Paramount+ vs Prime Video: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Paramount+ is a standalone service for CBS, SHOWTIME and live sport — NFL on CBS, UFC and Champions League even on Essential. Prime Video comes with Amazon Prime, has limited ads unless you add Ultra, and can also carry Paramount+ as an add-on channel billed separately. If you have Prime, the question isn’t either-or but whether to add Paramount+.
Option A
$8.99/moParamount+ Essential
Official price before tax: $8.99
Price checked
Paramount+ price and plans
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Paramount+ | Amazon Prime Video |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Own plan, or Walmart+ | With Prime, or alone |
| Live sports | NFL on CBS, UFC, Champions League | Yes, with ads |
| Screens at once | 3 | 4 (Ultra 5) |
| Downloads | Premium, phones and tablets | 50 (Ultra 100) |
| 4K | Select titles, Premium | With Ultra |
Paramount+ carries CBS and Paramount networks, SHOWTIME and live sports; Prime Video is Amazon’s catalog of included titles, originals, live sports, rentals and add-on channels.
If you don’t want to read further
NFL on CBS, UFC, CBS shows and SHOWTIME — Paramount+. Already on Prime and mostly watching movies and series — Prime Video.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
How you pay?
Paramount+
Essential or Premium, monthly or yearly — or included with Walmart+.
Amazon Prime Video
With Amazon Prime (monthly or yearly), or a Prime Video membership on its own.
Check Walmart+ and Prime before paying for either.
Ads?
Paramount+
Essential has ads; Premium is ad-free on demand, with ad breaks in live TV.
Amazon Prime Video
Limited ads by default; Ultra removes most, not in live TV, sports or some channels.
Both keep ads in live content on every tier.
Screens at once?
Paramount+
Three on both plans, with six profiles.
Amazon Prime Video
Four titles at once, five with Ultra, with six profiles.
Prime Video allows one more stream on its base tier.
Downloads?
Paramount+
Premium only, up to 25 at a time, on phones and tablets.
Amazon Prime Video
Up to 50 titles on the base tier (100 with Ultra), including Windows and macOS apps.
Offline on a laptop — Prime Video.
Paramount+ inside Prime Video?
Paramount+
Can be subscribed through Prime Video Channels and canceled there.
Amazon Prime Video
Channels like Paramount+ are billed separately and continue after Prime ends.
If you add Paramount+ as a channel, cancel it separately from Prime.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
Six profiles
Both allow up to six profiles, including kids’ profiles.
Live sports with ads
Live sports on both keep their ads, whatever you pay.
Yearly options
Paramount+ on both plans; Prime Video through a yearly Prime membership.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You follow the NFL on CBS or UFC | Paramount+ Essential | Included without Premium. |
| You already pay for Amazon Prime | Prime Video | Included; Ultra for no ads and 4K. |
| You want SHOWTIME | Paramount+ Premium | All of SHOWTIME. |
| You download on a laptop | Prime Video | Windows and macOS apps download. |
- Paramount+ Essential doesn’t include your local live CBS station beyond NFL games.
- Paramount+ has no DVR.
- The Prime free trial turns into a paid membership unless you turn off renewal.
- Some Prime Video titles cost extra to rent or buy.
Where the facts come from
Sources: the Paramount+ website and Help Center, and Amazon’s US Prime Video help pages. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Paramount+ or Amazon Prime Video
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Streaming services” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — offline viewing: Amazon Prime Video
Paramount+ Essential: can’t be downloaded (1,0/5) · Amazon Prime Video: phone or tablet only (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — what else is included: Paramount+ Essential
Paramount+ Essential: 1 extra content type at no extra cost (3,0/5) · Amazon Prime Video: the catalog only (2,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: Amazon Prime Video
Paramount+ Essential: 4,6 out of 5 (4,6/5) · Amazon Prime Video: 4,8 out of 5 (4,8/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: