PlayStation Plus Price Hike 2026: Should You Cancel?

Sony is raising PlayStation Plus prices again. Gamers are furious — and many are threatening to cancel. Here's what's actually changing, whether it's still worth your money, and exactly how to cancel or downgrade.

💰 The New Prices (2026)

Monthly plans are even worse. Essential monthly could hit $9.99/mo ($120/yr effective) vs the annual rate. If you're paying monthly, switching to annual saves you 33%.

🎮 What Each Tier Actually Gets You

Essential ($80/yr) — The Multiplayer Tax

• Online multiplayer (the main reason most people subscribe)
• 2-3 "free" games per month (quality varies wildly)
• Cloud storage for save files
• Exclusive discounts on PS Store

Worth it if: You play online multiplayer at least once a week. That's $1.54/week for multiplayer access.

Not worth it if: You only play single-player games. You don't need PS Plus for single-player.

Extra ($160/yr) — The Game Pass Competitor

• Everything in Essential
• Game Catalog: 400+ downloadable PS4/PS5 games
• Ubisoft+ Classics collection

Worth it if: You play 3+ catalog games per year (each game would cost $20-40 to buy). Do the math: 3 games × $30 avg = $90 value vs $80 extra cost.

Not worth it if: You buy games on sale and build a permanent library. PS Plus Extra games disappear when you unsubscribe.

Premium ($180/yr) — The Premium Tax

• Everything in Extra
• Game trials (play for 2-5 hours before buying)
• Classic games (PS1, PS2, PSP)
• Cloud streaming

Worth it if: You actively use cloud streaming on a weak internet device. Otherwise, the $20 premium over Extra is hard to justify.

📊 PS Plus vs Xbox Game Pass vs Nothing

• PS Plus Extra ($160/yr) — 400+ games, PS4/PS5 only
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($204/yr) — day-one releases, PC + Xbox + Cloud, EA Play included
• Buying games on sale ($0-200/yr) — you keep them forever, no subscription

Game Pass still offers better value with day-one releases. PS Plus Extra's catalog is good but games arrive months or years after launch. The real question: do you value access (subscription) or ownership (buying)?

🔻 How to Downgrade Your Plan

Before canceling entirely, consider downgrading:

• Premium → Extra: Save $20/yr. You lose game trials and classics (rarely used by most).
• Extra → Essential: Save $80/yr. You lose the game catalog but keep multiplayer.
• Essential → Cancel: Save $80/yr. You lose multiplayer and monthly games.

To downgrade: Settings → Users and Accounts → Account → Payment and Subscriptions → PlayStation Plus → Change Plan. The change takes effect at your next renewal.

❌ How to Cancel PlayStation Plus Completely

On PS5:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Users and Accounts
3. Select Account → Payment and Subscriptions
4. Select Subscriptions
5. Select PlayStation Plus → Turn Off Auto-Renew

On Web:

1. Go to store.playstation.com
2. Click your avatar → Subscription Management
3. Click Turn Off Auto-Renew next to PlayStation Plus

You keep access to all PS Plus benefits until your current subscription period ends. Your "free" monthly games become locked but return if you resubscribe.

For the full guide with screenshots and tips: How to Cancel PlayStation Plus →

💡 The Smart Gamer's Strategy

1. Lock in current pricing — renew for 12 months before the increase
2. Downgrade to Essential — if you only need multiplayer
3. Use the subscription rotation strategy — subscribe to Extra for 1-2 months when the catalog has games you want, then drop back to Essential. Same strategy as streaming rotation.
4. Buy annual, never monthly — monthly PS Plus costs 50%+ more annually
5. Watch for deals — PS Plus cards go on sale at retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, CDKeys) for 20-30% off

🎮 Other Gaming Subscriptions to Audit

While you're reviewing PS Plus, check if you're also paying for:

• Xbox Game Pass — $10-17/mo
• Nintendo Switch Online — $4-50/yr
• EA Play — $5-15/mo (may be included with Game Pass)
• Discord Nitro — $10-100/yr
• Twitch subscriptions — $5-25/mo per streamer
• Crunchyroll — $8-15/mo

The average gamer spends $30-80/month on gaming subscriptions. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to see exactly what you're paying.

Frequently Asked Questions