PlayStation Plus vs Nintendo Switch Online: price, plans, and which to keep
Current US prices, price history, trial terms, and cancellation friction side by side, built from our service guides. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
The short answer
PlayStation Plus starts at $79.99 a year for Essential and runs to $134.99 for Extra and $159.99 for Premium after the big September 2023 increase. Nintendo Switch Online's top tier, the Expansion Pack at $49.99, is still $30 cheaper than Sony's entry plan, and the base NSO membership is $19.99. Both are annual-first products, both are discounted every Black Friday, and Sony renews at full list price no matter what you paid at signup.
Nintendo Switch Online is cheaper by $60 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| PlayStation Plus | Nintendo Switch Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | Essential (annual): $79.99/yr | Individual (annual): $19.99/yr |
| Cheapest plan per year | $79.99 | $19.99 |
| Most expensive plan | Premium (annual): $159.99/yr | Expansion Pack (annual, individual): $49.99/yr |
| Price changes since 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Latest price change | September 2023 | October 2021 |
| Free trial | Occasional 7-day trials for new members via console offers. | 7-day free trial for new members; occasional trial weeks for lapsed members. |
| Cancellation | 4 steps | 4 steps |
Cheapest and most expensive plans exclude add-ons, student, bundle, and per-seat plans. Price changes are counted from January 2023. US list prices, last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Which one should you pick?
Choose PlayStation Plus if…
Pick PlayStation Plus Essential if you only need online play and the monthly games, which stay claimable forever once added. Extra and Premium are catalogue subscriptions: their games disappear the moment the membership lapses.
Choose Nintendo Switch Online if…
Pick Nintendo Switch Online if the Switch is your main console. Buy annual, never monthly ($3.99 a month costs more than double the annual rate), and consider the $34.99 Family plan even for two people.
Every current plan
PlayStation Plus plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Essential (annual) | $79.99/yr |
| Extra (annual) | $134.99/yr |
| Premium (annual) | $159.99/yr |
Nintendo Switch Online plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Individual (monthly) | $3.99/mo |
| Individual (annual) | $19.99/yr |
| Family (annual, up to 8 accounts) | $34.99/yr |
| Expansion Pack (annual, individual) | $49.99/yr |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed August 26, 2026.
Price history, both services
September 2023 · PlayStation Plus
Major US hike on annual plans: Essential $59.99 → $79.99, Extra $99.99 → $134.99, Premium $119.99 → $159.99.
October 2021 · Nintendo Switch Online
Expansion Pack launched at $49.99/year for individuals and $79.99/year for families.
September 2018 · Nintendo Switch Online
The base service launched at $3.99/month, $19.99/year for individuals, and $34.99/year for families.
How to run both without paying for both
Buy both as 12-month codes during Black Friday or Days of Play and stack them before auto-renewal, then turn auto-renew off so Sony cannot bill you at list price. NSO's family plan can be shared with friends, which cuts its cost to a few dollars a head.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online?
Nintendo Switch Online. Its cheapest standard plan works out to $1.67 a month ($19.99 a year) versus $6.67 a month ($79.99 a year) for PlayStation Plus, a difference of $60 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Is PS Plus more expensive than Nintendo Switch Online?
Yes, at every tier. PS Plus Essential is $79.99 a year versus $19.99 for NSO Individual; PS Plus Premium is $159.99 versus $49.99 for NSO with the Expansion Pack.
Which one keeps my games after I cancel?
PS Plus Essential's monthly games stay in your library forever once claimed, but Extra and Premium catalogue titles vanish. NSO does not give you games to keep; it grants access to online play and retro libraries while active.
Full guides
PlayStation Plus price & cancellation guide
US prices have held since the big September 2023 hike, Essential $79.99, Extra $134.99, Premium $159.99 per year.
View guideNintendo Switch Online price & cancellation guide
Nintendo's base US membership still costs $19.99 per year, with no price increase since the service launched in 2018.
View guideMore comparisons
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