Google's subscription offerings are mostly add-ons to free services, not standalone products
Google does not sell a single "Google Subscription" that covers everything. Instead, Google offers several separate subscriptions you can buy individually: Google One (cloud storage and account perks), YouTube Premium (ad-free video), YouTube Music Premium (music streaming), and Google Play Pass (app access). Each one costs money and covers different things. You pick which ones you want, if any.
Most Google services—Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, YouTube—work free with limits. The subscriptions remove those limits or add features. You do not need any subscription to use Google's free services. The subscriptions are optional.
Key Takeaways
- Google One costs $1.99 to $9.99 per month depending on storage size, and includes cloud storage plus account perks like phone support and purchase protection.
- YouTube Premium removes ads and costs $13.99 per month for individuals or $22.99 per month for a family plan covering up to six people.
- YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for individuals or $22.99 per month for a family plan, and includes ad-free music plus offline listening.
- Google Play Pass costs $4.99 per month and gives you access to hundreds of paid apps and games without paying per app.
- You can cancel any subscription at any time through your Google Account settings; there are no contracts or cancellation fees.
Google One: Storage and account protection
Google One is Google's storage subscription. It gives you cloud storage for Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos, plus some account perks. The free tier gives you 15 GB shared across all three services. Google One plans add more storage and unlock extra features.
The plans are 100 GB for $1.99 per month, 200 GB for $2.99 per month, and 2 TB for $9.99 per month. A 2 TB plan can be shared with up to five family members, each with their own storage. The perks include phone support from Google, purchase protection on Google Play, and VPN access on Android and iOS (on the 2 TB plan only). You do not get these perks on the free tier.
Google One is separate from other Google subscriptions. You can have Google One without YouTube Premium, or vice versa. Each subscription is billed separately.
YouTube Premium: Ad-free video and offline viewing
YouTube Premium removes ads from YouTube videos and lets you download videos to watch offline. It costs $13.99 per month for one person. A family plan costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six people, each with their own account and settings.
YouTube Premium also includes YouTube Music Premium as part of the subscription, so you get both ad-free video and ad-free music. If you buy YouTube Premium, you do not need to buy YouTube Music Premium separately—it is included.
The subscription works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. You can download up to 25 videos per device on up to four devices at once. Downloaded videos expire after 30 days if you do not renew your subscription.
YouTube Music Premium: Ad-free music and offline listening
YouTube Music Premium is a music streaming subscription. It costs $11.99 per month for one person or $22.99 per month for a family plan covering up to six people. It removes ads from music videos and lets you download songs to listen offline.
YouTube Music Premium is separate from YouTube Premium. If you only want music and not ad-free video, you can buy YouTube Music Premium alone. If you buy YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium is already included, so you do not pay extra.
The service includes access to millions of songs, artist radio stations, and playlists. You can create your own playlists and share them with others. Offline downloads work on phones and tablets but not on computers or smart TVs.
Google Play Pass: Access to paid apps and games
Google Play Pass is a subscription for Android apps and games. It costs $4.99 per month and gives you access to hundreds of paid apps and games without paying for each one individually. You download and use them as much as you want while your subscription is active.
Google Play Pass works only on Android phones and tablets. It does not include subscriptions within apps—if an app itself has a subscription (like a game with a battle pass), you still pay for that separately. The subscription also does not include music, books, or movies; it is apps and games only.
You can cancel at any time. When you cancel, you lose access to the apps, but any data you saved in those apps stays on your device.
How to manage or cancel a subscription
All Google subscriptions are managed through your Google Account. On a computer, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Payments & subscriptions" on the left, then "Manage subscriptions." You will see all active subscriptions and their billing dates. Click on any subscription to change the plan, pause it, or cancel it.
On an Android phone, open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, tap "Payments and subscriptions," then "Subscriptions." You will see the same options to change or cancel.
On an iPhone or iPad, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium are managed through Apple's App Store, not Google. Go to Settings, tap your name, tap "Subscriptions," and find the YouTube subscription you want to change or cancel. Google Play Pass does not work on iPhone or iPad.
Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing cycle. You keep access until that date. There are no cancellation fees or penalties.
Comparing the costs and what each subscription covers
| Subscription | Individual Price | Family Price | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google One (100 GB) | $1.99/month | N/A | Cloud storage, phone support |
| Google One (200 GB) | $2.99/month | N/A | Cloud storage, phone support |
| Google One (2 TB) | $9.99/month | Shared with up to 5 others | Cloud storage, phone support, VPN, family sharing |
| YouTube Premium | $13.99/month | $22.99/month (up to 6 people) | Ad-free video, offline downloads, YouTube Music included |
| YouTube Music Premium | $11.99/month | $22.99/month (up to 6 people) | Ad-free music, offline downloads |
| Google Play Pass | $4.99/month | N/A | Hundreds of paid Android apps and games |
If you want both ad-free video and ad-free music, buy YouTube Premium ($13.99 or $22.99 for family). YouTube Music Premium is included, so you do not pay twice. If you only want music, buy YouTube Music Premium alone ($11.99 or $22.99 for family).
Google One and the YouTube subscriptions are separate. You can have any combination of them. For example, you could have Google One (2 TB) for storage and YouTube Premium for video, or just Google Play Pass for apps, or all of them. Each one is billed separately on your Google Account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Google subscription to use Gmail or Google Drive?
No. Gmail and Google Drive are free. You get 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Google One adds more storage and some extra features, but it is not required to use these services.
Can I share a YouTube Premium family plan with people who do not live with me?
YouTube Premium family plans are intended for people in the same household. Google may ask members to verify they live at the same address. Sharing with people outside your household may violate the terms of service and could result in the account being suspended.
What happens to my data if I cancel a subscription?
For Google One, your files stay in Google Drive and Gmail, but you lose access to storage above the free 15 GB limit. For YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium, you keep your playlists and watch history, but ads return. For Google Play Pass, the apps stay on your device, but you cannot download new ones.
Can I pause a subscription instead of canceling it?
Yes. In your subscription settings, you can pause most subscriptions for up to three months. You will not be charged while paused, and you can resume at any time. After three months, the subscription either resumes or cancels, depending on the service.
Do Google subscriptions work outside the United States?
Most Google subscriptions are available in many countries, but prices vary by location and currency. Some features or services may not be available in all regions. Check your Google Account settings to see what is available in your country.