BGR’s U.S. price history says PlayStation Plus’s 2016 increase lifted the three-month plan from $18 to $25 and the annual plan from $50 to $60, while the $10 monthly price stayed the same. For its 2026 comparison, BGR reports rounded prices across Essential, Extra, and Premium. At those figures, Essential’s $80 annual plan costs $52 less than twelve $11 monthly payments, a 39.4% saving against the $132 monthly total.
The reported U.S. prices in 2016
BGR reports that before the 2016 increase, PlayStation Plus cost $10 for one month, $18 for three months, or $50 for a year. After the increase, the monthly price remained $10, while the three-month plan rose to $25 and the annual plan to $60.
| Billing period | Before the reported increase | After the reported increase |
| One month | $10 | $10 |
| Three months | $18 | $25 |
| Twelve months | $50 | $60 |
BGR also estimated that the $60 annual fee in 2016 had the purchasing power of nearly $85 in 2026.
The reported U.S. prices by tier in 2026
BGR’s 2026 U.S. comparison gives rounded whole-dollar prices for all three tiers. Essential is listed at $11 a month, $28 for three months, or $80 for a year. Extra is $17 monthly or $135 annually; Premium is $20 monthly or $160 annually.
| Plan | Monthly price | Annual price |
| Essential | $11 | $80 |
| Extra | $17 | $135 |
| Premium | $20 | $160 |
What Essential saves with annual billing
Twelve Essential payments at $11 each total $132. Subtract the $80 annual price and the difference is $52. Dividing that saving by $132, the cost of twelve monthly payments, gives 39.4%. These results use BGR’s rounded figures.
To compare billing periods, measure the annual saving against the full cost of twelve monthly payments.
How the service’s tiers changed
BGR describes the 2016 service as offering online multiplayer, cloud saves, and monthly games across PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. It characterizes Essential as the closest match to those core benefits. Extra adds PS4 and PS5 game catalogs and Ubisoft+ Classics, while Premium adds classic games, time-limited trials, and cloud streaming.
