How Much Does YouTube Premium Cost?
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YouTube Premium is the YouTube you know and love, without ads. Plans range from $7.99 per month for students to $22.99 per month for families.
What is YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium is YouTube without ads. You can enjoy content from your favorite creators and watch everything from shorts to full-length videos without any ads.
However, YouTube Premium does more than just get rid of advertisements; it also allows you to continue playing videos on your smartphone while your screen is off or while you’re using other apps. A YouTube Premium subscription also includes full access to YouTube Music.
How much is YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium costs vary based on what type of plan you're eligible for.
The primary plan for individuals costs $13.99 monthly when subscribing on the web or via an Android device, with two free months for new users. However, iOS users are charged $18.99 monthly if they subscribe through the YouTube app on their iPhone or iPad, because YouTube passes along Apple’s fee for in-app transactions. Apple users can skirt this higher price simply by subscribing directly on the YouTube website, rather than through the app.
YouTube also offers an annual rate of $139.99, which is a 15% discount. But note that if you cancel early, there is no partial refund of the annual fee.
YouTube also offers a family plan, which runs $22.99 monthly and includes one free month. You can add up to five family members 13 and older, provided they live in the same household and have their own Google accounts.
The cheapest option is the student plan, which 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.
How much is YouTube Music?
YouTube Music is YouTube’s answer to music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. It 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 is included with YouTube Premium at no extra cost. However, if you want music only, you can subscribe to YouTube Music directly and save a bit of money. Like YouTube Premium, it has three different subscription tiers:
The individual plan is $10.99 per month and includes one free month. You can also save 15% by purchasing the $109.99 annual plan.
The YouTube Music family plan also includes one free month and 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 budget and decide whether it’s worth the expense. 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.
Working YouTube Premium costs into your budget
The 50/30/20 budget method is one of the best ways 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.
YouTube Premium costs fall into the 30% category as a discretionary expense. Streaming services like YouTube Premium may fit your budget, especially if you limit yourself to a few subscriptions that most align with your interests.
