Google Home Premium is a paid add-on that unlocks advanced features for your Google Home device
Google Home Premium is a monthly subscription that adds features to your existing Google Home speaker or display. The subscription costs $9.99 per month in the United States, though pricing varies by country. It is not required to use a Google Home device — the basic version works without it — but Premium removes ads from certain services, adds voice calling features, and provides access to music and entertainment services that would otherwise cost extra.
The subscription is separate from your Google account and from any other Google services you may pay for. You manage it through the Google Home app on your phone or through your Google account settings. If you cancel, your device returns to the basic free version immediately.
Key Takeaways
- Google Home Premium costs $9.99 per month in the US and removes ads from YouTube Music, YouTube TV, and other services on your device.
- The subscription includes voice calling to phone numbers in the US, Canada, and Mexico without using your phone plan minutes.
- You can set up a family plan that covers up to six household members for $14.99 per month instead of paying for multiple individual subscriptions.
- Premium does not change how your device responds to voice commands or improve its core smart home functions — it mainly adds entertainment and calling features.
What Premium includes and what it does not
Premium removes ads from YouTube Music and YouTube TV when you play them through your Google Home device. It also unlocks ad-free radio through iHeartRadio and other music services. If you use YouTube Music or YouTube TV separately on your phone or computer, you need separate subscriptions to those services — Premium only covers playback through your Home device.
The subscription adds voice calling to landlines and mobile numbers in the US, Canada, and Mexico. You can say "Hey Google, call [phone number]" and the device will dial it. Calls are free to you and do not use your phone plan. However, the person you call sees a Google number, not your personal number, so they may not recognize the incoming call.
Premium does not improve voice recognition, smart home automation, or how your device responds to questions. It does not add new voice commands or make your device faster. It is purely an entertainment and communication add-on.
How to set up Premium on a single device or household
Open the Google Home app on your phone and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Settings," then "Google Home Premium." You will see the option to start a free trial, usually one month, followed by the monthly charge. After you confirm, Premium activates immediately on all Google Home devices linked to your Google account.
If you have multiple devices in your home but only one Google account, all of them get Premium when you subscribe. If household members have their own Google accounts, each person needs their own subscription — unless you set up a family plan instead.
Family plans and sharing Premium across accounts
A Google Home Premium family plan costs $14.99 per month and covers up to six people. Set it up in the Google Home app by going to Settings, then Google Home Premium, then selecting "Create a family plan." You invite household members by their email addresses, and they accept the invitation through their own Google accounts.
Once someone joins the family plan, Premium activates on all their devices. They can use voice calling, ad-free music, and other Premium features as if they had their own subscription. If someone leaves the household, you can remove them from the family plan through the same settings menu, and their access stops immediately.
A family plan is cheaper than paying for multiple individual subscriptions if more than one person in your home uses Google Home regularly. However, if only one person uses the device, a single subscription is more cost-effective.
Canceling Premium and what happens to your device
You can cancel Premium at any time through the Google Home app or your Google account settings. Open Settings, select Google Home Premium, and choose "Cancel subscription." Cancellation takes effect immediately, and you will not be charged again.
After you cancel, your device continues to work normally. You can still use voice commands, control smart home devices, ask questions, and play music — but ads return to YouTube Music and YouTube TV, and voice calling stops working. You lose access only to the features Premium added, not to the core Google Home experience.
If you cancel mid-month, you do not receive a refund for the unused portion. Your subscription runs through the end of the billing period you already paid for.
Comparing Premium to other music and calling options
If you already pay for YouTube Music or YouTube TV separately, Premium does not replace those subscriptions — it only removes ads when you play them through your Home device. YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month on its own and works on all your devices. YouTube TV costs $72.99 per month and includes live TV channels. Premium is useful only if you want ad-free playback specifically on your Home device.
For voice calling, Google Home Premium is free once you subscribe, but it shows a Google number to the person you call. If you need to call from your personal number or make international calls, you would use your phone instead. Some people use Premium calling for convenience when their hands are full, but it is not a replacement for a phone plan.
If you use Google One (Google's cloud storage and device protection service), that is a separate subscription and does not include Google Home Premium. The two services do not overlap.
Troubleshooting common Premium issues
If Premium is not working after you subscribed, restart your Google Home device by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. Then open the Google Home app and check that your subscription shows as active under Settings. If ads still appear on YouTube Music, make sure you are playing music through the Home device itself, not casting from your phone — casting uses your phone's settings, not your device's.
If voice calling is not working, check that your device has a working internet connection and that you are using a supported country (US, Canada, or Mexico). Some network setups or parental controls can block calling features. If the problem persists, sign out of the Google Home app completely, then sign back in.
If you are charged after canceling, contact Google Support through your Google account. Keep a record of when you canceled and what date the charge appeared. Refunds for erroneous charges usually process within 5 to 10 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try Premium before I pay for it?
Yes. Google usually offers a one-month free trial when you first set up Premium. After the trial ends, your payment method is charged the monthly rate. You can cancel during the trial period without being charged.
Does Premium work on all Google Home devices?
Premium works on Google Home speakers and Google Nest displays. It does not work on Chromecast devices or on Google Home devices in other countries that do not support the subscription yet. Check the Google Home app to see if Premium is available in your region.
What happens to my family plan if someone moves out?
You can remove them from the family plan through Settings in the Google Home app. Their access stops immediately, and the monthly charge remains $14.99 for the remaining members. If only one person is left, you can downgrade to a single subscription for $9.99 per month.
Can I use Premium calling to call other countries?
No. Premium calling only works for numbers in the US, Canada, and Mexico. International calls are not supported through Google Home Premium.
If I have multiple Google Home devices, do I need Premium on each one?
No. One Premium subscription covers all devices linked to your Google account. If household members have separate accounts, each person needs their own subscription, or you can set up a family plan instead.