Watch Paramount+ without Commercials: Tips & Real Truth
Summary: This guide explores the reality behind the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan. We explain why subscribers still see commercials during Live TV, Sports, and promotional previews, despite paying for "Commercial-Free" access. You will also learn practical tips to help you watch Paramount+ completely ad-free.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Paramount+ has become a major player in the streaming world. It is the home of massive hits, including the Yellowstone prequels (1883, 1923) and the entire Star Trek universe. Even for sports fans who want to watch the NFL and the UEFA Champions League, Paramount+ is also a go-to spot.
Of course, as users, we all want to watch these without interruptions. You might decide to upgrade to the top-tier plan, which is now called Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. You pay extra for a simple promise: no commercials.
But here is the common frustration. After you pay for the premium plan, you sit down to watch a game or a show, and you still see an ad.
Is it a bug? Did you pick the wrong plan? We are here to clear up the confusion. In this guide, we will reveal the truth behind the Paramount+ "Ad-Free" label. We will explain exactly why you still see commercials, compare the different plans side-by-side, and show you how to get the best deal possible.
Analysis: The Truth about "Paramount+ Ad-Free"
When you sign up for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the main selling point is "no ads." However, in some situations, we still see commercials on Paramount+.
1. How Paramount+ Defines No Commercials
Officially, the "Commercial-Free" promise applies mainly to the Paramoun+ On-Demand Library.
This covers the thousands of movies and TV show episodes available in the catalog. If you've subscripbed to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and you click on a movie like Top Gun: Maverick or an episode of SpongeBob, these content will be played without commercials interruption.
2. Why I Still Get Commercials with Premium Plan
However, if you are already a Paramoun+ with SHOWTIME member, you will still encounter commercials in 3 specific situations. This is not a glitch, it is how the Paramount+ works.
1. Live TV (Local CBS Station): It is a live broadcast, the ads are "baked in" the program. What you see are exactly the same commercials as someone watching cable TV. Paramount+ cannot pause or edit a live signal you. Therefore, commercials for Live TV cannot be ignored.
2. Live Sports: If you watch the NFL, the UEFA Champions League, or March Madness, you will see commercials. To clarify this, sports come with breaks. During these breaks, the network must run commercials.
3. Promotional Previews (House Ads): Sometimes, before your show starts, you will see a short clip promoting another Paramount+ series. For example, you might see a 15-second trailer for Star Trek before watching. For us, they are commercials, but for Paramount+, no. Paramount+ does not consider these to be "commercials" but a persoanl "recommendations."
3. My Experience on Paramount+ Commercials with Others
I subscribe to the "No Commercials" plans for Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount+. After using all three side-by-side, here is what I feel:
🟢 1. Netflix: Best among the three. The gold standard. Their ad-free plan is truly 100% clean. You press play, and the movie starts instantly.
🟡 2. Disney+: Mostly Clean. Most of the time, the movie just starts. Occasionally, I will see a quick trailer for a new Star Wars or Marvel show before my content begins. It is a "house ad," but it is usually short and relevant to what I like. It rarely bothers me.
🔴 3. Paramount+: A "Noisier" Experience. Paramount+ feels different. To be honest, it feels "noisier" than the other two. This is mostly because of the content I watch. Since I use Paramount+ for Live TV and Sports, I still see standard commercial breaks during football games or the local news. I can't skip them.
Even when I watch a regular movie on demand, I often have to watch 15-second promo for a new Paramount+ series. It doesn't feel as "pure" as Netflix. However, I have to accept this trade-off because Netflix does not offer me live sports or local news channels.
Plan Comparison: Best Deals for Paramount+ without Commercials
1. Paramoun+ Essentials (with Ads) vs. Paramount+ with Showtime (No Ads)
If you want to sign up a Paramount+ plan without commercials, here is the current price for your reference:
- Paramount+ Essential (Ads): Costs about $7.99 per month.
- Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (No Ads): Costs about $12.99 per month.
Note: Taxes may apply depending on where you live.
2. How to Get It Cheaper?
You do not always have to pay full price. Here are three proven ways to lower your bill.
1. The Annual Plan (Best for Long-Term)
2. The Walmart+ "Hack"
However, simply deciding to buy isn't enough, you need to make sure you click the right buttons. Because Paramount+ has changed its plan names recently, it is easy to accidentally sign up for the wrong one. Let’s walk through the exact steps to ensure you activate the correct ad-free package and get it running on your TV or phone.
How to Watch Paramount+ without Commercials
1. Upgrade Your Plan
When you choose this method, you are paying to remove ads from VOD (Video On Demand) content—like movies and TV series. However, please remember that this plan does NOT remove ads from:
- Live TV (Your local CBS station).
- Live Sports (NFL, Champions League, etc.).
- Promotional Previews (Trailers for other Paramount+ shows).
For new users:
- Go to the Paramount+ website or download the app. Click on "Try It Free."
- When asked to pick a plan, select "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME." This is the specific name for the commercial-free option.
For existing users:
- Log in to your account. Go to Account (or "Manage Subscription" in your settings).
- Select Change Plan. Choose "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME" and confirm.
Note: If you subscribed through an app store (like Apple or Amazon), you usually have to manage your plan inside your phone’s "Subscriptions" menu, not the Paramount+ website.
2. Download for Offline Watching under Airplane Mode
By using this method, we can achieve ad-free viewing on Paramount+. However, since download Paramount Plus videos feature is only accessible for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (ad-free version) subscribers, while Essential plan users cannot use this technique.
Steps are as follows:
- Download the Show: Use your mobile device to download the movie or episode you want to watch (available only on the with SHOWTIME plan).
- Go Offline: Before you press play, turn on Airplane Mode or turn off your Wi-Fi/Data.
- Watch in Peace: Because most promotional trailers are streamed from the internet dynamically, the app often skips them entirely when you are offline, jumping straight to your movie. This is currently the only way to get a 100% commercials-free experience.
While this trick works well, the scope is limited:
- VOD Only: This only applies to Video On Demand (movies and TV shows). You cannot download Live TV, so this trick will not work for Sports or Local News.
- Not All Titles: Not every movie or show is available for download. Some titles may be unavailable for downloading due to licensing rules.
3. Ultimate Workaround: Use StreamFab to Watch Paramount+ without Commercials
As we mentioned, the official Paramount+ app download cannot solve all problems with commercials. You cannot download sports replays, and probably Paramount Plus download not work for part of episodes or movie you want.
If you want to get a full experience without commercials inerruption, a specialized tool is required.
Enable you to watch Paramount+ sports replays or specific movies without commercials interruption and promotional trailers. It is a 100% clean viewing experience.
Install and Login
Download and install the StreamFab Paramount+ Downloader. Open the software and click on the "Paramount+" icon. You will see a built-in browser window. Log in to your Paramount+ account here.
Note: StreamFab is a trusted brand with over 10 years of history. The login happens on the official Paramount+ website inside the browser; the software does not steal your credentials.
Choose Your Video
Browse the library and play the video you want (whether it is a movie or a sports replay). It will automatically verify that you have permission to stream this video. Once verified, a pop-up window will appear: select your video resolution (e.g., 1080p), audio quality.
Download and Enjoy
Click the "Download Now" button and wait a few minutes for the process to finish. The video will be saved to your computer and compatible with any player, such as VLC Media Player or your device's default player.
When you watch this file, there will be zero ads. No commercials, no promos, just the content.
FAQ
If you download the video and watch it in Airplane Mode (as mentioned in the Pro Tip above), the app often skips the preview entirely. Alternatively, using StreamFab can also achieve this goal.
No. This is a common misunderstanding. The 25% student discount applies only to the Paramount+ Essential plan (the one with ads). You cannot apply the student discount to the "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME" plan.
Yes. New subscribers usually get a 7-day free trial for the "with SHOWTIME" plan.
Yes. This is a major benefit of the upgrade. The "with SHOWTIME" plan supports 4K UHD, HDR10, and Dolby Vision for many movies and original shows. The cheaper "Essential" plan is generally limited to standard HD (1080p).
But please note that the 4K quality content can only be streamed online.
Conclusion
Paramount+ offers a compelling "Ad-Free" subscription, but as we have discussed, reality is a bit complicated. Even on the top-tier plan, “Ad-Free" does not always mean 100% no commercials. Between live TV, sports breaks, and promotional previews, interruptions are simply unavoidable.
However, you are not out of options. By applying the personal tricks shared in this guide, you can minimize these distractions and get the cleanest viewing experience possible.
Do you think it is worth tolerating commercials just to get access to live sports like the NFL or Champions League? Or should a premium "Ad-Free" subscription mean absolutely zero interruptions, no matter what? Let us know in the comments below!
