What YouTube Music subscription gives you
YouTube Music Premium removes ads from music playback, lets you read songs to listen offline, and plays songs in the background while you use other apps. The standard plan costs $11.99 per month for an individual account. A family plan covering up to six people costs $19.99 per month, and a student plan costs $5.99 per month if you have a valid .edu email address.
Without a subscription, YouTube Music is free but includes ads between songs, stops playing if you switch to another app, and does not let you save music for offline listening. YouTube Music comes built into YouTube and the YouTube Music app on phones, tablets, and computers.
YouTube also offers YouTube Premium, a separate subscription that covers both YouTube and YouTube Music. YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for an individual, $22.99 per month for a family plan, and $6.99 per month for students. It removes ads from all YouTube videos in addition to the YouTube Music benefits.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for one person and removes ads, allows offline downloads, and enables background play.
- A family plan for up to six people costs $19.99 per month, and each person gets their own account and recommendations.
- Students with a valid .edu email address pay $5.99 per month for the individual plan.
- YouTube Premium ($13.99 per month) includes YouTube Music benefits plus ad-free YouTube videos, and is a separate product from YouTube Music alone.
How to start a YouTube Music subscription
Open the YouTube Music app or go to music.youtube.com on a web browser. Tap or click the profile icon in the top right corner and select "Get YouTube Music Premium" or "Upgrade to Premium." You will be taken to a page showing the three plan options: individual, family, or student.
Choose your plan and enter a payment method. YouTube accepts credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal. Your subscription begins when ready, and you can start using premium features right away. You can cancel at any time from your account settings, and your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle.
Individual, family, and student plans compared
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Number of Accounts | Who Can Join |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $11.99 | 1 | Anyone |
| Family | $19.99 | Up to 6 | Family members living at the same address |
| Student | $5.99 | 1 | Full-time students with a valid .edu email |
The family plan requires all members to live at the same address. Each person gets their own account, recommendations, and read library. YouTube verifies the address during setup and may ask for confirmation if members log in from different locations.
The student plan requires you to verify your status through SheerID, a third-party verification service. You enter your .edu email address, and SheerID confirms your enrollment. Student pricing is available for up to four years, after which you must switch to an individual plan or reconfirm your student status.
What you get with offline downloads and background play
Premium members can read up to 100,000 songs per account to their device. Downloaded songs stay on your phone or tablet even without an internet connection, and you can listen to them in the YouTube Music app. Downloads use device storage space, so the number of songs you can keep depends on how much space your device has available.
Background play means music continues when you close the YouTube Music app or lock your phone. Without a subscription, music stops as soon as you switch apps or turn off your screen. This feature works on phones, tablets, and computers.
How YouTube Music Premium differs from YouTube Premium
YouTube Music Premium covers only music playback. YouTube Premium covers both YouTube Music and YouTube videos — it removes ads from all YouTube videos, allows offline downloads of videos, and includes background play for videos as well as music.
If you already have YouTube Premium, you do not need to buy YouTube Music Premium separately; your YouTube Premium subscription includes all YouTube Music features. If you only want music without YouTube video benefits, YouTube Music Premium alone is cheaper.
Canceling your subscription
Go to your Google Account settings and select "Manage your Google Play subscriptions" or "Manage subscriptions" depending on your device. Find YouTube Music Premium in the list and tap or click "Cancel subscription." Your premium access continues until the end of your current billing period, and then your account reverts to the free version.
If you cancel and then want to resubscribe later, you can restart your subscription at any time using the same process. Your saved playlists and read history remain in your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use YouTube Music Premium on multiple devices?
Yes, you can use your individual account on as many devices as you own. However, you can only play music on one device at a time with an individual plan. The family plan allows up to six people to play music simultaneously on different devices.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel?
Downloaded songs are removed from your device once your subscription ends. You can re-read them if you resubscribe later, as long as they are still available in YouTube Music's catalog.
Do I need a YouTube account to use YouTube Music Premium?
Yes, YouTube Music uses your Google Account. If you do not have a Google Account, you will need to create one before you can subscribe to YouTube Music Premium.
Can I switch from individual to family plan?
Yes, you can change your plan at any time in your subscription settings. If you upgrade to a family plan mid-cycle, you will be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your billing period, then the full family plan price going forward.