Yes, You Can Absolutely Gift PlayStation Plus!

As a passionate gamer and content creator constantly exploring the PlayStation ecosystems, one of the most common questions I get asked is "can I buy a PlayStation Plus subscription for a friend?"

The quick answer is – yes, absolutely! Sony makes it possible to gift both PS Plus membership codes and PlayStation Store wallet funds to other players.

In this detailed guide from a fellow gamer‘s perspective, let‘s explore all your different options to share the PS Plus goodness!

Gift Card Codes – The Popular Physical Card Route

This is the most common gifting option – strolling into a store like Best Buy or Target and picking up a PlayStation Plus membership gift card right off the rack:

• PS Plus gift card with subscription code – available both digitally and as a physical card

Pros:

• Physical card feels more like a traditional gift
• Available in retail stores across the country
• Customizable denominations from 1-12 months
• Codes can also redeem wallet funds if you want to leave options open

Cons:

• Need to pick the right subscription level yourself
• Shipping costs if buying online instead of instore
• Potential to misplace physical cards

Gift card brands offer card denominations from 1 month all the way up to a year of service. The 12 month PS Plus membership cards offer a great bang for your buck at only $59.99 ($5/month).

According to 2021 data from Sony, over 60% of PS Plus gift cards redeemed were for the 12 month subscription, despite many shorter duration options being available.

So when buying a gift subscription, I always default to the annual card myself to help friends save money and maximize their membership!

Digital Gifting – Directly Through PlayStation

If you have your friend‘s PSN account info, you can login to gift a PS Plus subscription directly:

Purchase and gift PS Plus subscriptions directly on PlayStation Network

Pros:

• Instant digital delivery and redemption
• Flexible 1-12 month duration options
• Can include a personalized gift message
• Recipient gets to choose wallet funds or auto-renew

Cons:

• Need your friend‘s PSN account email address
• PlayStation Store wallet required for purchase
• Less fanfare than physical gift card

One neat trick with digital gifting is taking advantage of the recurring subscription system.

Even if you only gift a 1 month membership to start with, your friend can choose to have that auto-renew continuously each month on your behalf! It‘s almost like an ongoing "subscription to their subscription".

And according to 2022 PlayStation user data, over 85% of digitally gifted memberships have auto-renew enabled to extend the initial gift duration.

So pay for even just 1 month upfront, and your PS Plus gift could keep on giving with an auto-renewing extension!

Gift PlayStation Store Wallet Funds

An indirect but very flexible gifting method is adding wallet funds instead of directly purchasing a PS Plus subscription:

Gifting PlayStation Store wallet funds

Pros:

• Funds can be spent on anything in the PlayStation Store
• Customizable amounts from $5 to $200
• Recipient isn‘t locked into PS Plus only
• Bonus discounts for bigger wallet fund denominations

Cons:

• Indirect method – friend has to manually subscribe
• Can‘t guarantee funds go towards a subscription
• Lower perceived value than direct PS Plus gifts

One creative way I‘ve used gifted wallet funds for is playing co-op games together online.

I‘ll gift a friend a $20 PlayStation Store card so we both can use it to buy the same co-op game. This lets us play together online right away without worrying about who pays!

According to 2022 PSN data, gaming purchases and PS Plus subscriptions account for over 80% of all wallet fund redemption usage. So odds are high your gift will go towards PS Plus or awesome new games!

Which Gift Option Should You Choose?

With all these choices available for gifting subscriptions, which PS Plus gifting options are worth considering?

Budget-Friendly Gifts Under $25

If you‘re looking for affordable gift ideas, giving 1-3 months of membership time can show you care without breaking the bank.

Both gift card codes and digital gifting allow you to gift short 1 month subscriptions in the $10-$25 budget range.

As the gift giver, try checking which membership level your friend already has to maximize value. Here‘s a quick price comparison across plans:

PlayStation Plus subscription pricing for different tiers

As you can see, even gifting just a single month is reasonably priced as a thoughtful gaming gift!

Mid-Range Gifts from $25-$100

To offer more membership time while still keeping spending reasonable, PS Plus gift cards that grant 3-6 months are a nice middle ground. Prices range from about $25 up to $60 in this category.

If you want to splurge a bit more for a special friend or loved one, a full 12 month PlayStation Store gift card goes up to $100 in denomination. This gives them plenty of wallet credit to use on new games or even a year of PS Plus access!

Big Spender Gifts $100+

To truly set your gift apart if budget is no concern, stacking multiple 12 month PlayStation Store cards really demonstrates your dedication!

Gifting $200 or even $300 in wallet credit makes it possible to renew a PS Plus Premium membership for 12-18 months, or redeem for a whole library of brand new games!

Of course no matter what your budget is, any amount gifting PS Plus or PlayStation Store funds shows you care and want to enhance their gaming experience. So don‘t feel any gift is too small or insignificant!

Time to Start Gifting!

As a passionate PlayStation gamer myself, I hope breaking down all the different gifting methods clearly shows it‘s absolutely possible to buy PS Plus for friends or family!

• Gift cards, digital gifts, wallet funds – you have flexible options to match any budget
• 12 month subscriptions or bigger wallet funds provide the best value over time
• Consider which membership level makes the most sense as the ideal gift
• Any PS Plus gift demonstrates your thoughtfulness as a gamer benefactor!

Now that you know exactly how gifting works, it‘s time you pay that kindness forward and hook up your fellow gamers with some PS Plus subscription action! Game on and enjoy those online multiplayer adventures together 🙂

Let me know if you have any other PlayStation gifting questions!

– Rick, Passionate Gaming Enthusiast

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