Paramount+ is getting another price hike as free trials are going away
It says the price increase is supposed to boost user experience.
Another year, another streaming price hike. Paramount+ is raising its subscription prices again in early 2026 and this time, it’s also scrapping free trials.
Starting January 15th, 2026, subscribers in the US will see the Essential plan (ad-supported) jump from $7.99 to $8.99 per month, while the Premium plan (ad-free) will rise from $12.99 to $13.99 per month.
Paramount says the new rates will help “fuel continued reinvestment in the user experience” and strengthen its programming lineup, though, to many users, it sounds like the same promise they’ve heard after every price bump. The streamer has now raised prices almost annually, with hikes in 2023 and again in mid-2024, alongside similar adjustments in Canada and Australia.
Louis Eriakha
The announcement follows Paramount’s completed merger with media powerhouse, Skydance, a $7.7 billion deal that’s already reshaping the company from leadership changes to layoffs and even a full-time return-to-office mandate starting January 2026. Under Skydance, Paramount+ added 1.4 million new subscribers, bringing its global total to 79.1 million.
But that momentum may soon be tested. Alongside the price increase, Paramount confirmed it will retire free trials for new users and review discount practices, signaling a more aggressive push toward profitability. The company is also upgrading its backend tech for Paramount+ and Pluto TV, with plans to integrate AI-driven recommendations and personalization.
The takeaway
Streaming just got a little more expensive again. Paramount’s latest price hike is part of a larger industry trend where profitability now outweighs growth. With free trials gone and fewer discount options, new users may hesitate to jump in. But for Paramount, this is a clear pivot toward building a leaner, more efficient platform powered by AI and data.
As the streaming wars mature, the real question isn’t who’s growing fastest anymore, but who can stay profitable without losing the audience they already have.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
