Google Home Premium is a paid add-on that unlocks advanced features for your Google Home devices
Google Home Premium is a monthly subscription that adds features to your existing Google Home speakers and displays. The subscription costs $9.99 per month in the United States, though pricing may differ in other countries. It is not required to use Google Home — the basic version works without it — but Premium adds voice calling, household management tools, and other capabilities that some people find worth the cost.
You pay through your Google account, and the subscription applies to all Google Home devices in your household once you set it up. You can cancel anytime without penalty. The subscription is separate from other Google services like YouTube Premium or Google One.
Key Takeaways
- Google Home Premium costs $9.99 per month and covers all Google Home devices linked to your account in one household.
- The subscription adds voice calling to contacts, household management features, and access to some third-party services that require a paid tier.
- You do not need Premium to use Google Home for basic tasks like playing music, checking weather, or controlling smart home devices.
- You can start a free trial period to test Premium features before your first charge, and you can cancel at any time through your Google account settings.
What features come with Google Home Premium
Premium adds calling and messaging features that the free version does not include. You can make and receive voice calls to contacts through your Google Home speaker or display, and you can send voice messages to other household members. This works over your home internet connection, not your phone line.
The subscription also unlocks household management tools. Multiple people in your home can share a shopping list, a to-do list, and a shared calendar that syncs across all Google Home devices. Family members can see who is home, set reminders for each other, and broadcast messages to all speakers at once.
Premium also grants you access to certain third-party services that have a paid tier. Some music streaming apps, news services, and smart home integrations require Premium to work with Google Home, though most popular services like Spotify and YouTube Music work on the free version.
What you still cannot do with Premium
Google Home Premium does not remove ads from YouTube or give you YouTube Premium features. It does not include cloud storage or expand your Google Drive limit. It does not unlock Google Assistant on other devices like phones or tablets — those have their own settings.
Premium also does not change how Google Home handles privacy or data collection. Your voice commands and interactions are still processed by Google's servers the same way they are on the free version. If you have concerns about what data Google collects, Premium does not change that.
How to set up Google Home Premium
Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings." Scroll down and tap "Google Home Premium." You will see a description of the features and the monthly price. Tap "Start free trial" to begin a trial period — the length of the trial varies, but you will not be charged until it ends.
During the trial, all Premium features are active on your account. You can test calling, household lists, and other tools. If you want to cancel before the trial ends, go back to the same menu and select "Cancel subscription." If you do nothing, your payment method on file will be charged when the trial expires.
After you subscribe, the features are available when ready on all Google Home devices in your household. If you add a new device later, it will have Premium features as long as your subscription is active.
How to cancel Google Home Premium
Open the Google Home app and go to your profile settings. Tap "Google Home Premium" and select "Cancel subscription." Google will ask you to confirm. Your subscription will end at the end of your current billing cycle — you will not lose access mid-month, and you will not be charged again.
If you cancel and then change your mind, you can resubscribe at any time through the same menu. You may be offered another trial period, depending on your account history.
Comparing Google Home Premium to other Google subscriptions
| Subscription | Monthly Cost | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Google Home Premium | $9.99 | Calling, household lists, shared calendar, access to premium third-party services |
| YouTube Premium | $13.99 | Ad-free YouTube, offline downloads, background play |
| Google One (100 GB) | $1.99 | Cloud storage, Google account support, some device benefits |
| Google One (2 TB) | $9.99 | Cloud storage, Google account support, device benefits, VPN |
Google Home Premium and YouTube Premium do not overlap — Premium for Home does not give you YouTube features, and YouTube Premium does not give you Home features. Google One is a separate storage subscription that does not include either one. You can subscribe to any combination of these, and each one is billed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Google Home Premium to use Google Home at all?
No. The free version of Google Home plays music, controls smart home devices, answers questions, and does most everyday tasks. Premium adds calling, shared lists, and access to some premium services, but it is not required to use the device.
Will Google Home Premium work on my phone or tablet?
Google Home Premium is for Google Home speakers and displays only. It does not change Google Assistant on your phone. If you want Assistant features on your phone, those are controlled separately in your phone's settings.
Can I share Google Home Premium with family members?
Yes. Once you subscribe, all Google Home devices linked to your household account have access to Premium features. Family members who are part of your Google Home household can use calling, shared lists, and other Premium tools.
What happens to my Premium features if I cancel?
Calling, household lists, and shared calendars stop working when ready after your subscription ends. Your Google Home devices go back to the free version. Any lists or reminders you created stay in your account, but you cannot access them through Google Home until you resubscribe.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
Google's refund policy for subscriptions varies by location and how long you have been subscribed. If you cancel within a few days of your first charge, you may be able to request a refund through your Google account. Contact Google Support for your specific situation.