Silver

Paramount+ Review

CBS, Paramount films, Champions League soccer, and Showtime — streaming's best-kept sports and entertainment bundle

Last reviewed: 2026-05-25 · By GBBR Editorial Team

Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Rankings are never for sale.

Our Top Pick · Silver Tier

Paramount+

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The Bottom Line

Paramount+ earns Silver as the best value for soccer fans outside the US (UEFA Champions League, Europa League, NWSL), CBS sports fans, and Paramount film enthusiasts. The Paramount+ with Showtime bundle at $13.99/mo gives you Paramount's entire film catalog, CBS shows, UEFA football, and Showtime originals (Yellowstone, Billions, Dexter) — an impressive stack for the price. It's not a standalone replacement for Netflix or Max, but as a bundle add-on or secondary service, it punches above its weight class.

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What is Paramount+?

Paramount+ launched in March 2021 as a rebrand of CBS All Access (which launched in 2014). It is owned by Paramount Global and headquartered in New York. Paramount+'s content portfolio includes: CBS broadcast content, Paramount theatrical films (Top Gun, Mission Impossible, Indiana Jones, Transformers), Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, and through the Paramount+ with Showtime bundle, all Showtime content. Paramount+'s international footprint includes Paramount+ Essential in many markets via Apple TV Channels.

What does Paramount+ offer?

Paramount+ Essential ($7.99/mo, with ads): CBS live streaming, Paramount+ originals, Paramount films, UEFA Champions League, and Nickelodeon. Paramount+ with Showtime ($13.99/mo): adds all Showtime content — Billions, Yellowstone (post-season), Dexter, Ray Donovan, and the Showtime film library. Showtime can also be added to other streaming platforms separately. NFL on CBS is available live. Paramount+ Originals include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Halo, and the Taylor Sheridan universe (1883, 1923, Tulsa King).

Essential (Ads)

$7.99

/month

Paramount+ with Showtime

$13.99

/month

Is Paramount+ worth the price?

$13.99/mo for Paramount+ with Showtime is strong value — two premium content libraries for the price of one

Paramount+ Essential + Showtime (if separate) would cost more; the bundle at $13.99/mo delivers what Netflix charges $15.49/mo for at base — with live sports added

Strong value

How we scored it

Overall score: 75/100

Content Library Depth?7/10

CBS, Paramount films, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, and Showtime — broad but uneven quality

Price-to-Content Value?8/10

$13.99/mo for Paramount+ + Showtime = two premium libraries; UEFA Champions League included

Exclusive Originals?7/10

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, 1883, 1923, Tulsa King, Halo, and Billions (Showtime) are all strong exclusives

Streaming Quality?7/10

4K available on select content; HD reliable; live sports stream quality is solid

Platform Experience?6/10

Functional but not as clean as Hulu or Max — navigation has some rough edges

Download & Offline?6/10

Offline downloads available — number of downloads varies by plan

Why Paramount+ is Silver Tier

Paramount+ earns Silver because the with-Showtime bundle is genuinely good value and the UEFA Champions League rights alone justify the subscription for soccer fans. It falls short of Gold because the Essential tier is limited, the originals catalog is inconsistent (outside Star Trek and the Taylor Sheridan universe), and the platform itself is less polished than Hulu or Max.

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓UEFA Champions League and Europa League — all matches
✓Paramount+ with Showtime bundle is strong value at $13.99/mo
✓CBS live streaming including NFL on CBS
✓Taylor Sheridan universe: 1883, 1923, Tulsa King exclusive
✓Star Trek: Strange New Worlds exclusive
✓Billions, Dexter, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
✓Nickelodeon content for kids

Cons

✗Essential tier is limited — with Showtime bundle is the real product
✗Platform UI is less polished than Hulu or Max
✗Original content is inconsistent outside the Sheridan/Star Trek shows
✗Not a standalone Netflix replacement

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paramount+ worth it in 2026?

$13.99/mo for Paramount+ with Showtime is strong value — two premium content libraries for the price of one Overall verdict: Strong value.

What is Paramount+ best for?

Paramount+ is best for: Soccer fans who want UEFA Champions League and Europa League, CBS sports fans (NFL on CBS, March Madness), Fans of the Taylor Sheridan universe (Yellowstone spinoffs).

Does Paramount+ have a free trial?

Paramount+ does not offer a permanently free plan. Paid plans start at $7.99/month.

Who should NOT use Paramount+?

Paramount+ is not the right fit for: Users wanting a single all-purpose streaming service; Users who don't watch sports (Max or Hulu has more broad appeal).

What are the best Paramount+ alternatives?

Top alternatives to Paramount+ include hulu, max-streaming, peacock.