YouTube Premium gives you an ad-free viewing experience, offline downloads, and background play on mobile, but the monthly cost and what's included varies by country and whether you bundle it with other Google services
YouTube Premium removes ads from videos, lets you read videos to watch later without internet, and plays audio in the background when you close the app or lock your phone. The monthly price in the United States is $13.99 for an individual plan, though this changes by country and Google updates pricing periodically. You can also buy YouTube Premium as part of a bundle with YouTube Music, or as part of Google One (Google's storage and services package), which may cost less than buying them separately.
The service works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. Your subscription follows you across devices — if you watch on your phone in the morning and your TV at night, both use the same account. YouTube Premium does not change what videos are available to you; it only changes how you watch them.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month in the US for one person, but pricing differs by country and Google adjusts it over time.
- The main features are no ads, the ability to read videos to watch offline, and background audio play on mobile devices.
- YouTube Premium and YouTube Music can be bought together as a bundle for less than the cost of both separately.
- Family plans let up to six people use YouTube Premium on separate accounts for one monthly price, though the cost is higher than a single subscription.
- You can cancel anytime, and your subscription ends at the end of the billing period you paid for.
Individual vs. Family Plans and What Each Costs
An individual YouTube Premium subscription covers one person on one account. A family plan covers up to six people, each with their own account and their own watch history, recommendations, and settings. The family plan costs more per month than an individual plan, but if multiple people in your household watch YouTube, it is usually cheaper per person than buying individual subscriptions for each.
Family members do not have to live in the same house, though Google's terms require that you know them and that the plan is for personal use, not for reselling access. Each family member can cancel their own membership without affecting the others, though the person who set up the plan can remove members at any time.
Pricing for family plans varies by country. In the United States, a family plan costs more than a single subscription but less than buying six individual plans. Check your country's YouTube Premium pricing page to see the exact family plan cost where you live.
YouTube Premium Bundled With YouTube Music or Google One
YouTube Premium and YouTube Music can be bought together as a single subscription. This bundle removes ads from both YouTube and YouTube Music, includes offline downloads for both services, and costs less per month than paying for each separately. If you listen to music on YouTube Music regularly, the bundle usually saves money compared to two individual subscriptions.
Google One is Google's subscription service that includes cloud storage, VPN access, and other Google services. Some Google One plans include YouTube Premium and YouTube Music automatically. A Google One plan with YouTube Premium and YouTube Music included costs less than buying all three separately, but you are also paying for storage and other services you may not need.
Compare the prices of an individual YouTube Premium subscription, the YouTube Premium and Music bundle, and Google One plans in your country before you buy. The best choice depends on whether you use YouTube Music, how much cloud storage you need, and whether you want the VPN and other Google One features.
What Ads Are Removed and What Ads Remain
YouTube Premium removes ads that play before, during, and after videos. It also removes banner ads and other promotional content that appear on the YouTube website and app. You will not see ads in search results, in video recommendations, or overlaid on the video player itself.
YouTube Premium does not remove product placements or sponsorships that creators include inside their videos — those are part of the video content itself, not ads served by YouTube. If a creator says "this video is sponsored by" a company and talks about their product, you will still see that, because it is the creator's own content, not an ad YouTube inserted.
Downloading Videos and Watching Offline
YouTube Premium lets you read videos to your phone or tablet and watch them later without an internet connection. You read through the YouTube app by tapping the read icon below the video. Downloaded videos stay on your device for up to 30 days, after which they expire and you must read them again if you want to watch offline.
Downloaded videos are only for offline viewing on the device you downloaded them to — you cannot transfer them to another device or share them. If you read a video and then cancel your YouTube Premium subscription, the downloaded video will no longer play after your subscription ends.
Not all videos can be downloaded. Some creators or copyright holders restrict downloads, and you will see a message if a video cannot be downloaded. Downloaded videos count toward your device's storage, so downloading many videos or long videos will use up space on your phone or tablet.
Background Play and Audio-Only Mode on Mobile
YouTube Premium lets you play audio in the background when you close the YouTube app or lock your phone. This is useful if you watch videos that are mostly audio — music videos, podcasts, lectures, or commentary — and want to use your phone for other things while listening. Without YouTube Premium, closing the app stops the video and audio when ready.
Background play works on phones and tablets but not on computers or smart TVs (those devices can play audio in the background without a subscription). The audio continues to play even if you switch to another app, use your phone's camera, or lock the screen.
How to Start and Cancel a YouTube Premium Subscription
To start a YouTube Premium subscription, open the YouTube app or go to YouTube.com on a computer, tap your profile picture in the top right, and select "Get YouTube Premium." You will see the available plans for your country. Choose the plan you want, enter your payment method, and your subscription starts when ready. You can also start a subscription through the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iPhone.
To cancel, go to your Google Account settings, find your subscriptions, select YouTube Premium, and choose "Cancel subscription." Your subscription continues until the end of the billing period you already paid for — canceling does not stop your access when ready. If you cancel and then change your mind, you can restart your subscription anytime, though you will not get a refund for the time between canceling and restarting.
If you signed up for a free trial, the trial period ends on the date shown in your subscription settings. After the trial ends, your payment method will be charged for the first full month unless you cancel before the trial ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my YouTube Premium subscription with someone outside my household?
YouTube's terms allow family plans only for people you know personally, and Google expects the plan to be used within a household or close group. Sharing a login with someone outside your family or household violates the terms of service. If you want someone else to have YouTube Premium, they should have their own subscription or join your family plan.
What happens to my downloaded videos if I cancel YouTube Premium?
Downloaded videos stop playing after your subscription ends. You will not be able to watch them offline anymore, though you can still watch videos online through YouTube's free service with ads. If you want to keep watching those videos offline, you must restart your subscription before it expires.
Does YouTube Premium work on smart TVs and streaming devices?
Yes, YouTube Premium works on smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and other devices that have the YouTube app. You sign in with your YouTube Premium account, and the ad-free experience and offline downloads work the same way as on phones and computers. Background play is not available on TVs because the screen stays on.
Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of a billing period?
No, YouTube does not offer refunds for unused time in a billing period. If you cancel on the 5th of the month but paid for the full month on the 1st, you lose the remaining time. Your subscription continues until the end of that billing period, then stops.
Is there a student discount for YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium pricing is the same for all users in your country — there is no separate student rate. However, some countries offer lower pricing than others, and Google occasionally runs promotional offers for new subscribers. Check the YouTube Premium pricing page in your country to see current rates and any active promotions.