If you opened your Paramount+ app this morning, you might have noticed things look a little different—or at least, your billing statement will.
As of today, Thursday, January 15, 2026, the previously announced price increases for Paramount+ have officially gone into effect. This move marks the end of the platform’s 2024 pricing structure and, more significantly, the official end of the standalone Paramount+ free trial for new subscribers.
The strategy behind the move is clear: Paramount is clearing the deck and maximizing revenue just nine days before one of the biggest sporting events in the streamer’s history—UFC 324.
The New Price Breakdown
Whether you are on a monthly or annual plan, the cost of entry for the mountain of entertainment has climbed. While the monthly “coffee-cup” increase of $1 might seem small, the annual shifts are designed to capitalize on the service’s transition into a premium sports destination.
| Subscription Tier | New Monthly Rate | New Annual Rate |
| Paramount+ Essentials (Basic) | $6.99 | $69.99 |
| Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (Premium) | $12.99 | $139.99 |
Note: Existing subscribers who were already locked into an annual plan prior to today will not see these changes until their next renewal date. For everyone else, these are the new standard rates.
The UFC Takeover: Why Your Bill Just Went Up
The timing of this increase is directly tied to the Octagon. Following the rebranding of ESPN+ into ESPN Unlimited, Paramount+ successfully secured the rights to major UFC events.
Starting on January 24, 2026, UFC 324 will stream live on Paramount+. In the past, fans were forced to pay hefty Pay-Per-View (PPV) fees. By folding these fights into a standard subscription, Paramount is offering massive value to fight fans, but they are asking the entire subscriber base to help foot the bill for that premium content.
Free Trial “Hacks”: How to Still Save
While the traditional 7-day or 30-day free trial on the Paramount+ website is now a thing of the past, savvy streamers still have two primary ways to test the service without paying the new $6.99–$12.99 entry fee immediately.
1. The Walmart+ Advantage
The most robust “workaround” currently available is through Walmart+. A subscription to Walmart’s retail service still includes a Paramount+ Essentials subscription at no additional cost. If you haven’t used it yet, Walmart+ offers a 30-day free trial for new members, which effectively gives you a month of the “new” Paramount+ for free.
2. The Prime Video 7-Day Window
If you prefer managing your apps through a single hub, Amazon Prime Video is still offering a 7-day free trial for the Paramount+ add-on channel. This is likely the easiest way to catch a specific show or even UFC 324 if you time your sign-up correctly, though the new monthly rate will be added to your Amazon bill automatically once the week is up.
The Verdict
The “wild west” era of cheap, trial-heavy streaming is rapidly coming to a close. As Paramount+ pivots to become a major player in live sports alongside its deep library of Star Trek and Yellowstone spin-offs, these price hikes were inevitable.
If you missed the window to lock in the lower rates yesterday, your best bet now is to leverage a bundle like Walmart+ to keep your monthly overhead low while enjoying the upcoming fight season.
