What YouTube Premium includes and who pays for it
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that removes ads from videos, lets you read videos to watch offline, and gives you access to YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost. You pay YouTube directly — not a third party — and the subscription renews monthly or annually depending on which plan you choose.
The service works on any device where you use YouTube: phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. When you sign up, your YouTube account switches to Premium across all those devices at once. If you share your account with family members, only the person who pays the subscription gets the Premium features; others see ads unless they have their own Premium account.
YouTube also offers YouTube Premium Family, which costs more than a single subscription but covers up to six family members in the same household. Each person gets their own Premium account and YouTube Music access, and parents can set up a supervised account for children under 13.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes ads, allows offline downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium, with pricing that varies by country and whether you choose monthly or annual billing.
- The subscription applies to your entire YouTube account across all devices, but only the person who pays receives Premium features unless you use the Family plan.
- YouTube Premium Family covers up to six household members for a higher monthly cost than a single subscription, and each person gets their own account.
- You can cancel your subscription at any time through your Google Account settings, and your access ends at the end of your current billing period.
Monthly and annual pricing
YouTube Premium pricing varies by country and changes periodically. In the United States, the monthly plan costs a set amount per month, and the annual plan costs more upfront but works out to a lower monthly rate if you divide the total by 12. YouTube Premium Family costs significantly more than a single subscription but spreads across multiple people.
Some countries offer a mobile-only plan at a lower price, which removes ads and allows downloads only on phones and tablets, not on computers or TVs. Check your country's YouTube Premium page to see which plans are available where you live, because the options and prices differ by region.
If you already pay for YouTube TV (a separate live TV service), that subscription does not include YouTube Premium. You would need to pay for Premium separately if you want ad-free video and offline downloads.
How to sign up and manage your subscription
To start a YouTube Premium subscription, open YouTube on any device, look for the Premium offer banner or menu option, and follow the steps to add a payment method. YouTube accepts credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods depending on your country. You can also sign up through the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iPhone, though the process is the same.
Once you subscribe, you manage your membership through your Google Account settings, not through YouTube itself. Go to your Google Account, select "Payments & subscriptions," find YouTube Premium, and you can view your billing date, change your payment method, or cancel anytime. If you cancel, your Premium access ends at the end of your current billing period — you do not lose access when ready.
If you switch from monthly to annual billing (or vice versa), YouTube prorates the difference. If you have already paid for a month and then switch to annual, you will not be charged again right away; instead, the system credits what you already paid toward the annual plan.
What you get: ad-free video and offline downloads
The main benefit of YouTube Premium is the removal of ads. You will not see ads before videos start, during videos, or in the sidebar while watching. This applies to all videos on YouTube, including those from channels you subscribe to and videos in playlists.
The second major feature is the ability to read videos to your device and watch them without an internet connection. Downloaded videos stay on your device for up to 30 days (or until you delete them), and you can watch them in the YouTube app on phones and tablets. Downloaded videos do not work on computers or smart TVs — only mobile devices.
YouTube Premium also includes background play, which means you can close the YouTube app or lock your phone and the video keeps playing. On free YouTube, closing the app stops the video. This is especially useful for music videos or podcasts.
YouTube Music Premium included with YouTube Premium
YouTube Music Premium comes automatically with YouTube Premium at no extra cost. YouTube Music is a separate app where you can search for songs, create playlists, and listen to music without ads. It works like Spotify or Apple Music but is built into the YouTube ecosystem.
With YouTube Music Premium, you get ad-free listening, offline downloads of songs (up to 100,000 tracks), and background play. You can also listen to music videos in the YouTube Music app without ads. If you already pay for YouTube Music Premium separately, switching to YouTube Premium will not charge you twice — your YouTube Music subscription merges into the YouTube Premium plan.
If you cancel YouTube Premium, your YouTube Music Premium access ends at the same time. You can still use the free version of YouTube Music, which includes ads and does not allow downloads or background play.
YouTube Premium Family and household management
YouTube Premium Family is designed for people who live in the same household and want separate Premium accounts. The plan covers up to six people and costs more than a single subscription. Each family member gets their own YouTube account with Premium features, their own YouTube Music Premium access, and their own watch history and recommendations.
To set up a Family plan, the person paying creates a Google Family Group through their Google Account settings and invites up to five other household members. Invitations go to their email addresses, and they accept to join. Once they join, their YouTube account automatically becomes Premium.
Parents can create a supervised account for children under 13, which gives parents control over what content the child can watch and what features they can use. The child's account still gets YouTube Premium features, but within the restrictions the parent sets.
Cancellation and what happens to your account
You can cancel YouTube Premium at any time through your Google Account settings. Go to "Payments & subscriptions," select YouTube Premium, and choose the option to cancel. Your Premium features stay active until the end of your current billing period — if you cancel mid-month, you still have Premium until your next billing date.
After your subscription ends, your YouTube account returns to free YouTube. You will see ads again, you cannot read videos, and background play stops working. Your watch history, playlists, and subscriptions remain on your account; canceling Premium does not delete anything.
If you want to restart Premium later, you can resubscribe the same way you signed up the first time. YouTube does not charge a restart fee or require you to wait any length of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my YouTube Premium subscription with people who don't live with me?
No. YouTube Premium is meant for the person who pays and anyone in their household. If you share your login with someone outside your household, you are violating YouTube's terms of service. The Family plan is the intended way to give Premium to multiple people, and it requires a household address.
Does YouTube Premium work on smart TVs and streaming devices?
Yes. YouTube Premium removes ads and enables background play on any device where you are signed into your YouTube account, including smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. The offline read feature only works on phones and tablets, not on TVs or computers.
What's the difference between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV?
YouTube Premium removes ads from videos and includes YouTube Music. YouTube TV is a separate service that streams live television channels like ESPN, CNN, and local news. They are different products with different prices, and you need both subscriptions if you want both services.
If I cancel YouTube Premium, do I lose my playlists and subscriptions?
No. Your watch history, playlists, subscriptions, and all other account data stay on your YouTube account after you cancel. You only lose the Premium features like ad-free video and offline downloads.
Can I change my billing from monthly to annual without losing my subscription?
Yes. YouTube prorates the change, so if you have already paid for a month and switch to annual, your existing payment is credited toward the annual plan. You will not be charged twice or lose access during the switch.