Ploud or buying a PS5
It's the only comparison that really matters, and it's arithmetic. A PlayStation 5 Slim has cost €649.99 since April 2026. Rented at €2.68 an hour, the same console works out cheaper as long as you play fewer than 240 hours a year.
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Buying is often still the right choice
Buying remains the right decision for a lot of people, and it should be said clearly. A console of your own doesn't depend on any connection, can be lent out, resold, accepts discs and doesn't add a single millisecond of latency. Beyond a certain number of hours, it's also cheaper. Ploud doesn't claim otherwise.
What the price tag doesn't show
The price tag isn't the cost. A console bought for two big games a year sits idle for ten months out of twelve, depreciates during that time, uses electricity when it runs, and becomes a repair you pay for once the warranty has passed. At €649.99, a console used for twenty hours works out at €32.50 an hour in the first year.
Both, line by line
| Hours in the year | Buying, cost per hour | Renting at €2.68 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 h | 32,50 € | €53.60 in total |
| 60 h | 10,83 € | €160.80 in total |
| 120 h | 5,42 € | €321.60 in total |
| 240 h | 2,71 € | €643.20 in total |
| 400 h | 1,62 € | €1,072.00 in total |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
The rule of thumb, in one sentence
Buy if you play more than five hours a week all year round, if you care about physical discs, or if you play competitive shooters. Rent if you want to finish GTA 6 then Marvel's Wolverine and stop there, or if you don't yet know what you'll play.
| acheter une PS5 | Ploud | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Buying a console, sitting at your home | A dedicated physical PlayStation 5, by the hour |
| Price | €649.99 with disc drive, €599.99 for the Digital Edition, €899.99 for the Pro | Hours credit, from €2.68 per hour |
| Model | One-off purchase, you own the machine | No subscription, nothing renews |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
Under five hours a week, renting wins. Keep your spot.
Frequently asked questions
From how many hours does buying become worth it?
Around 240 hours in the first year, which is a little under five hours a week, at €2.68 an hour and for a console at €649.99.
Why has the PS5 gone up in price?
Sony cites the component shortage and inflation. The console went from €499.99 in 2020 to €649.99 on 2 April 2026, a 30% increase.
Is the €2.68 an hour rate fixed?
That's the rate for the highest tier. It goes down with the volume you buy, and an hour played between 2 am and 8 am only counts as half.
What happens to a bought console after three years?
It gets resold, with an uncertain resale value, or it stays under the TV. A rented console doesn't raise that question.
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