Quick take
Who Xbox Game Pass is best for
Best value in gaming — hundreds of games including day-one Xbox exclusives
Subscriber context: 34M+
Service page
Xbox Game Pass subscription cost
Best value in gaming — hundreds of games including day-one Xbox exclusives
Default planStandard · $14.99/mo
Starting price$9.99/mo
Official sourceLinked below
Pricing snapshot
What you should know before paying
Starting price: $9.99/mo
Free trial or free tier: 14-day free trial.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Xbox Game Pass right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Current pricing
Current plans and prices
Primary source:Xbox Game Pass official pricing
Prices verified: March 30, 2026
Prices change: Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Xbox Game Pass right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Plan option
Core
$9.99/mo
No public annual price highlighted
Online multiplayer • Limited game library
What changes on this plan
- Online multiplayer
- Limited game library
- Deals
Most popular
Standard
$14.99/mo
No public annual price highlighted
100s of games • Online play
What changes on this plan
- 100s of games
- Online play
- Member deals
Plan option
Ultimate
$19.99/mo
No public annual price highlighted
PC + Console + Cloud • EA Play
What changes on this plan
- PC + Console + Cloud
- EA Play
- Day-one exclusives
Deals to check
Deals, discounts, and billing hooks to check
Promotions can move quickly. Use these notes as prompts, then confirm the live offer on the official pricing page.
- 14-day free trial.
Billing notes
Free trial, annual billing, and discounts
Free trial or free tier: 14-day free trial.
Annual comparison: No annual benchmark is highlighted in this snapshot, so monthly pricing is the clearest comparison point.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Xbox Game Pass right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Before you subscribe
What to double-check on the official page
Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Check billing frequency, cancellation terms, and whether any limited-time discounts are still active.
Closest competitors
Services that are closest to this one
PlayStation Plus
$13.99/mo default plan
Required for PlayStation online play, game catalog competes with Game Pass
EA Play
$16.99/mo default plan
Players who mainly care about EA franchises and want cheaper long-run access than buying each release separately.
Ubisoft+
$17.99/mo default plan
Players who care specifically about Ubisoft franchises and want the option to dip in around big launches.
Lower-cost options
Cheaper substitutes worth checking
Nintendo Switch Online
$6.67/mo default plan
Nintendo households that want online play and retro libraries, especially if they can split a family plan.
Apple Arcade
$6.99/mo default plan
Premium mobile gaming without ads or in-app purchases — great for families with Apple devices
PlayStation Plus
$13.99/mo default plan
Required for PlayStation online play, game catalog competes with Game Pass
FAQs
Common questions
What is the cheapest Xbox Game Pass plan and is it worth it?
Xbox Game Pass's lowest paid plan is Core at $9.99/mo. Online multiplayer • Limited game library Compare this against alternatives in Gaming to see if the price-to-feature tradeoff makes sense for your use case.
How much does Xbox Game Pass cost per year?
Xbox Game Pass does not currently offer an annual discount. Paying monthly for the Ultimate plan would cost $239.88 over a full year.
Does Xbox Game Pass have a free trial or free tier?
14-day free trial.
How many plans does Xbox Game Pass have and what is the difference?
Xbox Game Pass offers 3 plans ranging from $9.99/mo to $19.99/mo. The main differences between plans typically include content quality, concurrent streams or seats, and whether ads are shown. See the full plan comparison above for details.
Is Xbox Game Pass worth the price compared to alternatives?
Best value in gaming — hundreds of games including day-one Xbox exclusives Closest competitors in Gaming include PlayStation Plus, EA Play, Ubisoft+. Compare features and pricing to find the best fit for your needs.
Sources