Want to gift a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass subscription in Canada? Learn the simple method using gift cards, compare the different tiers, and see how to easily redeem them.
How to Gift PlayStation Plus & Game Pass in Canada
How to Gift PlayStation Plus & Game Pass in Canada
Gifting a PlayStation Plus Subscription
Looking to give the gift of gaming to a PlayStation owner in Canada? While you can’t directly gift a PlayStation Plus subscription from the PlayStation Store, the process is still simple and flexible. The standard and easiest method is to purchase a PlayStation Store Gift Card. The recipient can then use the funds from the card to buy whichever tier of PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) they want, for the duration they choose.
Step 1: Understand the PlayStation Plus Tiers
Before you buy a gift card, it’s helpful to know what the different PS Plus subscriptions offer. This will help you decide on the right gift card amount. As of 2025, PlayStation Plus is available in three main tiers:
- Essential: This is the base tier, providing access to online multiplayer, monthly free games to download, and exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store.
- Extra: Includes all the benefits of the Essential tier, plus access to a huge catalogue of hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games to download and play.
- Premium: The top tier that includes all benefits of Essential and Extra, and adds access to classic games from the original PlayStation, PS2, and PSP eras, as well as game trials for new releases.
Summary
This guide explains how you can gift gaming subscriptions like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass in Canada. Since you can’t gift them directly, you’ll learn that the best way is to buy gift cards. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on choosing the right subscription tier, where to buy the gift cards in Canada, and exactly how your friend or family member can redeem them on their console.
TLDR
- To gift PlayStation Plus: You need to buy a PlayStation Store Gift Card. The recipient uses the card’s value to purchase the PS Plus subscription tier they want.
- To gift Xbox Game Pass: You have two choices. You can buy a specific Game Pass subscription card (e.g., “3-Month Ultimate”) or a general Xbox Gift Card they can use for anything, including Game Pass.
- Where to Buy in Canada: You can find these gift cards at major retailers like Amazon.ca, Best Buy, Walmart, and directly from PlayStation or Microsoft’s online stores.
- Redemption is Easy: Your gift recipient just needs to enter the code from the card on their console or on the PlayStation/Microsoft website to claim their gift.
📑 Table of Contents
Step 2: Purchase a PlayStation Store Gift Card
Once you have an idea of the cost, you can purchase a gift card. The value on the card should be enough to cover the desired subscription length and tier. For example, if a 12-month Essential subscription costs $79.99 CAD, a $100 gift card would be a perfect choice. You can buy both physical and digital gift cards, which are delivered instantly via email.
Amazon.ca
Best Buy Canada
Walmart Canada
Shoppers Drug Mart
PlayStation Direct
Step 3: How the Recipient Redeems the Gift
Giving the gift is the easy part! The recipient just needs the 12-digit code from the gift card. Here are the simple steps they’ll follow to redeem it:
✅ On a PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 Console:
- Go to the PlayStation Store.
- Select the three dots (More) or their avatar from the top right of the screen.
- Choose “Redeem Code” from the menu.
- Carefully enter the 12-digit code from the gift card and select “Redeem.”
- The funds are now in their account! They can navigate to the PlayStation Plus section and purchase the subscription they want.
✅ On a Web Browser:
- Go to the official PlayStation Store website and sign in to their account.
- Click on their avatar in the top right corner.
- Select “Redeem Code” from the dropdown menu.
- Enter the 12-digit code and click “Next.”
- Once redeemed, they can browse the store and buy their PS Plus subscription.
Gifting an Xbox Game Pass Subscription
Gifting for an Xbox gamer is a bit more direct. Microsoft offers two excellent options: you can buy a dedicated Game Pass subscription card for a specific duration, or you can purchase a general Xbox Gift Card, giving the recipient total freedom.
Step 1: Understand the Xbox Game Pass Tiers
Xbox Game Pass offers several tiers tailored to different types of players in Canada. Understanding them will help you pick the perfect gift.
- Game Pass Core
- This is the new version of Xbox Live Gold. It provides access to online multiplayer and a curated library of over 25 high-quality games.
- Game Pass for Console
- Grants access to a massive library of hundreds of games to download and play on an Xbox console, but does not include online multiplayer.
- PC Game Pass
- The same concept as the console version, but for Windows PC gamers. It also includes an EA Play subscription.
- Game Pass Ultimate
- This is the all-in-one package. It includes everything: online multiplayer (Core), the full game libraries for both Console and PC, an EA Play membership, and cloud gaming to play on multiple devices.
Step 2: Purchase an Xbox Gift Card or Subscription Card
Here’s where you make your choice. Do you want to give a specific subscription or general store credit?
🎁 Direct Subscription Card: Look for cards that say “3-Month Game Pass Ultimate” or similar. This is the most straightforward gift, as the code directly activates that specific service.
💰 General Xbox Gift Card: These work like cash for the Microsoft Store. The recipient can use the funds to buy Game Pass, individual games, movies, or even apps.
You can find these cards at many of the same Canadian retailers. Be sure to practice safe purchasing habits, especially when researching avoiding scams when buying digital gift cards from unfamiliar websites.
Popular Retailers in Canada: Microsoft Store, Amazon.ca, Best Buy, The Source, Walmart, and more.
Step 3: How the Recipient Redeems the Code
The redemption process for Xbox is just as user-friendly. The recipient will need the 25-character code from the back of the card or in their email.
Redeeming on an Xbox Console (Series X|S or One):
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide, and then select the Store.
- Press the View button to open the side menu, and then select Redeem.
- Enter the 25-character code, select Next, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Redeeming on a Web Browser:
- Go to redeem.microsoft.com.
- Sign in to their Microsoft account.
- Enter the 25-character code and follow the prompts to complete the redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you gift someone a PlayStation Plus subscription?
Yes, but you do it indirectly. The best way is to buy a PlayStation Store Gift Card. You give this card to the person, and they use the funds added to their account to purchase the PlayStation Plus subscription tier of their choice.
Can you gift an Xbox Game Pass subscription?
Yes, absolutely. You can either buy a digital code or physical card for a specific Xbox Game Pass subscription (like a “3-Month Game Pass Ultimate” card) or give them a general Xbox Gift Card that they can use to buy it themselves.
How much does 1 year of PS Plus cost in 2025?
As of early 2025, the approximate 12-month subscription prices in Canadian dollars (CAD) are:
- PlayStation Plus Essential: ~$79.99 CAD
- PlayStation Plus Extra: ~$134.99 CAD
- PlayStation Plus Premium: ~$159.99 CAD
Disclaimer: Prices are always subject to change. It’s best to check the official PlayStation Canada website for the most current pricing before buying a gift card.
How do you give someone your PlayStation Plus?
You can’t “give” or transfer your personal subscription to another person’s account. However, you can share the benefits of your PlayStation Plus subscription on a single console. This is meant for sharing within a household, not for gifting.
- On a PS5: You enable the “Console Sharing and Offline Play” setting in the user account menu.
- On a PS4: You set the console as your “Primary PS4.”
By doing this, any other user who signs into that specific console can access online multiplayer and play the games from your PS Plus library.
Written by
Mustafa Aybek
