- Paramount Plus free trial at a glance
- How to start a Paramount Plus free trial
- Three things that end your trial early
- Essential or Premium: which plan to trial
- How to cancel before you're charged
- UK and Ireland: the withdrawal right catch
- Is a Paramount Plus free trial worth it?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Paramount Plus can start with a free trial, but only for new subscribers, one per person, and Paramount says it tells you the exact length at the point of sign-up rather than promising a fixed number of days. You need a valid payment method to start it, and you're charged automatically when the trial ends unless you cancel first.
Most pages you'll find quote a set number of days. Paramount's own terms don't. They say a subscription "may start with a free trial period", that the length is shown when you sign up, and that Paramount can limit who's eligible or how long the trial lasts. So the honest answer is: check the sign-up screen, then plan your cancel date from what it says there.
Paramount Plus free trial at a glance
| Question | What Paramount's terms say |
|---|---|
| Is there a free trial? | A subscription may start with one; it isn't guaranteed |
| Who can get it? | New subscribers only, one trial per subscriber |
| How long is it? | Shown to you at the point of sign-up; Paramount may change the length |
| Card needed? | Yes, a valid payment method at sign-up |
| When are you charged? | Automatically at the end of the trial unless you cancel before it expires |
| Gift card sign-ups | No free trial applies when you redeem a gift card at the same time as signing up |
As of October 2026, the Paramount Plus home page says plans start at $8.99/month in the US, with the Premium plan adding SHOWTIME originals, downloads for offline viewing and more live sports on your local CBS station.
How to start a Paramount Plus free trial
- Go to paramountplus.com on a computer or open the app, and choose a plan.
- Read the offer box before you enter anything. If a trial is running for you, it shows the length there.
- Create your account and add a payment method. Paramount says you won't be charged until the trial ends.
- Write the trial end date in your calendar straight away, with a reminder two days before.
- Start watching. You get the plan you picked for the whole trial.
Three things that end your trial early
This is the part I'd want someone to tell me before I signed up. Paramount's terms list a few actions that quietly cut your free days short or remove them altogether.
- Upgrading during the trial. If you move from Essential to Premium on the website, the terms say your new plan starts straight away and any remaining free trial period is lost.
- Signing up with a gift card. If you redeem a gift card at the same time as signing up, a free trial won't apply, whatever promotion is showing.
- Trying to get a second trial. The terms ban registering more than once using different names, addresses or email addresses.
If you're torn between plans, pick the one you'd really keep and stay on it for the trial. Downgrading has its own rules, so it's simpler to choose once.
Essential or Premium: which plan to trial
Because upgrading mid-trial wipes the rest of your free days, it pays to decide on the plan before you start. Here's how Paramount describes the difference on its home page as of October 2026:
| If you want | Plan Paramount points you to |
|---|---|
| SHOWTIME originals and movies | Premium |
| Downloads to watch offline | Premium |
| More live sports on your local CBS station | Premium |
| 4K UHD, Dolby Vision and HDR10 on select titles | Premium, subject to your internet and device |
| The core library at the lowest price | Essential, where series may not include all episodes |
Plans also include promotions about Paramount Plus, trailers and sponsorship messages, according to the small print on the home page. If you're planning to watch a lot of SHOWTIME series during your free days, start on Premium so you aren't tempted to switch halfway through.
How to cancel before you're charged
Paramount says you can cancel in your account at paramountplus.com/account if you signed up directly with them. If you signed up through an app store or a partner, you cancel through that third party instead, using their instructions.
- Sign in at paramountplus.com and open Account.
- Find your subscription and choose Cancel Subscription.
- Follow the prompts until you see a confirmation, and keep the email.
- If you subscribed through Apple, Google, Amazon or a TV provider, cancel there, because cancelling on the website won't stop that billing.
Do it at least a day before the end date. The terms say a renewing plan charges unless you cancel before the end of the free trial period, so leaving it to the last hour is a gamble you don't need to take.
UK and Ireland: the withdrawal right catch
If you're in the UK, Paramount's material information page says that when you sign up you agree to immediate access and lose your right of withdrawal once you have access. In plain English: don't count on a cooling-off refund after you start watching. Use the trial window itself as your decision time.
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Is a Paramount Plus free trial worth it?
It's worth it if there's a specific series or a sports season you want to binge, and you're disciplined about the cancel date. It's less useful if you're just browsing, because the trial length is decided at sign-up and can be short. If you're comparing services, my guide to the Netflix free trial explains how a different streamer handles trials, and if you'd rather pay nothing at all, there's a list of legal places to watch free movies.
My verdict
Take the Paramount Plus free trial if the sign-up screen offers one, but treat the length on that screen as the only number that counts. Choose your plan once, don't upgrade mid-trial, don't pair it with a gift card, and cancel a day early through whoever bills you. Do that and the trial costs you nothing.
Looking at lighter family viewing too? See how Hallmark Plus handles free trials.
Frequently asked questions
Does Paramount Plus have a free trial?
Paramount's terms say a subscription may start with a free trial for new subscribers, one per subscriber. The length is shown at the point of sign-up and Paramount may limit eligibility or the length.
Do I need a card for the Paramount Plus free trial?
Yes. The terms say you need a valid payment method at sign-up and you're charged automatically at the end of the trial unless you cancel before it expires.
What happens if I upgrade during my Paramount Plus trial?
If you upgrade on the website, your new plan starts straight away and any remaining free trial period is lost, according to Paramount's terms.
Can I get a Paramount Plus free trial with a gift card?
No. If you redeem a gift card at the same time as signing up, Paramount says a free trial won't apply.
How do I cancel Paramount Plus during the free trial?
If you signed up directly, cancel in your account at paramountplus.com/account. If you signed up through an app store or partner, cancel through that company.
