How Much Does YouTube Premium Cost?
An individual plan costs $13.99, with discounts for students and families. A stripped-down version, Premium Lite, costs $7.99 a month.
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YouTube Premium is the YouTube you know and love — but, without the ads. You can enjoy content from your favorite creators and watch everything from shorts to full-length videos without any interruptions.
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for an individual plan. The membership includes ad-free access to YouTube Music too.
The premium version allows you to continue playing videos on your smartphone while your screen is off or while you’re using other apps. You can also download videos to watch offline. A YouTube Premium subscription includes full access to YouTube Music.
YouTube Premium pricing
YouTube Premium costs vary based on what type of plan you're eligible for.
The primary plan for individuals costs $13.99 monthly and there are four other plan options you can choose from.
Plan options
Annual: YouTube also offers an annual rate of $139.99, which is about a 15% discount. But note that if you cancel early, there is no partial refund of the annual fee.
Family: YouTube also offers a family plan, which runs $22.99 monthly. You can add up to five family members 13 and older, provided they live in the same household and have their own Google accounts.
Student: This plan includes one free month and is $7.99 per month after that. This plan is for students enrolled in higher education, is capped at four years, and you must verify eligibility each year.
Premium Lite: A new low-cost option offers mostly ad-free YouTube and YouTube Kids content, but it doesn't include some of the other plans' features, such as the ad-free YouTube music app, the ability to download content and play offline and background play.
How much is YouTube Music?
YouTube Music is YouTube’s answer to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. The premium version of YouTube Music gives you ad-free access to songs and videos in the YouTube Music library, which you can also download to enjoy offline. You can also play music in the background while using other apps, or listen without loading the video.
This higher tier of YouTube Music is included with YouTube Premium at no extra cost. However, if you want music only, you can subscribe to Music Premium directly and save a bit of money.
Music Premium has three subscription tiers:
The individual plan is $10.99 per month. You can also save 15% by purchasing the $109.99 annual plan.
The YouTube Music family plan costs $16.99.
The student plan is $5.49 per month and includes one free month.
Is YouTube Premium worth it?
While YouTube Premium costs are relatively low, you’ll have to assess your entertainment preferences and budget, then decide whether it’s worth the expense. Is getting the same content you can already watch for free, but without ads, worth it?
If you are trying to save money by ditching cable, switching to a few streaming options could satisfy your entertainment needs at a lower overall cost.
But if you are on a strict budget already, adding YouTube Premium costs to your monthly expenses might be a bad idea unless you trim elsewhere. Or, explore other ways to stream music. If you already pay for a Prime membership, you have Amazon Music Prime included.
What are Redditors saying about YouTube Premium?
We sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on what users think about YouTube Premium. We used an AI tool to help analyze the feedback. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.
Overall, heavy YouTuber users will get the most value, Redditors say.
Users say that they value the ad-free viewing and ability to play content in the background or with their screen off. The ability to download videos and watch offline is also a feature Redditors appreciate.
Redditors say they also like the size of YouTube’s music library, which is bigger than Spotify’s. It’s a great option for folks who like obscure bands or want unofficial music content, people on the forums said.
Some have issues with pricing. Users say that prices are higher ($18.99 per month for an individual plan) if you subscribe through the Apple iOS app rather than through YouTube’s website. Avoid the surcharge by going directly to YouTube’s website.
Working YouTube Premium into your budget
The 50/30/20 budget method is one way to manage your expenses, save money and leave a little room for “wants” that enhance your quality of life. Under this model, 50% of your income goes to your needs, 30% goes to your discretionary spending, and 20% goes to your savings.
Streaming services, like YouTube Premium, fall into the "wants" category, or the 30% of your 50/30/20 budget.
Here's the reality: You definitely don't need this service, but if you spend a lot of time on YouTube, it might be worth budgeting for. Limiting yourself to a few subscriptions that best align with your interests is one way to make room in your budget.
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