PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, and Nintendo Switch Online compared
Last Updated on: 9th April 2022, 05:39 pm
Consoles having a subscription service has just become standard following the release of Xbox Live on the original Xbox.
Now, the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch all have a subscription service to grant many perks including online gaming, free games, cloud storage, and other extras.
With PlayStation Plus receiving a revamp in the coming months with new tiers and perks, and the Nintendo Switch Online receiving an Expansion Pack recently, now is a perfect time to compare PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, and Nintendo Switch Online to see which provides the best value for money and the best extras to entice players to subscribe.
| PlayStation Plus | Xbox Game Pass | Nintendo Switch Online | |
| Tiers | Essential Extra Premium | Xbox Game Pass for Console PC Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate | Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack |
| Monthly Price | Essential – $9.99 Extra – $14.99 Premium – $17.99 | Console and PC – $9.99 Ultimate – $14.99 | Nintendo Switch Online – $3.99 |
| Yearly Price | Essential – $59.99 Extra – $99.99 Premium – $119.99 | N/A | Nintendo Switch Online – $19.99 Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack – $49.99 |
| Family Plan | No | No | Yes – $39.99 per year (NSO), $79.99 per year (NSO + Expansion Pack) |
| Online Gaming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Games | 2-5 free games each month + PS Plus Collection for PS5 owners. 400 PS4 and PS5 games for Extra and Premium tier | Hundreds of free games across all generations. PC and EA Play games (Ultimate and PC tiers) | No |
| Old Games | PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PSP games (Premium tier) | Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One games | NES and SNES games (NSO) + N64, Genesis games (NSO + Expansion Pack) |
| Demos/Trials | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Saves | Yes | Yes (Does not require a subscription) | Yes |
| Discounts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other Perks | PS Now game streaming on console and PC (depending on tier) | XCloud (Ultimate only) | Access to DLC for Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
READ MORE: New PlayStation Plus subscription proves the PS5 is backwards compatible
