What YouTube subscriptions actually are
YouTube subscriptions come in two separate forms, and they work in completely different ways. The first is YouTube Premium, a paid membership you buy directly from YouTube that removes ads from videos, lets you download content to watch offline, and gives you access to YouTube Music. The second is channel memberships, where you pay a creator directly to support their channel and often get perks like exclusive videos, custom badges, or early access to uploads.
Most people confuse these two because they both use the word "subscribe," but one is a service you buy from YouTube, and the other is a way to support individual creators. Understanding which one you're paying for matters because they cancel differently, show up on different billing statements, and give you different things in return.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium costs a monthly fee and removes ads from all videos, lets you download videos, and includes YouTube Music access.
- Channel memberships are payments to individual creators that vary in price and perks depending on what each creator offers.
- YouTube Premium appears on your Google Play or Apple billing statement, while channel memberships appear under your YouTube account.
- You can cancel YouTube Premium anytime through your account settings, but channel memberships must be cancelled individually for each creator.
- Free subscriptions to channels (the button that just says "Subscribe") cost nothing and only notify you when a creator uploads new videos.
YouTube Premium: what you pay for and what it costs
YouTube Premium removes ads from every video you watch on YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube Studio. You also get offline download, which means you can save videos to your phone or tablet and watch them without an internet connection. The service includes YouTube Music, so you can listen to music without ads and create playlists. If you use YouTube on multiple devices, Premium works on all of them once you sign in.
The monthly cost varies depending on your country and whether you sign up through YouTube directly, through Apple, or through Google Play. Pricing also differs for individual accounts versus family plans. Check your YouTube account settings under "Purchases and memberships" to see the exact price in your region and what billing method you're using.
YouTube Premium does not include YouTube TV (live television), which is a separate subscription. It also does not remove ads from videos you upload yourself or from ads that appear on the YouTube homepage.
Channel memberships: paying creators directly
Channel memberships let you pay a creator a monthly amount to support their work. The creator sets the price and decides what perks members get. Common perks include exclusive videos, members-only live streams, custom emojis you can use in comments, a special badge next to your name, or early access to videos before they go public. Not every creator offers memberships, and not every creator offers the same tiers or perks.
When you join a channel membership, the payment goes to the creator (YouTube takes a cut), and the membership renews automatically each month on the same date. You can see all your active memberships by going to your YouTube account, selecting "Purchases and memberships," and then "Memberships." From that page you can cancel any membership individually.
Channel memberships are different from the free "Subscribe" button. Clicking Subscribe costs nothing and just tells YouTube to notify you when that creator uploads new videos. A membership is a paid tier on top of that.
How to cancel YouTube Premium
To cancel YouTube Premium, sign into your Google Account, go to your Google Play account or Apple ID settings (depending on where you signed up), find YouTube Premium in your subscriptions, and select "Cancel subscription." If you signed up through YouTube directly, you can also cancel from YouTube's "Purchases and memberships" page. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, so you keep access until that date.
If you signed up through a carrier or third-party service, you may need to cancel through that service instead. Check your billing statement to see where the charge comes from, then cancel from that account.
How to cancel channel memberships
Channel memberships cancel one at a time, not all together. Go to your YouTube account, select "Purchases and memberships," then "Memberships." You'll see a list of every channel you're a member of. Click the three dots next to the membership you want to cancel and select "Cancel membership." Like YouTube Premium, your access continues until the end of the current billing period.
If you want to cancel multiple memberships, you have to repeat this step for each one. There's no way to cancel all memberships at once through YouTube.
Free subscriptions versus paid memberships
The free "Subscribe" button on a creator's channel costs nothing and does one thing: it tells YouTube to send you notifications when that creator uploads a new video. You don't pay anything, the creator doesn't receive money from you, and you can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the button again. This is different from a channel membership, which is a paid tier.
Some creators use the free subscription feature to build an audience, then offer paid memberships as an optional way for viewers to support them further. Others only have the free subscription option. Neither approach costs you money unless you choose to join a paid membership.
Where your charges appear on your bill
YouTube Premium appears on your Google Play bill, your Apple bill, or your carrier bill, depending on where you signed up. Look for a charge labeled "YouTube Premium" or "Google Play" on your statement. Channel memberships appear under your YouTube account billing section and are labeled with the creator's channel name. If you're not sure where a charge came from, check "Purchases and memberships" in your YouTube account settings to see all active subscriptions and memberships.
If you see a charge you don't recognize, go to your YouTube account settings immediately and check what's active. If something is charging you that you didn't authorize, you can cancel it and contact YouTube support or your payment method's customer service to dispute the charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YouTube Premium work on all my devices?
Yes, YouTube Premium works on any device where you sign into your Google Account, including phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. You can use it on multiple devices at the same time, and the ad-free experience follows you across all of them.
Can I share a YouTube Premium family plan with other people?
YouTube offers a family plan that lets multiple people in your household use YouTube Premium under one subscription. The exact number of people and how to set it up depends on your country. Check your YouTube account settings to see if a family plan is available in your region and what it costs.
What happens to my channel memberships if I cancel YouTube Premium?
Cancelling YouTube Premium does not cancel your channel memberships. They are separate charges, so you'll keep paying for any memberships you've joined. You have to cancel memberships individually through your YouTube account.
Can I get a refund if I cancel YouTube Premium mid-month?
YouTube Premium does not offer refunds for partial months. When you cancel, you keep access until the end of your current billing cycle, but you won't receive money back for unused days. Cancel only when you're ready to lose access.
Why am I being charged for a channel membership I don't remember joining?
Go to your YouTube account, select "Purchases and memberships," and check "Memberships" to see what's active. If you find a membership you didn't authorize, cancel it immediately and contact YouTube support. If the charge happened recently, you may be able to dispute it with your payment method.