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Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) Review
CBS launched CBS All Access in 2014. In 2021, the service rebranded to Paramount+, which now aggregates programming across CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Smithsonian Channel, CBS News and CBS Sports (with Showtime included on the premium tier). In the U.S., Paramount+ offers two plans: Essential (with ads) and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. The premium tier adds your local live CBS station, Showtime programming, offline downloads, and access to higher video formats on supported titles and devices. See the current plans and pricing.
Live TV availability depends on your plan. The Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan includes your local CBS live stream; the Essential plan does not include your local CBS channel but still provides the on-demand library and select live sports streams listed on the Sports page. The on‑demand catalog spans classic and current CBS series and Paramount brands, plus a rotating film slate in the Movies hub among others. For traditional broadcast context, CBS is one of the American Big Three networks.
Originals and next‑day TV are a core draw. Paramount+ features franchises and new series like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Tulsa King, and the revived Frasier, alongside titles such as Halo, Criminal Minds: Evolution, SEAL Team, and the 1883/1923 universe. Families will find Nickelodeon staples including SpongeBob SquarePants (availability varies by region and season). Many current CBS shows stream next day on-demand; live CBS access requires the premium tier.
Current U.S. pricing: Essential is $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year; Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year (plans). Essential includes ads and no local CBS live channel; the premium plan is mostly ad‑free on-demand and adds your local CBS live stream, Showtime, downloads and higher video formats on select titles/devices (4K/HDR help). For comparison: Hulu (With Ads) is $7.99 per month, Netflix’s entry ad tier is $6.99 per month, and Prime Video now includes ads by default unless you add an ad‑free add‑on.
Paramount+ Packages at a Glance
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*Live streams include ads due to rights; availability varies by market and plan. See Paramount+ plans for details.
How We Evaluated Paramount+
We emphasized current price-to-value, library scope, live sports access, device features, and how plan tiers gate capabilities. Paramount+ positions its ad-supported Essential plan below many rivals and reserves live local CBS, downloads, and higher-fidelity video for its premium tier (plans; 4K/HDR help). For context, Hulu’s on‑demand tiers start at $7.99, Netflix’s ad plan at $6.99, and Prime Video now includes ads unless you pay for an ad‑free add‑on. We also weighed industry shifts: streaming leads U.S. TV time and platforms are leaning into ad tiers, bundles, and live sports to drive engagement (Nielsen).
Content breadth was assessed across CBS next‑day TV and originals (e.g., Strange New Worlds, Tulsa King, Frasier) and brand hubs, plus live sports like NFL on CBS and UEFA coverage (Sports on Paramount+). We verified plan-based access using Paramount+’s official resources (plan comparison).
Paramount+ vs. Other Video Streaming Services
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Paramount+ Features
Watch live sports
On Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, you can stream your local CBS station live, including in‑market NFL on CBS games throughout the season (Paramount+ 2025 NFL announcement). Across plans, Paramount+ also streams marquee soccer such as UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, plus additional events listed on the Sports page. NFL rights are split across services in 2025 (e.g., Netflix carries Christmas Day games per Netflix, and Prime Video has Thursday Night Football and the Black Friday game per Amazon), so Paramount+ is best for the CBS‑carried windows and its broader sports slate.
Download select content
Offline downloads are available on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan; not all titles support downloads and live TV isn’t downloadable. Downloading is supported on compatible mobile apps and devices. For plan-level differences, see the Paramount+ plan comparison. For reference, Hulu restricts downloads to its No Ads plan (Hulu pricing). Paramount+ allows streaming on up to three devices at once, which is helpful for households managing multiple downloads and streams (simultaneous streams).
Modern streaming quality
Paramount+ supports select titles in 4K, HDR (including Dolby Vision), and Dolby Atmos on compatible devices with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan; Essential streams in HD and live TV may include ads due to rights. Check the official 4K/HDR help page for supported devices and titles. Industry‑wide, 4K HDR has become a standard feature of premium tiers, with services like Netflix recommending at least 15 Mbps per stream for 4K (Netflix Ultra HD requirements).
The Bottom Line
If you want next‑day CBS shows, Paramount franchises, and a single app that can also stream your local CBS station, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is the fit. If you mainly want on‑demand CBS/Paramount libraries at a lower price and don’t need the local live CBS channel, Essential offers strong value. Sports fans benefit from NFL on CBS (in market) and UEFA coverage on Paramount+ (Sports), but note that other NFL windows live on competing services. For savings, annual plans discount versus monthly billing and some partners include Paramount+ Essential at no extra cost (e.g., Walmart+ members get Essential—see Walmart+). Always verify the latest features and pricing on the Paramount+ plans page.
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