Is Paramount+ Free With Amazon Prime in 2026? (Full Guide)
Hey friend! I know you‘ve been wondering whether Paramount+ is included with your Amazon Prime membership.
Unfortunately, Paramount+ doesn‘t come free with an Amazon Prime subscription. But you have options to add it to your Prime account and enjoy both services in one place.
In this comprehensive streaming guide, I‘ll compare Paramount+ vs. Amazon Prime Video to help you decide if it‘s worth adding another membership.
We‘ll look at:
- Pricing for each service
- Content libraries, originals, and exclusives
- Features like offline viewing
- Device support across platforms
- Account sharing and bundling options
- Which service is better for movies, shows, sports, and more
Let‘s dive in and explore how Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video complement each other as streaming services!
Is Paramount+ Free with an Amazon Prime Membership?
The short answer is no, Paramount+ does not come included with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Paramount+ operates as a completely separate streaming service from Amazon Prime Video. While Prime Video offers thousands of shows and movies, its content library does not overlap with what‘s available on Paramount+.
Paramount+ gives you exclusive access to shows and movies from brands like CBS, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures. Original hits you’ll only find on Paramount+ include:
- Star Trek: Discovery
- 1883
- The Good Fight
- South Park
- RuPaul’s Drag Race
- SpongeBob SquarePants
Meanwhile, Prime Video boasts award-winning Amazon Originals such as:
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Tom Clancy‘s Jack Ryan
- The Boys
- Reacher
- Good Omens
So if you want to watch Paramount+ originals or stream content from networks like CBS and Comedy Central, you need a separate Paramount+ membership.
But there are options for conveniently bundling the two services, which I’ll explain next.
Can You Add Paramount+ to Your Amazon Account?
While Paramount+ doesn‘t automatically come with Prime Video, you can add it as a premium channel through Prime Video Channels.
Here‘s how it works:
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Open the Prime Video app or website and search for "Paramount+".
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Select Paramount+ under Prime Video Channels and pick a plan.
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Sign up for a free trial or pay to add the channel to your account.
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Log into Paramount+ through Prime Video to stream its full catalog.
When you sign up through Prime Video, your Paramount+ membership gets linked to your Amazon account. This allows you to browse Paramount+ titles within the Prime Video app and conveniently access everything in one place.
The Paramount+ subscription cost remains the same whether you sign up directly or through Amazon. But going through Prime Video makes managing both services simpler by combining your billing and streaming into one ecosystem.
A Side-by-Side Comparison of Plans and Pricing
Paramount+ offers two main membership tiers to choose from:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $4.99 | $49.99 | Limited ads 10,000+ shows, movies, etc. Limited CBS live sports |
| Premium | $9.99 | $99.99 | Ad-free 10,000+ shows, movies, etc. Full CBS live sports Local CBS station access Download for offline viewing |
As you can see, the Paramount+ Premium plan unlocks full access to live sports, your local live CBS station, and downloads for offline viewing. For only $5 more per month over the Essential tier, Premium is packed with extra value.
Meanwhile, a full Amazon Prime membership costs:
- $14.99 per month
- $139 per year
This grants unlimited access to Prime Video along with free shipping, music streaming, discounts, and more Amazon perks.
There‘s also a standalone Prime Video membership for $8.99 per month. But you miss out on all the other Prime benefits.
When weighing the costs, think about how much you would use each service. Paramount+ starts at just $4.99 per month for Essential. If you‘re a huge sports fan who wants to watch NFL games, the Premium tier at $9.99 per month is still very reasonable.
And you can bundle it with a Prime membership for $14.99 monthly to get the full benefits of both streaming universes.
Content Comparison: What‘s Available on Each Service?
When deciding whether to add Paramount+ to your Prime Video account, it helps to look at what content each offers.
Paramount+ Highlights:
- CBS shows: Survivor, Blue Bloods, Young Sheldon, NCIS, 60 Minutes
- Originals: Star Trek: Discovery, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown
- Movies: Top Gun: Maverick, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Upcoming Paramount theatrical releases after 45 days in theaters
- Live Sports: NFL, PGA Tour, Champions League, National Women‘s Soccer League
- Comedy Central: South Park, The Daily Show, Inside Amy Schumer
- BET: Twenties, American Soul, Tyler Perry‘s Ruthless
- Nickelodeon: SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly, Avatar: The Last Airbender
- MTV: Jersey Shore, Laguna Beach, Daria, Teen Mom 2
Paramount+ offers over 30,000 episodes, 2,500 movie titles, hundreds of Paramount+ originals, plus live news and sports. The deep content vault spans over a century!
Prime Video Highlights:
- Originals: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, Jack Ryan, The Wheel of Time
- Movies: Recent theatrical releases to rent/buy, thousands of movies to stream with membership
- TV Shows: Emmy winners like Fleabag, The Americans, and Downton Abbey
- Kid Shows: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Costume Quest, Pete the Cat
While there is some overlap, Paramount+ and Prime Video have unique content strengths. Paramount+ dominates with CBS shows, live sports, Comedy Central classics, and new movie releases. Prime Video brings award-winning originals and a solid catalog of licensed shows and films.
Together they complement each other really nicely! Paramount+ expands your options for binge-worthy sitcoms, exclusive originals, sports, family fun from Nickelodeon, MTV nostalgia, and more.
Streaming Experience and Device Support
Beyond just content libraries, let‘s compare the overall streaming experience you get with each service.
Devices: Both Paramount+ and Prime Video support an extensive range of platforms:
- Smartphones and tablets (iOS and Android)
- Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sony, etc)
- Media players (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast)
- Game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox)
- Web browser streaming (Google Chrome, Safari, etc)
No matter what device(s) you want to watch on, you can enjoy both services on a range of TVs, mobile gadgets, streaming boxes, and more.
Streaming features:
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Image quality – You can stream up to 4K Ultra HD on Paramount+ and Prime Video depending on your device and internet speeds. Both deliver crisp, high-definition viewing.
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Simultaneous streams – Paramount+ allows up to 3 concurrent streams on some plans. Prime Video permits 3 simultaneous streams. Households can watch on multiple devices at once.
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Offline downloads – Available for mobile/tablet on both services so you can save shows to watch offline when travelling.
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Live TV – Paramount+ offers live CBS feeds and 24/7 news with some plans. Prime Video does not have a live TV component.
Paramount+ also supports creating multiple user profiles, continues watchlists, and parental controls. You get a smooth, feature-rich streaming experience on both services.
Which Service Is Better for Different Viewers?
With Paramount+ and Prime Video having unique strengths, which option you prefer depends on your interests as a viewer.
👨👩👧 For families, Paramount+ is a must thanks to Nickelodeon and all the kid-friendly shows. Parents will enjoy the expansive library spanning new and classic comedies, dramas, reality shows and movies.
🏈 Sports fans who want to watch NFL games live need a Paramount+ Premium subscription. Paramount+ is also great for UEFA soccer and PGA golf.
🖥️ Sci-fi buffs get an amazing collection of Star Trek shows exclusive to Paramount+ including Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks and Picard. Stream the entire Star Trek universe in one place.
🎥 Movie lovers can watch new Paramount Pictures films on Paramount+ after their theatrical run, sometimes as soon as 45 days after premiere. Great for catching recent blockbusters.
👩🎤 Nostalgia seekers will binge their favorite Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon classics on Paramount+ like South Park, Laguna Beach, SpongeBob SquarePants, and so much more.
💰 Budget-focused shoppers can get Paramount+ Essential for just $4.99 monthly – cheaper than almost any other streaming service. Upgrade to ad-free Premium for only $9.99 per month.
📺 Prime members already get Prime Video included with fast shipping and other Amazon perks. Adding Paramount+ combines the best of both services in one bundle.
No matter your interests – sports, sci-fi, comedy, movies, family time – Paramount+ has something to offer. And it pairs perfectly with a Prime membership for a complete entertainment package.
Sharing Paramount+ and Amazon Accounts with Family
Like most streaming services, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video limit simultaneous streams to prevent widespread account sharing.
Paramount+ allows you to create up to 6 user profiles on some plans, with up to 3 concurrent streams. This works great for households since multiple people can watch at once.
Meanwhile, an Amazon Prime membership is designed for use by people at a single address. Up to two adults can share a Prime membership and get their own profiles. Teens and kids can also be added through Amazon Household.
So while you can‘t share a Paramount+ or Prime Video login across states or with friends, it flexes nicely for families in one home. Load up your profiles and watch together!
If you want to share subscription costs with a friend or family member, look into bundle options. For example, the Walmart+ and Paramount+ bundle packs both services for just $12.95 per month total. Splitting the cost can make it very affordable.
Bundling Options to Save Money
Adding Paramount+ Premium for $9.99 on top of Prime at $14.99 per month gives you two robust streaming universes together for just over $24 monthly.
But you can often save money by bundling Paramount+ with other services. For example:
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Walmart+ and Paramount+ Bundle – Get both streaming services for $12.95 per month total when purchased together. Split the cost with someone and pay only $6.48 each per month.
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Showtime, Essentials Plan – Paramount+ Essentials plus Showtime, ad-free, for $11.99 monthly after a 7-day free trial. Huge savings over buying them separately.
Bundles like these allow you to combine multiple services together at a discounted rate. Keep an eye out for promotions pairing Paramount+ with other streaming platforms or retailers to maximize savings.
Stacking services together expands your entertainment options for much less than paying for each individually.
Paramount+ and Prime Video Subscriber Growth
In just under two years since launching, Paramount+ has seen rapid subscriber growth:
- Over 43 million global subscribers as of Q3 2022
- Added 4.6 million subscribers in Q3 2022 alone
- Expected to hit over 100 million subscribers by 2024
Meanwhile, Amazon Prime boasted over 200 million members worldwide as of 2021. Prime Video doesn‘t share specific stats but is estimated to have around 175 million regular viewers.
The pandemic streaming boom has led services like Paramount+ and Prime Video to invest heavily in new, exclusive originals to attract users. Both platforms are major players holding their own in the streaming wars.
Adding Paramount+ to your Prime Video account combines two of the fastest growing entertainment services out there. With new movies, shows, sports and more added regularly, their libraries will continue expanding over time.
Pros and Cons of Each Service
Let‘s recap the key positives and limitations of Paramount+ vs. Prime Video:
Paramount+ Pros
- Robust on-demand library spanning CBS, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, Nickelodeon etc.
- Live sports including NFL, PGA Tour, and more
- New movies after theatrical release like Top Gun: Maverick
- Originals such as Star Trek: Discovery and 1883
- Can bundle with other services like Walmart+ to save money
Paramount+ Cons
- Must pay separate subscription fee; not included free with Prime
- Base Essential plan has ads
- Missing some new movie releases that go to competitors like Netflix
Prime Video Pros
- Comes free with Prime membership and fast shipping perks
- Original award-winners like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Jack Ryan
- Extensive collection of hit movies and shows to stream
- Can add Paramount+, HBO Max, and other premium channels
Prime Video Cons
- No option for new theatrical movie releases
- Additional costs for latest movie rentals/purchases
- Original programming slate less robust than Netflix
Evaluating the pros and cons based on your viewing preferences can clarify which service (or bundle) provides the most value. While no streaming platform is perfect, Paramount+ and Prime Video balance each other‘s strengths and weaknesses nicely.
The Bottom Line
While Paramount+ doesn‘t come bundled with Amazon Prime, creating a package makes both services even more worthwhile.
Paramount+ starts at just $4.99 monthly for Essentials, granting you tens of thousands of shows, movies, sports and more. Upgrading to the Premium tier for $9.99 monthly adds huge value like commercial-free viewing, CBS live feeds, and new theatrical releases.
Pairing Paramount+ Premium or Essentials with a Prime membership gives you:
- Amazon‘s prestigious originals like Jack Ryan and The Boys
- Fast, free shipping on Amazon orders
- Music, books/magazines, photo storage
- Paramount+‘s live sports, on-demand depth, new movies
Now that you know exactly what Paramount+ includes, how to add it to Prime Video, and what each service offers, you can determine if it‘s worth it for you.
For less than the cost of a night out, Prime Video plus Paramount+ provides endless entertainment from exclusive originals to classics to new theatrical hits. Try out Paramount+ with the free week trial and see the value firsthand!
I hope this detailed streaming guide gives you all the information needed to take your at-home entertainment experience to the next level. Let me know if you have any other questions!