Gaming subscriptions: plans and prices compared 2026
Gaming subscriptions in the US are tied to your platform: Game Pass for Xbox and PC, PlayStation Plus for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch Online for Switch, and EA Play across several. Each has tiers — the cheapest usually covers online play, higher ones add a library of games, classics or cloud streaming.
We compare terms from the providers’ US websites. Prices are in the price block on each product’s page, before sales tax.
Quick picks
If you want new games on release day
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass include new games on day one.
If you play on PC only
PC Game Pass has 300+ PC games; EA Play Pro runs in the EA app on PC.
If you’re a family on Switch
Nintendo Switch Online Family covers up to 8 Nintendo Accounts.
If you want classic games
PlayStation Plus Premium has the Classics Catalog; Nintendo Switch Online has NES, Super NES and Game Boy, and the Expansion Pack adds N64, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and SEGA Genesis.
If you want to stream instead of download
Game Pass includes cloud playtime on console tiers (5, 10 or 15 hours a month); PlayStation Plus Premium includes cloud streaming.
If you want cloud saves
PlayStation Plus includes 100 GB of cloud storage for PS5 and PS4 saves on every tier.
$19.99/yr
Individual membership
What should you choose?
The service is picked by our score, the plan is the cheapest one that fits the situation. Prices are checked.
For new games
Xbox Game Pass · Essential
$9.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
- on release day
For online play
PlayStation Plus · PlayStation Plus Essential
$10.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
- you can play with others
Cheapest
Nintendo Switch Online · Individual membership
$19.99/yrPlus sales tax where applicable
- Cheapest in the category
Services in this category
from $9.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $10.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $19.99/yrPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
from $5.99/moPlus sales tax where applicable
Price checked
Related comparisons
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How to choose
- 1
Start with your platform
Xbox and PC → Game Pass; PlayStation → PlayStation Plus; Switch → Nintendo Switch Online.
- 2
Decide if you need a library or just online play
Lower tiers cover online play and a few games; Game Pass Premium/Ultimate and PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium add hundreds of games.
- 3
Check how billing works
Game Pass and EA Play renew monthly; PlayStation Plus has 1-, 3- and 12-month plans; Nintendo Switch Online is yearly.
- 4
Watch trial conversions
Game Pass Essential and Premium start at $1 for 14 days; Nintendo’s free trial converts to a paid membership automatically.
- 5
Back up saves before you cancel
Download your PS Plus cloud saves to the console before the membership lapses.
Types of gaming subscriptions
Gaming subscriptions come in four shapes.
Online play memberships
PlayStation Plus Essential, Nintendo Switch Online, Game Pass Essential — online multiplayer, cloud saves, some games.
Game libraries
Game Pass Premium and Ultimate, PC Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra — hundreds of games to download.
Classics and streaming
PlayStation Plus Premium and Nintendo’s Expansion Pack — classic catalogs; Game Pass and PS Plus Premium — cloud play.
Publisher subscriptions
EA Play and EA Play Pro — EA’s own games and trials; EA Play is also part of Game Pass Ultimate.
Owned vs borrowed games
Games bought at a member discount are yours; monthly games and catalog titles go when the membership ends.
What to check before you subscribe
Questions the monthly price doesn’t answer.
| Question | What to look at |
|---|---|
| How many games are included? | What to look atGame Pass Essential 50+, Premium 200+, Ultimate 500+, PC Game Pass 300+. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium — hundreds in the Game Catalog. |
| Are new releases included? | What to look atGame Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass — new games on day one. |
| Is cloud gaming included? | What to look atGame Pass — 5, 10 or 15 hours a month by tier, not on PC Game Pass. PlayStation Plus — Premium only. |
| Can the family share? | What to look atNintendo Switch Online Family — up to 8 Nintendo Accounts. |
| Can you pay for longer? | What to look atPlayStation Plus — 3 or 12 months. Nintendo — yearly. EA Play — monthly or yearly. |
| Is there a trial? | What to look atGame Pass Essential and Premium — first 14 days for $1. Nintendo — a free trial that converts automatically. PlayStation Plus Premium — Game Trials of select games. |
| What else is bundled? | What to look atGame Pass Ultimate — EA Play, Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics. Nintendo Expansion Pack — select Switch 2 upgrade packs and DLC. |
| Are cloud saves included? | What to look atPlayStation Plus: 100 GB each for PS5 and PS4, on every tier. |
When it pays off and when it doesn’t
Pays off
- If you play several new games a year — a library costs less than buying them.
- If you play online — on most consoles that needs a membership anyway.
- If a family plan covers everyone in the house (Nintendo Family: up to 8).
Doesn’t pay off
- A top tier when you mostly replay one game.
- Paying for EA Play separately when you already have Game Pass Ultimate.
- Letting a $1 or free trial roll into a paid plan you don’t use.
FAQ
In short
Choosing a gaming subscription in the US starts with your platform, then the tier: online play only, a game library, or classics and cloud. This page collects those terms from the providers’ own pages.
Alt-subs is independent of the services on this page. Trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the service. Prices come from the providers’ own websites and are shown with dates.
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