YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for individuals, with discounts for students and family plans
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that removes ads from videos, lets you download content to watch offline, and enables background play on mobile devices. The standard monthly price is $13.99 in the United States. YouTube also offers a student plan at $6.99 per month (requires Sheer ID verification), a family plan at $22.99 per month for up to six people, and a three-month free trial for new subscribers.
Pricing varies by country and currency. YouTube occasionally runs promotional offers — typically a free trial period or a discounted first month — but these are temporary and change without notice. The prices listed here are current as of early 2025 but may shift based on your location and whether YouTube is running a promotion when you sign up.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for a single account and includes ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and background play on phones.
- A student plan costs $6.99 per month if you can verify enrollment through Sheer ID, and the discount lasts as long as your student status is current.
- The family plan costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six household members, each with their own account and recommendations.
- YouTube Music Premium is bundled into YouTube Premium at no extra cost, so you also get ad-free music streaming and offline listening.
- Most new subscribers receive a free trial period before being charged, though the length varies by promotion and region.
Individual Premium plan: $13.99 per month
The standard YouTube Premium subscription removes ads from all videos you watch on the YouTube app, YouTube.com, and YouTube Music. You can download videos and music to your phone or tablet and watch or listen offline — useful for travel or when your internet connection is unreliable. Background play means you can lock your phone screen or switch to another app while a video or music track continues playing.
You also get early access to YouTube features and experiments before they roll out to free users. The subscription covers one person on one account. If you share your password with others, YouTube may ask you to verify your account or restrict access, though enforcement varies.
Student plan: $6.99 per month
YouTube offers a discounted rate for students enrolled in a degree-granting institution. You must verify your student status through Sheer ID, a third-party verification service, when you sign up. The verification process takes a few minutes and requires you to upload a photo of your student ID or other proof of enrollment.
The student plan includes all the same features as the standard Premium subscription — ad-free viewing, offline downloads, background play, and YouTube Music. The discount lasts as long as your student status remains verified. Once you graduate or leave school, YouTube will notify you that your discount has ended and your subscription will move to the full $13.99 monthly rate unless you cancel.
Family plan: $22.99 per month
The family plan covers up to six people in your household and costs $22.99 per month. Each family member gets their own YouTube account with separate watch history, recommendations, and subscriptions. The plan manager (the person who sets it up) invites other family members through Google Family Link, and each person can use Premium on their own devices simultaneously.
Family members do not see each other's watch history or recommendations unless they choose to share them. If someone leaves the family group, they lose Premium access immediately. The plan manager can remove members or change settings through their Google Account settings under "Family" or "Purchases and subscriptions."
What's included in every Premium plan
All YouTube Premium tiers include YouTube Music Premium at no additional cost. This means you get ad-free music streaming, the ability to download songs and playlists offline, and background play for music. You can create playlists, search for specific songs or artists, and access music videos without interruption.
Premium also includes YouTube Originals — exclusive shows and movies that YouTube produces. The library of Originals has shrunk in recent years as YouTube shifted focus, but some content remains available only to Premium subscribers. You also get early or exclusive access to certain YouTube features before they become available to free users.
Free trial and promotional offers
New subscribers typically receive a free trial period before the first charge. The length of the trial varies — it may be one month, three months, or another duration depending on the current promotion and your region. YouTube displays the trial length when you sign up, and you will see the exact date your first charge will occur.
You can cancel anytime during the trial without being charged. After the trial ends, your subscription renews automatically each month on the same date. YouTube occasionally runs limited-time discounts on the first month or promotional pricing for specific groups, but these offers change frequently and are not may provide.
How to manage or cancel your subscription
You can view your YouTube Premium subscription and manage billing through your Google Account. On a computer, go to myaccount.google.com, select "Payments & subscriptions," then "Manage subscriptions," and find YouTube Premium. On a phone, open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, select "Purchases and subscriptions," then "Manage," and find YouTube Premium.
From this screen you can see your renewal date, update your payment method, or cancel. If you cancel, your access ends immediately and you will not be charged again. If you cancel during a free trial, you lose Premium features right away but are not charged. You can resubscribe at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my YouTube Premium account with family members?
The family plan is designed for sharing and costs $22.99 per month for up to six people. If you share a single Premium account by giving out your password, YouTube may restrict access or ask you to verify your account. The family plan is the official way to share Premium with others in your household.
Do I have to pay for YouTube Music separately if I have Premium?
No. YouTube Music Premium is included in every YouTube Premium subscription at no extra cost. You get ad-free music, offline downloads, and background play for both videos and music through one subscription.
What happens to my subscription if I cancel during the free trial?
You lose Premium features immediately — ads return, offline downloads stop working, and background play is disabled. You are not charged. You can resubscribe anytime and may receive another trial offer, though this is not may provide.
Does the student discount renew automatically?
Your student status must remain verified through Sheer ID for the discount to continue. YouTube checks your verification periodically. If your status expires or cannot be verified, YouTube will notify you and your subscription will move to the full $13.99 rate unless you cancel or re-verify.
Can I use YouTube Premium on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes, you can use your Premium account on multiple devices, but only one stream can play at a time on a single account. The family plan allows simultaneous streams across different family members' accounts. If you try to play on two devices at once with a single account, the second stream will stop.