YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for individuals
YouTube Premium is the main paid subscription YouTube offers. As of now, the individual plan costs $13.99 per month in the United States. You can cancel anytime — there is no contract or early termination fee.
YouTube also offers a YouTube Premium Family Plan for $22.99 per month, which covers up to six people in your household. Each person gets their own account and recommendations, and the subscription works across phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices.
Students can get YouTube Premium for $6.99 per month if they have a valid .edu email address or can verify their student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service. This rate is available for up to four years.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium individual plan is $13.99 per month and removes ads from all videos you watch.
- The Family Plan costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six household members, each with separate accounts.
- Students pay $6.99 per month with proof of enrollment, valid for up to four years.
- YouTube Premium includes offline downloads, background play, and access to YouTube Music at no extra cost.
What you get with YouTube Premium
The main benefit is no ads — no ads before videos start, no ads interrupting videos, and no banner ads on the page. This applies to all videos on YouTube, including music videos, tutorials, and livestreams.
YouTube Premium also includes background play, which means videos keep playing even when you close the app or lock your phone. This is useful for music, podcasts, and audiobooks. You can also download videos to watch offline — useful for flights, commutes, or places without internet.
The subscription includes access to YouTube Music, YouTube's music streaming service. You do not pay extra for this; it comes with Premium. YouTube Music has most major artists and lets you create playlists, listen offline, and play songs in any order without shuffle.
Prices vary by country and can change
The $13.99 price applies in the United States. Other countries have different prices based on local currency and purchasing power. Canada is $11.99 CAD per month, the United Kingdom is £11.99 per month, and Australia is $14.99 AUD per month. Prices in other regions vary.
YouTube has raised prices before and may do so again. If you already have a subscription, YouTube will notify you before any price increase takes effect. You will have the option to cancel before the new price applies.
How to start a YouTube Premium subscription
On YouTube's website or app, look for your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Get YouTube Premium." You will see the three plan options: individual, family, or student. Choose the one that fits your situation.
YouTube will ask for a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or Google Play balance. Enter your billing information and confirm. Your subscription starts immediately, and ads disappear from videos right away.
If you choose the Family Plan, you set it up through your Google Account. You can then invite up to five other people to join by sending them an invite link or entering their email addresses. Each person must accept the invite and link it to their own Google Account.
Free trial and cancellation
YouTube sometimes offers a free trial period — usually one month — for new subscribers. Whether a trial is available depends on your account history and location. When you start a subscription, YouTube will tell you if a trial applies.
You can cancel your subscription anytime through your account settings. Go to your profile, select "Paid memberships," find YouTube Premium, and choose "Cancel membership." Your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle, then stops.
YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Music Premium
YouTube Music Premium is a separate subscription that costs $10.99 per month for individuals. It includes music streaming, offline downloads, and background play, but it does not remove ads from YouTube videos. YouTube Music Premium is for music only.
YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost, so if you want both music streaming and ad-free videos, YouTube Premium is the better value. If you only want music streaming and do not care about YouTube videos, YouTube Music Premium alone is cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my YouTube Premium subscription with family members?
Yes, through the Family Plan ($22.99 per month), which covers up to six people. Each person needs their own Google Account. The person who pays for the plan is the family manager and can remove or add members anytime.
What happens to my videos if I cancel YouTube Premium?
Videos you downloaded to watch offline will be deleted from your device once your subscription ends. Your YouTube channel and any videos you uploaded remain on your account — canceling Premium does not delete your content.
Does YouTube Premium work on all devices?
Yes. YouTube Premium works on phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV. You can use it on multiple devices at the same time with the Family Plan, though individual plans are limited to one device at a time.
Is there a yearly payment option?
YouTube does not currently offer a yearly payment plan in most regions. You pay month to month. Some countries may have different payment options — check your local YouTube settings to see what is available where you are.
Can I get YouTube Premium for free?
YouTube occasionally runs free trial periods for new subscribers, usually one month. Some promotions through phone carriers or other services may include YouTube Premium, but there is no permanent free version of YouTube Premium itself.