Streaming was supposed to kill commercials. At least that’s the promise that was sold to us. You cut the cord, paid for a subscription, and got uninterrupted shows and movies on demand. Simple.
However, as more platforms emerge with licensed, exclusive content, there is no single platform to watch it all. This means users must now subscribe to multiple platforms. To stay competitive and generate revenue, these platforms are introducing ads. Paramount+ is no exception. Even if you’re already paying here, you might still see ads depending on which plan you’re on or what you’re watching.
So the real question is: what are you paying for, and how ad-free is Paramount+ really? We’re here to break it all down. Which plans have ads, how often they appear, and whether upgrading to Premium is worth it.
Does Paramount+ Have Commercials?
Yes, Paramount+ does have ads, but it depends on the plan you’re on.
If you’re on the Paramount+ Essential plan, you’ll see ads before and during most on-demand content, just like the ad-supported tier of Hulu. Even if you upgrade to the Premium plan, you won’t be completely ad-free. Premium removes ads from all on-demand shows and movies, but you’ll still see ads during live TV, sports, and certain CBS programming due to licensing agreements.
This often catches users off guard since “Premium” sounds like it should mean no ads at all. In reality, Paramount Plus operates on a hybrid model, offering lower prices subsidized by ads, with Premium cutting most but not all of them. So whether or not you see ads comes down to the plan you’re on and the type of content you’re watching.
Which Paramount+ Plan(s) Have Ads?
Paramount+ has two plans. Essential and Premium. And while both of them can have ads, Essential is officially the ad-supported tier. Let’s break down each tier a bit more:
Paramount+ Essential at $7.99/month
This is the base plan, and it’s ad-supported. You’ll see ads before and during most on-demand shows and movies. Ads also play during live streams, news, and sports. It’s the cheapest way to get Paramount+ but not ad-free.
With this plan, you can also stream on three devices at once, catch the NFL on CBS & the UEFA Champions League show, and get access to select SHOWTIME series.
Paramount+ Premium at $12.99/month
Premium removes ads from almost all on-demand movies and shows. But not everything. You’ll still see ads on live TV, sports, CBS channels, and certain shows where Paramount+ only has streaming rights.
Additionally, this plan lets you watch in 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, or HDR10, download all your favorite movies & shows, stream CBS live, and get all the SHOWTIME content.
In short, Essential always has ads, Premium cuts them out for most on-demand content but not live programming. If you’re looking for a 100% ad-free experience across the platform, no plan does that anymore.
How Often Does Paramount+ Show Ads?
If you’re on the Essential plan, you’ll see ads before and during most content. Paramount+ runs:
- Pre-roll ads (before a show or movie starts)
- Mid-roll ads (inserted into the content at natural breaks)
You’ll see about 3-5 minutes of ads per hour of streaming, which is less than traditional cable TV but still noticeable. Shorter shows might just get a pre-roll, longer shows will get 2-3 ad breaks.
Compared to Hulu, which can run 8-10 minutes of ads per hour, Paramount+ is lighter. But just like Hulu, it’s not consistent. Live programming, such as CBS streams or sports, will have full commercial breaks, just like regular TV.
If you upgrade to Premium, most on-demand content is ad-free, but you’ll still see ads during live TV and sports.
Does Paramount+ Show Ads During Movies?
Yes, Paramount+ does show ads during movies. But only if you’re on the Essential plan. You’ll usually see a short commercial before the movie begins, followed by a few ad breaks spaced throughout the film. It’s lighter than cable but still noticeable enough to interrupt the flow.
However, if you’re on the Premium plan, movies are completely ad-free. You can watch them from start to finish without any interruptions, which makes Premium the better choice if you mainly use Paramount+ for films.
Why Does Live TV on Paramount+ Have Commercials?
Live TV on Paramount+ includes commercials, just like regular TV, because it uses the same feed for CBS broadcasts, sports events, and news streams. Unlike on-demand shows and movies, where ads can be reduced or removed, live programming is tied to network contracts and ad slots that Paramount is contractually obligated to air.
So even if you’re paying for the Premium plan, you’ll still see the same commercials as someone watching CBS through cable or satellite. Sports are especially heavy on ads since those slots are sold well in advance to sponsors.
Can You Skip Commercials on Paramount+?
Not really. On the Essential plan, commercials are baked into the stream and can’t be skipped or fast-forwarded. Movies and shows have ad breaks at fixed points, and you’ll have to sit through them before playback resumes.
On the Premium plan, most on-demand titles don’t have ads at all. So there’s nothing to skip. But for live TV and sports, the commercials are part of the live feed itself, so they play in real time just like cable.
So while you can get rid of most ads by going Premium, you can’t manually skip or fast forward through commercials on Paramount+ once they’ve started.
Do Ad Blockers Remove Paramount+ Ads?
Well… ad blockers like uBlock Origin and AdGuard can block ads, you wouldn’t want to.
The best ad blockers of 2025, such as Total Adblock and AdGuard, can effectively block Paramount+ ads on desktop browsers. The problem is that Paramount+ actively detects when an ad is being filtered out. Instead of letting you watch without commercials, the stream simply won’t play, and you’ll likely see Error Code 111 until you disable your blocker.
This makes Paramount+ more challenging to navigate than platforms like YouTube or Hulu, where blockers can still slip through. At the moment, there’s no reliable way to use a traditional ad blocker without breaking the stream entirely.
If you want fewer interruptions, the only consistent fix is to upgrade to the Premium plan, which removes ads from on-demand shows and movies. Ad blockers just don’t cut it here.
Paramount+ vs Hulu vs Disney+ vs Netflix vs Peacock: Who Has More Ads?
Not all ad-supported streaming apps are created equal. Here’s how Paramount+ stacks up against the competition in 2025:
- Hulu: The heaviest ad load. 8-10 minutes of ads per hour. Feels like cable TV.
- Disney+: 4 minutes of ads per hour. Mainly before and during shows/movies. Family-friendly categories.
- Netflix: Ad tier is lighter. 3-4 minutes per hour. Fewer breaks than Hulu or Paramount+.
- Peacock: Similar to Hulu’s structure. 5-7 minutes of ads per hour. .
- Paramount+: Lighter than Hulu but still noticeable. 3-5 minutes of ads per hour on the Essential plan.
If you’re just looking at volume, Hulu has the most ads, Netflix has the least, and Paramount+ is somewhere in the middle. Tolerable for casual watching.
Is Paramount+ Essential (With Ads) Worth It?
The Paramount+ Essential plan is the cheapest way in at $7.99/month (or $59.99/year, which is $5/month). It also comes with a 1-week free trial, so you can try before you buy.
Here’s what you get:
- 40,000+ episodes and movies
- Stream on up to 3 devices at once
- Live sports like the NFL on CBS and the UEFA Champions League
- Select SHOWTIME series
- All for less, but with ads on all on-demand content.
If you don’t mind sitting through a few minutes of commercials per hour, Essential is a decent value for the amount of content you get. But if you want a commercial-free, movie theater-like experience, you’ll probably find the ads frustrating.
Is Paramount+ Premium (Without Ads) Worth It?
The Paramount+ Premium plan is the most popular tier, priced at $12.99/month or $119.99/year (about $10/month). Like Essential, it also offers a 1-week free trial, allowing you to try it out first.
Here’s what you get with Premium:
No ads on on-demand shows and movies (live TV still has commercials)
4K UHD streaming with Dolby Vision or HDR10*
Download movies and shows for offline viewing
Full CBS live
All of SHOWTIME
To sum up, Premium is Essential but better. It’s smoother, sharper, and more flexible. The biggest perk is ad-free on-demand streaming and the ability to download content, especially if you travel or commute. At about $5 more per month than Essential, Premium is worth it if you’re a regular streamer who wants ad-free, high-quality.
Wrapping Up
Paramount+ gives you options in terms of ads. And it’s not as complicated as other platforms like Hulu and Disney+. That said, just like Netflix, Peacock, and Disney+, none of the plans are truly ad-free. Yes, the premium definitely has fewer ads, and is the way to go if you don’t like ads, but you’ll still see ads on live content. Moreover, we still think essential is a good value, especially if you go for the annual plan that costs only 60 bucks.