Do PlayStation Plus Cards Expire? (Updated 2023)

 

PlayStation cards are a great way to purchase games and enjoy the most at discounted prices.

However, the PlayStation cards are usually given out as appreciation gifts.

You can buy PlayStation-related stuff online and get monthly discounts.

If you have a PlayStation Plus card lying around, and you haven’t used it yet to purchase anything, you must be wondering if it has an expiry date.

We will answer this question and highlight talk about the significance of the PlayStation Plus card.

 

Do PlayStation Plus Cards Expire?

 

No, PlayStation Plus cards do not expire until you redeem them.

Once you do, the card will be usable for one year.

However, in some cases, there is an expiry date mentioned at the back of the card.

If you have a card that lists an expiry date, you should redeem it before that date to avoid any loss.

Make sure that your card is 100% authentic.

There are many pirated cards available in the market for sale.

If you fear yours is a pirated one, try to use it as soon as possible.

 

How To Purchase PlayStation Plus Cards

 

PlayStation Plus cards can be purchased both physically and digitally.

Digital purchases can be made through PlayStation’s official website, https://www.playstation.com/en-us/ps-plus/join-ps-plus/, and subscribe to the service or order a card to be delivered to your physical address.

Your digital card will be sent to your email with a hidden code that can be accessed with a private key provided by PlayStation.

However, if you have decided to take the subscription, it will start as soon as you purchase the package.

The card prices range from $10 to $60, and these prices vary depending on what you are looking for.

PlayStation also provides discount codes for their Plus cards.

These deals go live at different times of the year, so it is better to purchase them with a discount code for better value.

 

How To Redeem PlayStation Plus Cards

 

The exact method for redeeming the code entirely depends on the device you are using.

You may encounter slightly different steps for different devices, but the common ones remain the same.

 

For PS5

To redeem a code obtained from your PS5, follow these steps.

1. Login into your PS5 account and click Settings.
2. In Settings, select Account.
3. Scroll down and select the Payments and Subscriptions option.
4. Select Redeem.
5. Enter the code and confirm.

 

Online Through The Website

The online procedure is recommended as it remains the same no matter which device you are using.

1. Sign in to your PlayStation account.
2. From the drop-down menu at the top, select Redeem Codes.
3. Enter the code and confirm.

 

Through Mobile

You can also use your phone to redeem your code. Here are the steps:

1. Login to your account from the PlayStation app.
2. Tap the PlayStation logo at the bottom and tap the three lines that appear at the top.
3. Now, from the drop-down, select Redeem.
4. Enter the code and confirm.

 

Will I Lose My Games After The End Of Subscription?

 

Yes, you will lose all your games accessible with the PlayStation Plus subscription when your subscription ends.

This includes losing all data, including the players, missions, levels, etc.

You can set up email reminders to ensure you are notified when your subscription is ending.

It is highly recommended to purchase yearly subscriptions to avoid any data loss.

Annual subscriptions also come with discounted prices, making them more beneficial.

 

Can I Get A Free PlayStation Trial?

 

Yes, you can get a free PlayStation trial for 14 days when you purchase a service.

However, getting the trial period is not that simple.

After the recent updates, Sony has hidden the free trial option from the top subscription page to ensure users are unaware of this feature.

Most people now think that the trial is not available as it used to be, which is not actually true.

To get a free trial, you have to enter all the payment details as you would for a normal subscription plan.

You won’t be charged until after the 14-day trial.

After that, you will pay the regular subscription fee.

Sony implemented this to make sure you are a legitimate user.

Make sure to cancel your trial before renewal as you won’t get any prior notice.

 

How To Activate PlayStation Plus Card Free Trial

Getting a free PlayStation Plus subscription trial is an easy but tricky process.

Because there is no mention of the free trial until the checkout page, most people think they will be charged, and no trial is available.

To get the PlayStation plus card free trial, follow these steps.

1. Go to the official PlayStation website and create an account.
2. Go to the Plus membership page and select join now.
3. Select the package that works best for you.
4. Click Add to Basket and proceed to the next step.
5. Provide your payment details and confirm the subscription.

This will start your 14-day free trial, and you will be charged automatically once the trial period ends.

Important Note: Once you purchase the subscription, your free trial will start immediately.

If you do not wish to continue using the service, you should cancel before it renews to the regular subscription plan.

 

7 Advantages Of Using A PlayStation Plus Card

 

The PlayStation Plus card is the easiest and cheapest way to take maximum advantage of the PlayStation network’s features.

Most people are not aware of the advantages of this card, and they keep on purchasing PlayStation’s services individually.

Let us discuss the seven significant advantages of the PlayStation Plus card to emphasize its importance.

 

1. Huge Discounts

As a PlayStation Plus cardholder, you will be getting huge discounts on different products.

Whether you are purchasing a game subscription or any entertainment feature, you will have a chance to get it at a minimal charge compared to regular subscription models.

 

2. Free Games

PlayStation Plus users can enjoy free games—an incredible perk that comes with the PlayStation Plus card.

You will have automatic access to free games every month without any additional requirements or installations.

You can also make premium games purchases at low prices with instant approvals.

 

3. Increased Cloud Storage

Increased cloud storage is another great advantage of having a PlayStation Plus card.

You can use a cloud storage space of almost 100 GB, which is quite extraordinary.

Cloud storage allows you to store all of your gaming data in one place.

The cloud also allows you to save the games at different levels with this feature.

 

4. Latest Games

Your Plus membership will also give you access to all the latest games.

The latest games are not available on a free PlayStation subscription, which is one of the most significant disadvantages of using a free subscription.

Game creators always come up with updates to add new features to the game, which interests most gaming enthusiasts.

No gaming lover would want to miss these updates.

For this reason, many prefer to use the Plus subscription instead of the free one.

 

5. Free Entertainment Options

Songs, movies, seasons, and other entertainment mediums are great additions that can bring that extra value to your already exciting PlayStation.

With a PlayStation Plus card, you will have access to all of these for free.

This is one of the perks of being a PlayStation user.

 

6. Share Play Features

With the Share Play feature, you can enjoy group gaming.

The Share Play option also allows multi-gaming, and you can take part in different games with two players.

 

7. Less Lag

Sony was the first company to introduce cloud gaming which became famous worldwide in a matter of few months.

However, the lag is still an issue for free members, which significantly improves when you use a PlayStation Plus membership.

The lag issue is reduced mainly because of more cloud storage availability.

 

Do I Have To Install Games If I Have A PlayStation Plus Card?

 

No, as a PlayStation Plus user, you do not have to install any games.

Instead, you just need to claim the game and it will be ready in your library.

In fact, this is one of the primary reasons most people prefer PlayStation Plus over free versions.

 

What Is The Difference Between PlayStation Gift Cards And PlayStation Subscriptions?

 

The main difference between PlayStation gift cards and the PlayStation subscription is their physical existence.

The PlayStation gift cards are cards emailed to you, while PlayStation Plus is a subscription you purchase.

As far as features are concerned, there are not many differences.

The Plus and the gift card users get the same advantages and same value-added features.

The prices also remain the same for both services.

A PlayStation gift card can be considered a digital currency used to purchase different subscriptions.

On the other hand, a Plus subscription is simply a package for a specific period for several benefits.

 

Is PlayStation Plus Subscription Required For Playing All Games?

 

No, a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required for all the free games.

You will still have access to some of the games available on the platform as a free user.

However, most free games are not that great.

As a free PlayStation user, you will have to purchase subscriptions for some ordinary games, which is a lot more costly.

If you play only one to two games on PlayStation, you should consider purchasing the subscription for those games instead of worrying about the Plus subscription.

This will save you money that you can use on content related to entertainment.

 

Which Is Better: PS Plus Or PS Now?

 

The decision depends on your usage and requirements.

Considering the features, though, PS plus is undoubtedly the better option.

Sony initially started PS Now subscriptions in 2014 to set the benchmark for cloud gaming.

The subscription remained immensely popular for a long time but soon lost its popularity as the PS Plus memberships took over.

Here are five reasons you should choose PS Plus subscriptions instead of PS Now.

 

1. Better Games

PlayStation Plus subscription allows you to play more updated games than PlayStation Now subscription.

Although PS Now subscriptions allow access to more than 800 games, most are outdated ones with no real value.

 

2. Less Lag

Due to better cloud storage, PS Plus subscription is free of any lag.

Almost all the games streamed from PS Plus subscription run smoothly, providing an excellent user experience.

On the other hand, the PS Now subscription provides less cloud storage, resulting in more lag and a poor gaming experience.

 

3. Multiplayer Feature

Unfortunately, the PS Now subscription does not provide the multiplayer feature, which is the most significant letdown of this subscription.

On PS Now subscription, you won’t be allowed to play with multiple players on the same server.

However, the two-player option is still available, which is not of great value.

 

4. Less Availability

Over the past few years, Sony has stopped marketing its PS Now subscription and has removed the subscription from most of its official channels.

Although it is still available on the official website, there are high chances the subscription plans will be completely phased out in a few years.

 

5. Most Games Need Downloading

Although PS Now subscription is used for cloud gaming, most games still do not have the streaming option and require proper downloading.

On the other hand, almost all the games can be streamed on a PS Plus subscription, which is an excellent benefit.

 

Can I Play PlayStation For Free?

 

Yes, you are always allowed to play PlayStation for free.

There are tons of free games available on the platform that can be accessed for free.

However, you will be restricted to connecting to the platform using the PS console only.

If you want to use PlayStation on a PC, buying the Plus subscription is necessary.

As a free user of the PS, you won’t be able to enjoy the perks of playing the latest games.

You won’t be able to see any official game updates on your PS.

It’s more like your PS will just be similar to an old PC that requires you to download games.

Also, you won’t be able to enjoy the perks of cloud gaming.

The free membership won’t allow you to connect and play at different servers.

The storage will be limited as well, and all of it will be based on the hard disk with small cloud storage.

Therefore, it is better to purchase a plus subscription to make your PS more beneficial.

However, if you love playing traditional games and are completely fine with that, the free version will work fine for you.

 

Conclusion

PlayStation Plus cards provide great benefits to its users with come with lots of added features and countless benefits.

If you are a gaming freak who loves staying up to date with the latest updates in the gaming world, you should definitely subscribe to the PlayStation Plus card.

As far as expiry is concerned, it entirely depends on your subscription and the card.

Some cards come with an expiry date, others don’t.

However, the expiry only starts once you redeem the card, so make sure to use it within the stipulated period (typically a year).