Gaming
PlayStation Plus Price Hikes & Price History (2026)
Updated September 21, 2026 · Researched & fact-checked by Shaheer
Sony has raised PlayStation Plus twice. In September 2023 every 12-month tier went up at least 33% at once (Premium jumped from $119.99 to $159.99 a year). Then in May 2026 Sony raised the Essential 1-month plan from $9.99 to $10.99 and the 3-month from $24.99 to $27.99 for new subscribers.
At a glance
- Current price
- $10.99 (Essential (1-month))
- Last increase
- May 20, 2026 (+10%)
- Total change tracked
- +10%
- Tracked increases
- 5
Key takeaways
- PlayStation Plus launched in June 2010 at $49.99/year and held a $59.99 annual price for most of the decade that followed.
- In September 2023 Sony raised every 12-month tier by at least 33% at once (Essential $59.99 → $79.99; Extra $99.99 → $134.99; Premium $119.99 → $159.99).
- In May 2026 Sony raised the Essential 1-month plan from $9.99 to $10.99 and the 3-month from $24.99 to $27.99 for new subscribers.
- The 2026 increase hit only the Essential tier; Extra and Premium were left unchanged, and existing subscribers keep their rate until the plan changes or lapses.
- Essential has gone from $49.99/year at launch to $79.99 today — a 60% rise across roughly 16 years.
- The 12-month Essential plan at $79.99 works out to $6.67/month against $10.99 rolling monthly, so the annual term is still the cheapest route by a wide margin.
PlayStation Plus price increase history
| Date | Plan | Region | Old → New | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2026 | Essential (1-month) | US | $9.99 → $10.99 | +10% | Source |
| May 20, 2026 | Essential (3-month) | US | $24.99 → $27.99 | +12% | Source |
| September 6, 2023 | Premium (12-month) | US | $119.99 → $159.99 | +33.3% | Source |
| September 6, 2023 | Extra (12-month) | US | $99.99 → $134.99 | +35% | Source |
| September 6, 2023 | Essential (12-month) | US | $59.99 → $79.99 | +33.3% | Source |
What PlayStation Plus costs right now
- Essential (1-month): $10.99 (US)
- Essential (3-month): $27.99 (US)
- Essential (12-month): $79.99 (US)
- Extra (12-month): $134.99 (US)
- Premium (12-month): $159.99 (US)
PlayStation Plus price history: $49.99 to $79.99 a year
In September 2023 Sony raised the price of every 12-month PlayStation Plus tier in one move: Essential from $59.99 to $79.99, Extra from $99.99 to $134.99, and Premium from $119.99 to $159.99, each at least a 33% increase. That round left the monthly and 3-month plans untouched, eroding the annual discount and nudging players toward higher-frequency billing.
In May 2026 Sony came back for the short Essential plans it had skipped: the 1-month rose from $9.99 to $10.99 and the 3-month from $24.99 to $27.99, effective May 20, 2026 for new subscribers. Sony attributed the change to "ongoing market conditions" and, for now, left Extra and Premium alone. Existing subscribers keep their current price until their plan changes or lapses.
Between the two rounds, Sony has now touched both the annual and the monthly Essential plans. A renewal increase, especially one that only applies once your plan lapses, is exactly the kind of charge that surprises people months later. Recording what you actually pay makes the next increase impossible to miss.
The longer view puts the 2023 jump in context. PlayStation Plus launched in June 2010 at $49.99 a year, when it was an optional perks bundle rather than the toll gate for online play, and sat at $59.99 annually for most of the decade after. The September 2023 round was therefore the first serious move in years, and it was a large one — 33% on Essential and more on the upper tiers, all at once. From $49.99 at launch to $79.99 today is about 60% across sixteen years.
The term you pick still matters more than the increases. Essential at $79.99 for twelve months is $6.67/month, against $10.99 rolling monthly — paying annually costs about 39% less per month. That gap widened with the 2026 round, because Sony raised the monthly and quarterly Essential plans while leaving the 12-month price alone.
Frequently asked questions
Did PlayStation Plus raise its price in 2026?
Yes. On May 20, 2026 Sony raised the PS Plus Essential 1-month plan from $9.99 to $10.99 and the 3-month plan from $24.99 to $27.99 in the US, for new subscribers. Extra and Premium were unchanged.
How much does PlayStation Plus cost now?
As of 2026, US Essential is $10.99/month, $27.99 for 3 months or $79.99/year. The 12-month Extra plan is $134.99 and Premium is $159.99.
Does the May 2026 PS Plus increase affect existing subscribers?
Not immediately. Sony said the new Essential prices apply to new subscribers from May 20, 2026; existing subscribers keep their current rate until their subscription changes or lapses.
What is the PlayStation Plus price history?
PS Plus launched in June 2010 at $49.99/year and stayed at $59.99 annually for most of the following decade. On September 6, 2023 Sony raised every 12-month tier at once: Essential $59.99 to $79.99, Extra $99.99 to $134.99, Premium $119.99 to $159.99. On May 20, 2026 the Essential 1-month plan went $9.99 to $10.99 and the 3-month $24.99 to $27.99.
Is the annual PS Plus plan cheaper than monthly?
Considerably. Essential at $79.99 for 12 months works out to $6.67/month, against $10.99 billed monthly — about 39% less. The 2026 increase widened that gap, since Sony raised the monthly and quarterly plans but left the 12-month price unchanged.