- Everything from the Standard plan
- Stream on four devices at once
- 4K Ultra HD and HDR quality
- Better picture quality on compatible TVs
This premium option finally brings 4K to UK subscribers, something people have been asking for since launch. If you’ve got a fancy TV and a family that all want to stream different things, this makes sense.
•• Is There Still a Free Trial?
Yes! Paramount Plus UK typically offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. It’s a solid way to test things out without spending a penny.
Most streaming platforms have ditched free trials entirely, so this is actually pretty generous. Just remember to set a reminder if you’re only trying it out, because it will auto-renew after the week is up.
•• What Can You Actually Watch on Paramount Plus UK?
Let’s get to the good stuff. What’s actually available to stream?
••• Movies on Paramount Plus UK
The movie library mixes classics with newer releases. You’ll find:
Blockbusters and franchises:
- Mission: Impossible films (most of them, anyway)
- Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick
- Sonic the Hedgehog movies
- Transformers franchise
- A Quiet Place films
Classic hits:
- The Godfather trilogy
- Titanic
- Forrest Gump
- Footloose
- Pulp Fiction
Recent theatrical releases:
Paramount movies typically land on the service 45 days after they leave cinemas. So you get newer films faster than you might think.
The movie selection isn’t as massive as Netflix or Prime Video, but the quality is decent. You get proper Hollywood classics alongside family-friendly options and action blockbusters.
••• TV Shows Worth Your Time
This is where Paramount Plus UK really shines in specific areas.
Original and exclusive shows:
– Halo (the big-budget video game adaptation)
– 1883 and 1923 (Yellowstone prequels, though Yellowstone itself is on Peacock)
– Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
– Tulsa King (Sylvester Stallone’s crime drama)
– Mayor of Kingstown
Archive favourites:
– All the Star Trek series you can handle
– Dexter (including the new sequel series)
– South Park
– Twin Peaks
– Cheers
– SpongeBob SquarePants
Reality TV:
– MTV shows like Teen Mom and Ex On The Beach
– Various Nickelodeon programming for kids
The TV catalogue is smaller than Netflix (we’re talking hundreds of shows versus thousands), but there’s depth in certain genres, especially sci-fi and reality TV.
••• Live Sports Coverage
Sports fans get some solid options:
– NFL games broadcast on CBS
– UEFA Champions League matches
– CBS Sports content
– Live news from CBS News and CBSN
The sports offering isn’t as comprehensive as dedicated sports services, but it’s a nice bonus if you’re already subscribing for the shows and movies.
•• How Does Paramount Plus UK Compare to Other Streaming Services?
Let’s be honest about where it stands.
••• Paramount Plus UK vs Netflix
Netflix costs more (£4.99 to £17.99, depending on tier) and has a much larger library. But Paramount Plus UK beats it on price and simultaneous streams at comparable tiers. The Standard plan lets two people watch at once, while Netflix’s Standard only allows two as well, but costs £10.99.
••• Paramount Plus UK vs Disney Plus
Disney Plus sits at £7.99 monthly (same as Paramount’s Standard plan). Disney has the Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar catalogues locked down. Paramount counters with more grown-up content from Showtime and a better sports lineup.
••• Paramount Plus UK vs Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video comes bundled with Amazon Prime at £8.99 monthly, giving you way more than just streaming. The content library is bigger too. But Paramount Plus UK focuses its catalogue better around specific brands people actually want.
••• Paramount Plus UK vs Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus costs less at £8.99 monthly but has a tiny library of only original shows. Paramount Plus UK gives you the archive content alongside originals, making it better value for most people.
•• Setting Up Paramount Plus UK: The Actual Steps
Getting started is refreshingly simple:
- Head to paramountplus.com
- Click the sign-up button
- Pick your subscription tier (Basic, Standard, or Premium)
- Enter your email and create a password
- Add payment details
- Start streaming
You can create up to six profiles per account, which is great for families. Everyone gets their own watch history and recommendations.
•• What Devices Work with Paramount Plus UK?
Pretty much everything you’d expect:
Smart TVs:
– Samsung
– LG
– Sony
– Vizio
Streaming devices:
– Roku
– Amazon Fire TV Stick
– Apple TV
– Chromecast
Game consoles:
– PlayStation 4 and 5
– Xbox One and Series X/S
Mobile and tablets:
– iPhone and iPad (iOS)
– Android phones and tablets
Browsers:
– Chrome
– Safari
– Firefox
– Edge
You can also add Paramount Plus as a channel through Amazon Prime Video, which keeps all your streaming in one place.
•• The Problems Nobody Talks About
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Paramount Plus UK isn’t perfect.
••• The Content Gap
The UK library is noticeably smaller than the US version. Some shows and movies available to American subscribers just aren’t here due to licensing restrictions. It’s frustrating when you read about something only to find it’s not actually available.
••• Technical Issues
The apps have a reputation for being buggy. Users report buffering problems, crashes, and interface glitches more often than with Netflix or Disney Plus. Things are improving, but it’s still not as smooth an experience as the bigger platforms.
••• The Library Size
With around 600 movies and 400 TV shows, Paramount Plus UK is tiny compared to Netflix (6,700+ titles) or Prime Video (8,700+ titles). You’ll burn through the content you want to watch pretty quickly.
••• No 4K on Older Plans
Until the Premium tier launched, UK subscribers couldn’t get 4K at all. That’s finally changed, but you need to pay extra for it. Meanwhile, Disney Plus and Prime Video include 4K in their standard pricing.
•• Who Should Get Paramount Plus UK?
This service makes sense for specific types of viewers.
You’ll love it if you:
– Want access to Star Trek everything
– Have kids who watch Nickelodeon shows
– Enjoy South Park and Yellowstone spin-offs
– Watch NFL games on CBS
– Want a cheap streaming option that covers the basics
You might want to skip it if you:
– Need a massive content library
– Already have multiple streaming services
– Don’t care about any of their exclusive shows
– Get frustrated by technical glitches
– Want cutting-edge 4K streaming without paying premium prices
•• Smart Ways to Use Paramount Plus UK
Here’s how to get the most value:
••• The Binge-and-Cancel Strategy
Subscribe for a month or two, watch everything you want, then cancel. Come back when new seasons of your favourite shows drop. The monthly option makes this easy without a long-term commitment.
••• Bundle Through Sky
If you already have Sky Cinema, you get Paramount Plus UK included at no extra cost. Check your Sky account before signing up separately.
••• Annual Subscriptions Save Money
Going yearly instead of monthly saves you roughly 15% across all tiers. If you know you’ll use it regularly, do the maths on the annual option.
••• Use Multiple Profiles
Set up separate profiles for everyone in your household. The recommendation algorithm works better when it’s not mixing everyone’s viewing habits together.
•• The Future of Paramount Plus UK
The service is still growing. More content gets added monthly, technical improvements are rolling out, and the platform is starting to find its niche.
Price increases are coming in 2026 for existing subscribers, so current members will see changes then. The platform is also working on better parental controls and improving the 4K catalogue for Premium subscribers.
Paramount has big plans for original content, too. More Star Trek shows are in production, new Yellowstone universe series are coming, and movie releases will keep hitting the platform after their theatrical runs.
•• Common Questions About Paramount Plus UK
••• Can I Watch Yellowstone on Paramount Plus UK?
No. Weirdly, Yellowstone isn’t on Paramount Plus at all (even in the US). You’ll need Peacock for that. But you can watch the prequel series 1883 and 1923 on Paramount Plus UK.
••• How Many People Can Watch at Once?
Basic allows one stream, Standard allows two, and Premium allows four simultaneous streams. All tiers let you create up to six profiles.
••• Does Paramount Plus UK Have Ads?
Only on the Basic tier. Standard and Premium are completely ad-free.
••• Can I Download Shows to Watch Offline?
Yes, but not on the Basic plan. Standard and Premium both include downloads.
••• Is Paramount Plus UK Available on Sky?
Yes! Sky Cinema subscribers get Paramount Plus UK included for free. Check your Sky box or app.
••• What’s the Difference Between Paramount Plus UK and the US Version?
The US version has more content due to licensing agreements. Some shows and movies available there aren’t available here. The pricing structure is also different.
••• Can I Cancel Anytime?
Absolutely. There’s no contract or cancellation fee. You can stop your subscription whenever you want, and you’ll keep access until the end of your billing period.
••• Will My Kids Be Safe Watching?
Paramount Plus UK includes parental controls. You can restrict content by rating and create kid-specific profiles that only show age-appropriate content.
•• My Final Thoughts on Paramount Plus UK
Here’s the bottom line.
Paramount Plus UK isn’t trying to be Netflix. It’s carving out a specific space with Star Trek fans, families with young kids, and people who want solid entertainment without spending a fortune.
The content library is smaller than that of competitors, and the apps could use some work. But the pricing is genuinely competitive, especially the Basic tier at under five quid monthly. You get access to some genuinely great shows and a decent movie collection.
Is it perfect? No. Is it worth trying? Probably, especially with that free trial.
My recommendation:
Sign up for the 7-day trial on the Standard plan. Watch a few episodes of the shows you’re interested in, test the app on your devices, and see if the library has enough depth for you. Then make your decision based on actual experience, not just marketing promises.
For most people, Paramount Plus UK works best as a rotating subscription. Get it for a month when there’s something specific you want to watch, then cancel until the next batch of must-see content arrives. That approach maximises value without the commitment of keeping it year-round alongside your other streaming services.
The streaming market is crowded, and nobody needs ten different subscriptions. But at its price point, Paramount Plus UK deserves consideration if its content matches your interests. Just know what you’re getting into before you sign up.