Gaming · head to head
PlayStation Plus vs Steam
PlayStation Plus
Gaming
Monthly games, online multiplayer and more
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Steam
Gaming
The ultimate destination for playing, discussing, and creating games
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PlayStation Plus online multiplayer for most PS5 and PS4 games requires at least the Essential tier; it is not included free with a PlayStation account; Steam publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PlayStation Plus and Steam actually diverge.
| Attribute | PlayStation Plus | Steam |
|---|
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Gaming).
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PlayStation Plus
- Online multiplayer for most PS5 and PS4 games requires at least the Essential tier; it is not included free with a PlayStation account
- Cloud streaming and the Classics Catalog of retro PlayStation games are reserved for the top Premium tier only, not Essential or Extra
Steam
- Publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue
- Core purchases and library are tied to a single Steam account with no vendor-stated official resale or transfer mechanism for owned games
Pricing, plan by plan
PlayStation Plus
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PlayStation Plus review.
Steam
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Steam review.
Which should you pick?
Choose PlayStation Plus if
Nothing in the data separates PlayStation Plus from Steam on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Steam if
Nothing in the data separates Steam from PlayStation Plus on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is PlayStation Plus or Steam better?
- Neither clearly leads. PlayStation Plus starts at On request and Steam at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PlayStation Plus or Steam?
- PlayStation Plus starts at On request and Steam at On request.
- Does PlayStation Plus or Steam run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.