Key Takeaways:

• Paramount Plus, the new version of CBS All Access, was introduced in March 2021.
• Paramount+ is only available in a handful of countries. If you’re from a geoblocked location, you’ll need a VPN like ExpressVPN to access Paramount+.
• It’s a worthy service for someone who wants to view next-day CBS prime-time shows without an antenna or access Paramount-exclusive content. 

If you’re craving some change from the usual Netflix or Amazon Prime Video content, Paramount Plus shows and Paramount Pictures movies can be a great change of flavor. In this guide, we will show you how to watch Paramount Plus — both free and paid — for any part of the world.

When CBS All Access rebranded to Paramount+ in 2021, it introduced some extra goodies, like 30,000 episodes of popular shows. It also has more channels, including Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. If you’re a football fan, Paramount+ also has CBS sports for your daily dose of adrenaline.

There’s just one caveat: you can’t stream Paramount Plus if you’re not in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Nordics or Australia — you’ll need a VPN to spoof your location. If you want to know how to watch Paramount Plus, we have a few ways (free and paid) for you. Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Paramount Plus.

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How to Watch Paramount Plus: What You Need to Know

If you’re in the U.S. or another country where Paramount+ is accessible, you can stream content through the website or the Paramount Plus app. The Paramount+ app is available for all popular devices. You can download the app on your Android TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick, and you’ll also find Paramount Plus for Apple TV on the app store. 

These options aren’t available if you’re not in one of the countries where Paramount Plus is accessible — unless you use a VPN. You can access Paramount+ from anywhere with a VPN because it helps you mask your IP address. 

When you use a VPN, it assigns you a new IP that belongs to a server located in one of the countries where Paramount+ is accessible. When you visit the website after connecting with, say, a VPN server in the U.S., the website will think that you’re physically located in the U.S. and allow you to access the content.

How to Watch Paramount Plus for Free With a VPN

You need a VPN to take advantage of the free trial if you’re in a country where Paramount+ isn’t available. Simply sign up with Paramount+ and a VPN service provider to stream your desired content for free, then cancel your Paramount+ subscription before it auto-renews and claim your 30-day money-back guarantee from the VPN service provider.

1. Download and Install the VPN

   Your first step is to sign up with a VPN service provider — we recommend ExpressVPN. Next, download and install the VPN app on your device.

   

2. Connect to a U.S. Server

   When you launch the VPN app and sign in, you’ll see a list of server locations. Find and connect to a U.S. server.

   

3. Open the Paramount+ Website

   You should now be able to open the Paramount+ website. Sign up for the free trial. When you’re done, enter your Paramount Plus login credentials, and that will take you to the home screen. If you don’t want to continue to pay for the VPN, make sure to ask for a refund within 30 days.

   

How to Watch Paramount Plus on TV

If you want to watch Paramount+ on TV, there are a few ways you can do it — though this will depend on whether you have a smart TV. If you do have a smart TV, you can simply install the Paramount Plus app and log in. Compatible smart TVs include Samsung, LG, Android and Fire TV.

If you don’t have a smart TV — or one that’s compatible with the Paramount Plus app — there are a few other options for getting Paramount Plus on your TV. Game consoles, like Xbox or Playstation, support the Paramount Plus app, as do streaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Firestick and Roku (we’ll get on to this in the next section).

You can also cast the Paramount Plus app to your TV from a mobile device using a Google Chromecast. Lastly, you can simply connect your laptop, smartphone or tablet to your TV via an HDMI cable.

How to Watch Paramount Plus on Roku

As we mentioned above, a streaming device like Roku can help you watch Paramount Plus on TV. Once you’ve purchased a Roku device and set it up, all you need to do is go to the channel store and add the Paramount+ channel (app).

Then, create a Paramount Plus account and subscribe to the service. Once you’ve done that, you can enjoy Paramount Plus content on your Roku just like you would from the Paramount+ mobile app — only you’ll watch it on your TV.

As we mention later on, though, if you sign up to Paramount+ through your Roku account, you’ll also need to cancel it there.

What Is Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus is a streaming service owned by ViacomCBS and replaces its predecessor, CBS All Access. You can access it using a mobile device, computer, smart TV like Android or Apple TV, and a range of other devices. 

Like its predecessor, Paramount+ offers live access to the local CBS network. Subscribers can also view some movies (like The SpongeBob Movie) with Dolby Vision on select devices.

Paramount Plus Price vs Other Streaming Services

Paramount Plus starts at $59.99 a year plus applicable taxes for the ad-supported Essential plan, which doesn’t include a live-stream option from your local CBS affiliate. The Paramount+ with Showtime plan is the best value at $119.99 per year (excluding tax). It includes the local CBS station and offers ad-free streaming, though a few shows may still include short promotional interruptions. If you want an ad-free streaming experience, check out our guide on how to block ads on Paramount Plus.

Max, at a regular rate of $150 per year, is among the priciest options, but the streaming service offers access to Warner Bros. movies scheduled for theatrical release. 

There’s a more pocket-friendly, ad-supported version you can opt for at $100 per year. Though cheaper, the plan requires you to give up on the theatrical releases of movies like Matrix 4 and Dune, and doesn’t allow mobile downloads.

Netflix is almost synonymous with online streaming at this point, but it costs a fair bit. The Basic plan comes in at $120 per year and the Standard plan — its best value — costs about $186 per year. 

If you have friends who also want to subscribe to Netflix, it makes sense to pay $240 per year for the Premium tier, which lets you stream and download content on up to four devices. Even though it’s expensive, Netflix is the benchmark against which all other streaming services are compared. 

Paramount+ is a cost-effective alternative compared to its rivals, at least for the time being. At $99.99 a year, its Premium plan costs less than Netflix’s Basic plan. It also lets you stream on three devices on the Basic plan compared to Netflix’s two.

If you want the theatrical releases though, Max is your only option, but you’ll need to shell out a couple of extra dollars — we have a guide on how to watch Max, too. If you want to watch Disney shows, Disney Plus would be a great option.

Is There a Paramount Plus Free Trial?

Free trials are a blessing when you want to stream exclusive content. Fortunately, Paramount+ does offer a free seven-day trial to new subscribers. You can use the free trial to live stream a sporting event or binge-watch a show or couple of movies.

Of course, you’ll need a VPN if you’re in a country where Paramount+ isn’t available. You could combine Paramount’s free trial with a VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee and watch your favorite CBS content or Comedy Central shows on Paramount completely free for a week.

What’s on Paramount Plus?

There’s a huge library of TV shows and movies to choose from. Some of the best Paramount Plus shows are:

• Why Women Kill
• Star Trek (Discovery, Lower Decks, Picard, Voyager, The Next Generation and upcoming Star Trek originals like Prodigy and Strange New Worlds)
• The Good Fight
• For Heaven’s Sake
• The Twilight Zone
• Real World Homecoming 

Paramount+ has integrated CBS Sports HQ where you can view live sports throughout the year, including events like:

• UEFA club competition matches
• UEFA Europa League
• UEFA Champions League
• NFL games
• The Masters
• PGA Tour
• The PGA Championship 
• Concacaf

If you’re a movie buff, it also has hit movies like:

• A Quiet Place
• Paw Patrol
• The SpongeBob Movie 
• Top Gun
• The Wolf of Wall Street

Soccer fans will appreciate that Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In — the movie about the story of the legendary manager of Manchester United — is also on Paramount Plus. Besides that, golf fans will have the opportunity to watch the PGA Championship on CBS Sports HQ.

Sadly, some of Paramount Network’s biggest shows such as Yellowstone and MTV Music Awards aren’t available on Paramount Plus. If you want to catch up on the latest episode we have written guides on how to watch Yellowstone as well as how to watch MTV Music Awards.

How to Cancel Paramount Plus

If you decide you don’t like Paramount Plus, you can easily cancel your subscription. However, how you do it will depend on how you signed up. For instance, if you subscribed through the Paramount Plus website, you can sign in to your account and cancel there.

If you signed up through the Apple app store or Google Play store, though, you’ll need to head back there to cancel Paramount Plus. The same goes for if you signed up through Roku, Amazon or any other service.

Final Thoughts

Paramount Plus is a great platform for subscribers who want to stream shows like Survivor or Evil or Strange Angel. With a week’s worth of free trial, you can spend your weekend binge-watching some exclusive shows or streaming your favorite movies.

If you’re located in a geoblocked country, you can always use a VPN, like ExpressVPN. If you use up the free trial and still want to continue watching movies for free, worry not. We have a comprehensive guide on how you can watch free movies online. We also published a guide on how to watch the sci-fi series Lost online, so be sure to check it out.

Have you tried to access Paramount Plus from a geoblocked country? Were you able to successfully use a VPN to bypass the geoblocks? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading.

FAQ

• Is Paramount Plus Free With Amazon Prime?

  Yes, you can get a free seven-day trial of Paramount+ through your Amazon Prime account. You can access the content right from the Amazon Prime Video app. Once your trial ends, your Amazon account will be charged automatically unless you cancel the subscription.

• How Do I Access Paramount Plus?

  You can access Paramount+ through its website or apps. If you’re in a country where Paramount+ isn’t available, you can use a VPN to connect to a U.S. server to access Paramount+.

• Where Can I Get Paramount Plus?

  You can get Paramount Plus on ParamountPlus.com, the Apple app store, the Google Play Store, Amazon Fire TV and on Apple TV channels on the Apple TV app.

• How Can I Watch Paramount Plus for Free?

  You can sign up for the seven-day trial either through the Paramount Plus website or through your Amazon Prime account. However, you’ll need a VPN to access the website if you’re in a geoblocked location.

• What Happened to CBS All Access?

  Parent company ViacomCBS changed the name of its streaming service, CBS All Access, to Paramount Plus in 2021.