YouTube Premium pricing and what's included
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month in the United States if you pay month-to-month. You can also pay annually for $139.99, which works out to about $11.67 per month. YouTube also offers a three-month trial for $0.99 if you have never had Premium before. The price you see depends on your country — YouTube charges different amounts in different regions, and those prices change over time.
When you pay for Premium, you get ad-free video playback on all of YouTube, the ability to download videos to watch offline, and background play (so videos keep playing when you close the app or lock your phone). You also get access to YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost, which removes ads from music and lets you download songs.
YouTube also offers YouTube Premium Family, which costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six people in your household. Each family member gets their own account with all the same features, and the bill goes to one person. You manage who is in the family group through your Google account settings.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for one person, or $139.99 per year if you pay upfront.
- The price includes ad-free video, offline downloads, background play, and YouTube Music Premium bundled in.
- YouTube Premium Family costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six household members, each with their own account.
- Prices vary by country and change periodically, so the amount you pay may differ from what someone in another region pays.
- YouTube offers a three-month trial for $0.99 to new subscribers, though this offer is not always available to everyone.
How to start and stop your subscription
To start a YouTube Premium subscription, go to YouTube.com or open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon in the top right, and select "Get YouTube Premium." You will see the pricing options for your country and can choose monthly or annual billing. You will need a valid payment method — a credit card, debit card, or payment service like Google Pay or PayPal.
Once you sign up, your subscription begins immediately. You can cancel at any time through your Google Account settings under "Payments & subscriptions." If you cancel before your next billing date, you keep Premium access until that date arrives. If you cancel after being charged, you cannot get a refund for that month, but you will not be charged again.
If you signed up through an app store — Apple's App Store or Google Play — you cancel through that store instead. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find YouTube Premium, and tap Cancel Subscription. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Payments and subscriptions, select Subscriptions, choose YouTube Premium, and tap Cancel subscription.
What happens if your payment fails
If your payment method declines when YouTube tries to charge you, YouTube will attempt to charge it again over the next few days. If all attempts fail, your Premium access stops, but your account remains active. You can update your payment method and restart your subscription whenever you are ready.
YouTube does not charge you extra fees for failed payments or reactivation. You simply lose Premium features until you provide a working payment method and your subscription resumes. Your watch history and playlists stay on your account the whole time.
Student and other discounts
YouTube offers YouTube Premium Student for $6.99 per month if you are a full-time student at an accredited school. You verify your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service, when you sign up. The student price is available for up to four years, and YouTube will ask you to reverify your status periodically.
YouTube does not currently offer discounts for seniors, low-income households, or other groups. The only reduced-price option besides the student plan is the annual payment ($139.99 per year instead of $167.88 for twelve monthly payments), which saves you about $28 per year.
Differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium
YouTube Music Premium can be bought separately for $10.99 per month and removes ads from music videos and songs on YouTube Music. It includes offline downloads and background play, but only for music — not for regular YouTube videos. If you buy YouTube Premium, you get YouTube Music Premium included, so you do not need to pay for both.
YouTube Music Premium alone does not give you ad-free access to regular YouTube videos or the ability to download non-music content. If you watch a lot of music videos and regular YouTube content, Premium is the better value because it covers everything. If you only use YouTube for music, YouTube Music Premium by itself is cheaper.
What you do not get with Premium
YouTube Premium removes ads from videos you watch, but it does not remove product placements or sponsorships that creators include in their videos themselves. If a creator says "This video is sponsored by [brand]," that message stays in the video even with Premium.
Premium also does not change YouTube's recommendation algorithm or give you access to videos that are blocked in your country. It does not let you upload videos longer than the standard limit or unlock any creator features. It is purely a viewing and listening service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my YouTube Premium account with family members?
You can share your login credentials with anyone, but YouTube's terms of service say your account is for your personal use only. The official way to share with family is YouTube Premium Family, which costs $22.99 per month and lets up to six people each have their own account with full Premium features.
Do I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?
No. Once you are charged for a billing period, that charge is not refundable. If you cancel before your next billing date, you keep access until that date, but you will not receive money back for the unused portion of the month.
What if I use YouTube in multiple countries?
Your subscription works in any country where YouTube operates. However, if you change your billing address to a different country, YouTube may adjust your price to match that region's rates. Some features like offline downloads may also vary by country due to licensing agreements.
Is YouTube Premium worth the cost?
That depends on how much you watch YouTube and whether ads bother you. If you watch several hours per day, the ad removal and background play save time. If you rarely watch YouTube, the cost may not be worth it. The three-month trial for $0.99 lets you test it before committing to the full price.
Can I get YouTube Premium free through other services?
Some phone carriers, internet providers, and credit card companies bundle YouTube Premium with their plans, but this varies by provider and changes over time. Check your current service agreements to see if Premium is already included. Otherwise, you pay the standard monthly or annual price.