In the United States, Xbox Game Pass plans range from $9.99 to $22.99 per month as of October 2026. Your choice can shape how much room you have for games, add-ons, and other monthly costs. This guide uses US monthly prices from October 2026 to help you compare membership choices with your gaming budget.
Cloud playtime means the monthly allowance for streaming games instead of downloading them. Subscription plans are separate from Xbox console models, so buying a different console does not itself change your membership choice. The right fit comes down to the games and features you expect to use, not just the size of a bundle.
Key Takeaways
- US monthly prices in this guide are current as of October 2026.
- Plans differ in platform access, game libraries, streaming, and extras.
- Your Xbox model does not set the membership rate.
- Online multiplayer needs a plan for some paid games, but not free-to-play titles.
- Compare the monthly membership cost with the games and features you expect to use.
Compare the monthly membership cost with the games and features you expect to use.
How Much Is Game Pass on Xbox in 2026?
Essential starts at $9.99 a month, while Ultimate is $22.99 a month in the United States. Your console model does not set the subscription rate; the plan does.
The subscription price is based on the plan, not whether you own an Xbox Series X or Xbox One. The same console plan rate applies to either model.
Your Xbox model does not change the plan’s monthly rate.
Monthly prices for Xbox console plans
Essential, Premium, and Ultimate are console plans. The listed US monthly prices apply as of October 2026, before any checkout taxes or offers.
| Plan | US monthly price | Core platform |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 | Xbox console |
| Premium | $14.99 | Xbox console |
| Ultimate | $22.99 | Xbox console, PC, supported devices |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99 | PC |
That means the answer to how much Game Pass costs on Xbox Series X is the same as on Xbox One. A console upgrade does not move you into a higher tier.
The PC Game Pass monthly price
PC Game Pass costs $13.99 a month in the United States as of October 2026. The Xbox game plan table lists the monthly charges, while your checkout total can include local taxes.
CNBC reported the 2026 price changes for Ultimate and PC Game Pass. For a look at new arrivals and what to try, browse this guide to new Xbox Game Pass games.
Check the checkout screen for applicable taxes or a limited-time offer before confirming.
What Does Each Xbox Game Pass Plan Include?
Ultimate has the largest listed library at 500+ games, while PC Game Pass has 300+ games for PC. Platform access and cloud playtime also differ by plan.
Essential, Premium, and Ultimate include cloud playtime, while PC Game Pass does not. The table shows each plan’s 2026 library count and access.
Library size and platform access
| Plan | Library | Where playable | Cloud playtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 50+ games | Xbox console, PC, supported devices | 5 hours/month |
| Premium | 200+ games | Xbox console, PC, supported devices | 10 hours/month |
| Ultimate | 500+ games | Xbox console, PC, supported devices | 15 hours/month |
| PC Game Pass | 300+ games | PC | Not included |
The games playable through a plan depend on its platform access. Essential, Premium, and Ultimate list games Xbox console, PC, and supported-device players can access; PC Game Pass is for PC.
Cloud playtime and streaming
You can download games on supported platforms or stream select games. Streaming can include select games you own, on supported devices such as a mobile phone, tablet, TV, or VR headset.
Cloud gaming limits the hours you can stream each month. Tom’s Hardware covers the monthly cloud playtime limits for Essential, Premium, and Ultimate.
Titles and access can change over time and by region, plan, and platform. A game listed for one device may not be available on another, so check the platform details for a title you want.
For another look at games and family play styles, see these family-friendly console picks.
Treat each library count as a snapshot because titles and availability change over time.
Which Game Pass Plan Fits Your Play Style?
Ultimate is most compelling when you will use more than one of its included memberships, while PC Game Pass includes EA Play for PC players. Real use matters more than the number of extras.
An included service has less practical value if you would not use it. Essential suits players who do not value the added memberships, while PC Game Pass fits PC-first players interested in EA Play.
Choose based on included memberships
Ultimate includes EA Play, Fortnite Crew, and Ubisoft+ Classics. Those memberships can add value if they match the games and services you already enjoy.
Before choosing a larger bundle, ask yourself:
- Do you play games in the included EA Play library?
- Will you claim Fortnite Crew or Ubisoft+ Classics?
- Do the Rewards points and in-game benefits apply to games you play?
Count rewards and in-game benefits you will use
Premium earns up to 2x Rewards points, and Ultimate earns up to 4x compared with Essential’s earning potential. Ultimate members can play and earn up to $100 a year in Store value through Rewards.
Some benefits earn rewards points, while others unlock in-game items. You can get in-game benefits in titles such as League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rainbow Six Siege.
Those extras only matter when they fit your play habits. If you never open a membership or claim a perk, it cannot make the plan a better fit.
For another way to judge gaming value, compare offers in this guide to PC game deal models.
Skip paying for bundled extras you expect to leave unused.
How Do Day-One Games Work Across Plans?
Premium and Ultimate include new games on day one, but Essential does not. Call of Duty is an exception to the usual day-one expectation for future releases.
Starting in 2026, future Call of Duty titles will not join Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. They are scheduled to arrive during the following holiday season, about a year later.
Premium adds select Xbox-published games within one year of launch, but that timing rule excludes Call of Duty. This differs from the general day-one benefit for new games on Premium and Ultimate.
Existing Call of Duty titles already in the library remain available. The official Modern Warfare 4 launch update gives a specific example: the game launched October 23, 2026, as a standalone release, with Game Pass availability set for Holiday 2027.
So, day-one access does not mean future Call of Duty games arrive at launch. A title’s release plan can differ from the broader benefit offered by its plan.
Check an individual game’s listing before launch if day-one access is the reason for choosing a plan.
Can You Share Xbox Game Pass With Family?
Yes, an Xbox Game Pass subscriber can share benefits through a Home Xbox or while signed in on another Xbox. These are two console situations, not a separate family plan.
Anyone who signs in on your designated Home Xbox can use your subscription. The other option is sharing benefits on a different console while you are signed in there.
Sharing through your Home Xbox
Set your Xbox as your Home Xbox to let other people who sign in on that console use the subscription. This can suit a household where several people use one shared console.
Your Microsoft account is tied to the subscription, but the Home Xbox setting allows other signed-in users to access it on that console. The account holder does not need to be the only person playing there.
Using another Xbox while signed in
You can also share subscription benefits with everyone on another Xbox while you are signed in on it. That is different from assigning the console as your Home Xbox.
For example, you might use your Home Xbox at home and sign in on a second Xbox elsewhere. People using the second console can access benefits while your account remains signed in there.
Subscription sharing works through those console settings and sign-in situations. It does not create a separate family plan or add another subscription account.
Set the console used most often as the Home Xbox when household access is the goal.
What Happens When You Cancel or Turn Off Renewal?
Canceling ends access to Game Pass titles when the subscription expires, although game progress is saved. Your saved progress remains, but access depends on an active subscription and a title staying in the library.
Access also ends if a game leaves the library, even while your plan remains active. Recurring billing is on by default, and all plans bill monthly.
Game access after cancellation
When a subscription expires, you can no longer play its included titles through the membership. If a game leaves the library first, its subscription access ends at that point.
Saved progress is not the same as continued access. If you later regain access to a game, your progress remains saved.
Recurring billing and refund timing
Game Pass has no one-year subscription, including a 12-month membership as a separate annual plan. Check your Microsoft account or console for the billing date and recurring billing setting.
Use this checklist to manage the next charge:
- Check the next billing date.
- Turn off recurring billing through your Microsoft account or console before that date.
- If already charged, request a refund within 30 days of payment.
The refund limit is once per Microsoft account for each subscription product. Review the applicable terms before asking for a refund.
Turn recurring billing off before the next billing date if you do not want another charge.
Can You Play Xbox Online Without Game Pass?
You can play free-to-play Xbox games online without a Game Pass subscription. Paid games differ: some require a plan for online console multiplayer.
Essential is the lowest-cost plan that includes online console multiplayer for games that require a membership. Premium and Ultimate include it too.
Here are three common ways to play:
- Free-to-play online games without a subscription.
- Paid games whose console multiplayer requires a plan.
- Offline or single-player play that does not use online multiplayer.
For paid games that require a plan, Essential is the lowest-cost route to online console multiplayer.
Game Pass availability is tied to supported regions, not to finding a nearby store. If you are comparing options for a household, these family-friendly multiplayer games show how local and online play can differ.
Before subscribing just for multiplayer, check whether the game is free-to-play or requires a membership.
Conclusion
The right plan is the one whose games and extras fit the way you actually play. The largest bundle is not automatically the best choice for your gaming budget.
Think about which features you will use often, then choose a plan that covers those needs without paying for extras you will ignore. A smaller membership can make more sense when its access matches your usual play.
Sign in to your Microsoft account and confirm the plan terms before you subscribe.
FAQ
What is the cost of the Xbox Game Pass?
US monthly prices are $9.99 for Essential, $14.99 for Premium, $13.99 for PC Game Pass, and $22.99 for Ultimate. These prices are current as of October 2026. Your checkout total may include taxes or a limited-time offer. The plan you choose sets the subscription cost, not whether you own an Xbox Series X or Xbox One.
Can I share Xbox Game Pass with family?
Yes, you can share benefits through a Home Xbox or while signed in on another Xbox. Anyone who signs in on your designated Home Xbox can use the subscription there. On another Xbox, you can share benefits with everyone while you are signed in. These options use console settings, not a separate family plan.
How does Game Pass work on Xbox?
A subscription gives you access to its plan’s library while the subscription stays active and each game remains in the library. You can play titles supported by your plan and platform. Access ends when the subscription expires or a title leaves. Your saved progress remains, so you can continue if you regain access to that game later.
Can I play Xbox without a Game Pass?
Yes, free-to-play online games and offline play do not require Game Pass. Some paid games require a plan for online console multiplayer. Essential, Premium, and Ultimate include that feature for games that need a membership. Check the individual game’s requirements, since online play rules can differ between free-to-play titles and paid games.
Is Xbox Game Pass only monthly?
Yes, Game Pass plans are billed monthly, and there is no one-year subscription plan. A 12-month membership is not a separate annual plan. Recurring billing is on by default, so check your account or console for the next charge date. You can turn off recurring billing before that date if you do not want another monthly charge.
Will I lose my games if I cancel my Game Pass?
You lose subscription access when the plan expires or a game leaves the library, but your saved progress remains. You cannot keep playing a title through the membership after access ends. If you later regain access to that title, your progress is still saved. A game leaving the library can end access even before your subscription expires.
What is the cheapest way to play Xbox online?
Free-to-play online games need no membership, while Essential is the lowest-cost plan with paid-game online console multiplayer. Offline and single-player games also do not need online multiplayer access. Before paying for a plan, check whether the specific game you want is free-to-play or requires a membership for its online modes.
