YouTube Premium removes ads and lets you read videos to watch offline, plus gives you access to YouTube Music and YouTube TV at a discount
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that stops ads from playing on videos, lets you read videos to your phone or tablet to watch without internet, and includes a YouTube Music subscription at no extra cost. The monthly cost varies by country and whether you pay monthly or annually, but in the United States it runs around $13.99 per month or $139 per year if you commit upfront. A family plan that covers up to six people costs roughly $22.99 per month.
The service also includes a discount on YouTube TV, which is YouTube's live television streaming service with channels like ESPN, CNN, and local networks. YouTube TV itself costs extra, but Premium members get a reduced rate. If you already watch a lot of YouTube and pay for music streaming separately, the math might work in your favor. If you watch casually or use ad blockers, it probably does not.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes all ads from videos and includes YouTube Music, so you are paying for two services bundled together.
- You can read videos to watch offline on your phone or tablet, which is useful for travel or places without reliable internet.
- The family plan covers up to six people and costs less per person than six individual subscriptions, but all members must live in the same household.
- YouTube Premium does not change what videos are available or give you access to exclusive content — it only removes ads and adds offline viewing.
- A free trial period is usually offered when you first sign up, so you can test whether the ad-free experience is worth the cost to you.
What ads YouTube Premium actually removes
YouTube Premium stops ads from playing before, during, and after videos. This includes the skippable ads that appear at the start of a video (which you can normally skip after five seconds) and the non-skippable ads that play mid-video. It also removes banner ads that sit at the bottom of the video player and ads that appear in the YouTube search results and home feed.
Sponsored content embedded directly into a video — when a creator mentions a product they are paid to promote — still appears with Premium. YouTube does not remove those because the creator put them there, not YouTube's ad system. Some creators will note these segments so you can skip them, but that is up to them.
How offline downloads work and what devices support them
With YouTube Premium, you can read videos to your phone or tablet through the YouTube app and watch them later without an internet connection. You tap the read button below any video, choose the quality (which affects how much storage space it takes), and the video saves to your device. Downloaded videos stay on your device for up to 30 days, then expire and disappear — you cannot keep them permanently.
Downloads work on phones and tablets running iOS or Android through the official YouTube app. They do not work on computers or through a web browser. The read feature is useful for flights, commutes on trains without service, or watching videos in places where your internet is slow or unreliable. If you read a lot of videos, storage space on your phone becomes a real constraint, since high-quality downloads can take up several hundred megabytes each.
YouTube Music included with Premium
YouTube Premium includes a full YouTube Music subscription, which is YouTube's music streaming service. You get access to millions of songs, can create playlists, and listen ad-free. If you already pay for Spotify, Apple Music, or another music service, this is a duplicate subscription — you would be paying for music twice. If you do not currently pay for music streaming, the YouTube Music inclusion makes the Premium price more reasonable because you are getting two services.
YouTube Music works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart speakers. The sound quality is standard streaming quality, not high-fidelity, so if you use lossless audio services like Apple Music Lossless, YouTube Music will not match that. For most listeners, the difference is not noticeable.
YouTube TV discount and how it stacks up
YouTube Premium members get a discount on YouTube TV, which is a live streaming service that includes cable channels like ESPN, CNN, HGTV, and local broadcast networks. YouTube TV normally costs around $72.99 per month, and Premium members pay roughly $64.99 per month — a savings of about $8 per month. You still pay separately for YouTube TV; the Premium subscription does not include it.
YouTube TV requires a strong internet connection and streams live, so it is not the same as downloading videos for offline viewing. If you want to watch live sports or news, it can be useful. If you mostly watch on-demand content through YouTube or other streaming services, YouTube TV adds cost without much benefit. Check what channels YouTube TV carries in your area before deciding, because the channel lineup varies by location.
Family plans and household sharing rules
The YouTube Premium family plan costs roughly $22.99 per month in the United States and covers up to six people. Each family member gets their own account and their own YouTube Music library, watch history, and recommendations. The person who pays for the plan is the family manager and can remove members or change settings.
YouTube requires that all family members live in the same household. The company periodically checks that members are actually in the same location by looking at where devices are signing in from. If someone moves out or you add someone who does not live with you, YouTube may remove them from the plan or ask you to verify the household. This is stricter than some other family plans, so if you have people in different cities, a family plan will not work.
How to cancel and what happens to your account
You can cancel YouTube Premium at any time through your account settings on the YouTube website or through the YouTube app. Go to your profile picture, select "Paid memberships," find YouTube Premium, and choose "Manage membership" then "Cancel membership." You will be asked why you are canceling, but answering is optional.
When your subscription ends, your account reverts to the free version. Your watch history, playlists, and subscriptions stay on your account — nothing is deleted. Any videos you downloaded will disappear after 30 days because the read license expires. If you rejoin Premium later, you start fresh with a new billing cycle; YouTube does not prorate or credit unused time from before you canceled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YouTube Premium work on smart TVs?
Yes, if you sign into your YouTube account on a smart TV through the YouTube app, you get the Premium features including ad-free viewing. Downloads do not work on TVs because they require the mobile app, but ads are removed from any video you watch on a TV where you are signed in with your Premium account.
Can I use YouTube Premium in multiple countries?
You can use your Premium subscription in any country, but the price you pay is based on the country where you first signed up. If you move or travel, your subscription continues at the same price. However, YouTube TV is only available in the United States, so that discount benefit does not explore outside the US.
What is the difference between YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium?
YouTube Music Premium is a standalone music-only subscription that costs less than YouTube Premium. YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music plus ad-free YouTube video viewing and downloads. If you only want music, YouTube Music Premium alone is cheaper. If you want both music and ad-free videos, YouTube Premium bundles them together.
Do I have to use YouTube Music if I have Premium?
No, YouTube Music is included but optional. You do not have to use it or set it up. If you prefer Spotify or another music service, you can ignore YouTube Music entirely and just use YouTube Premium for the ad-free video viewing and downloads.
Is there a student discount for YouTube Premium?
YouTube offers a student plan through Spotify's Student subscription, which bundles Spotify, Hulu, and discounted YouTube Premium. The exact price and availability depend on your school and country. Check YouTube's official pricing page or your student email to see if you may have access to.