Game Pass vs PS Plus vs Switch Online: What to Compare

What the three services are

A console subscription is a recurring membership sold by the console maker. In general terms, it covers online multiplayer and gives you access to a catalog of games while the membership is active. Each of the three main console families has one: Xbox offers Game Pass, PlayStation offers a subscription commonly called PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo offers Nintendo Switch Online.

The official maker pages describe these services unevenly. The Xbox pages describe Game Pass as including hundreds of games and name Game Pass Ultimate as a tier. The Nintendo pages describe a Switch Online individual membership that can be included in a system bundle for a three-month term. The PlayStation page given here describes purchases through PlayStation Store but does not describe a subscription service. For that reason, this article compares what the given pages state and points you to the maker's service page for the rest.

Choose the console first, then the subscription. The guides on this site list consoles by stated details, and each maker's service is tied to its own hardware. If you are deciding between console families, start with the Xbox consoles, PlayStation consoles, or Nintendo Switch consoles guide.

• What each service covers, in the general sense: online play, a game catalog, cloud save backup, and member offers. The maker's service page states which of these are included.

Online play: what a subscription covers

Online play means playing with other people over the internet. In general terms, console makers require a membership for online multiplayer, and a network connection is always needed. If online multiplayer is your main reason to subscribe, compare how each maker's page describes it.

The Xbox consoles page describes Xbox as a multiplayer network: it says you can compete and connect with friends, teammates, and rivals on the world's most advanced multiplayer network. The Nintendo Switch 2 page states that internet access is required for online features. The PlayStation page given here does not describe online play requirements, so read the PlayStation service page directly.

For a fuller comparison of what online play requires, see the online service tiers article.

Game catalogs: what the maker pages state

A game catalog is the set of games you can play while your membership is active. In general terms, catalogs rotate: some games stay, some leave, and new ones arrive. The size of a catalog matters if you plan to rely on the subscription instead of buying games.

The Xbox consoles page states that Game Pass includes hundreds of games, and the page invites you to enjoy hundreds of games with Game Pass. The Nintendo pages given here do not describe a catalog, and the PlayStation page given here does not describe one either. That means the only catalog size stated in the given sources is the Xbox one.

To compare catalogs fairly, read each maker's service page and look for what is stated: how the catalog is described, whether new releases are named, and whether the page says games can leave the service. The game library size article explains what to look for.

Cloud saves and save backup

Cloud saves back up your game progress to the maker's online storage, so you can restore it after a reinstall or on another console. In general terms, this is a common feature of subscription services, but it is not always included in every tier.

None of the given source pages describe cloud saves for any of the three services. This article cannot confirm which tier includes cloud save backup. Read the maker's service page and look for the words save or backup in its description.

If a game does not use cloud saves, your progress stays on the console. Keep that in mind when moving between two consoles in a household. The cloud save backup article covers this in more detail.

Tiers, bundles, and family options

The maker pages name some tiers and offers. The Xbox page footer names Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as service names. The Nintendo Switch 2 bundle page describes a system plus a three-month Switch Online individual membership included with the bundle.

The PlayStation page given here does not name a subscription tier. For PlayStation, the service page is the place to check which tiers exist and what each includes.

For families, Nintendo's gaming systems page describes Virtual Game Cards, a feature that lets you lend games to members of your Nintendo Account family group. The Xbox and PlayStation pages given here do not describe family sharing, so check each maker's page. If you are considering a bundle, the console bundles guide lists systems by the stated contents of each bundle.

How to compare without price

This site's gaming console reviews are compared on stated details, never on price. A subscription should follow the console choice, not lead it. If you have one console, pick the maker's service and read its page. If you have more than one console in the household, compare what each maker's page states about online play, catalogs, cloud saves, and family options.

A digital edition console may pair well with a subscription catalog, since you will buy fewer discs. See the digital edition consoles guide if that is your direction. And if budget is the main constraint, the budget consoles guide sorts consoles by stated specs first.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Do I need a subscription to play online?

In general terms, console makers require a membership for online multiplayer. The Xbox page describes a multiplayer network, and the Nintendo page states that internet access is required for online features. Read the maker's service page for the exact requirement for your console.

Which service has the largest game catalog?

Among the given pages, only Xbox Game Pass is described with a catalog size: the Xbox page states hundreds of games. The Nintendo and PlayStation pages given here do not describe catalog sizes, so compare the maker's service pages directly.

Do subscriptions include cloud saves?

None of the given pages state cloud save details for any of the three services. Cloud save backup is a common feature in general terms, but this article cannot confirm it from the given pages. Check the maker's service page.

Can I share a subscription with family?

Nintendo's page describes Virtual Game Cards for lending games to members of a Nintendo Account family group. The Xbox and PlayStation pages given here do not describe family sharing, so read each maker's page for its own policy.

Is a subscription included with a console bundle?

The Nintendo Switch 2 bundle page describes a system plus a three-month Switch Online individual membership. Xbox and PlayStation bundles are not described in the given pages, so read the bundle listing for what it includes.

Should I choose the subscription before or after the console?

Choose the console first. The subscription follows the console, since each maker's service works with its own hardware. After picking a console, read the maker's service page for the subscription details.