YouTube Premium Cost 2026 -- Plans and Where to Check Current Prices

YouTube sets its own prices and changes them from time to time, so this page lists the plans and what each includes rather than quoting a price that may be out of date. The current US price for every plan is on youtube.com/premium. Premium removes ads from YouTube and YouTube Kids, adds background play and offline downloads for video, and includes full access to YouTube Music Premium. Here is a breakdown of every plan and how to decide whether it is worth the cost.

YouTube Premium Plans

Check current US prices and trial offers at youtube.com/premium before subscribing. Subscribe through youtube.com if you can: if you subscribe through Apple, Apple bills you and handles payment problems and refunds, and the price shown there may differ.

What Is Included in YouTube Premium

Individual

• Ad-free YouTube: Ads are removed on YouTube and YouTube Kids (ads may still appear on music content, Shorts, and when you search or browse)
• Background play: Continue listening or watching with your screen off or while using other apps on mobile
• Offline downloads: Download videos to watch without an internet connection
• YouTube Music Premium: Full access to ad-free music streaming, offline listening, and background play in the YouTube Music app
• Annual plan available for individual subscribers; annual plans are not refundable and cannot be paused, so there is no partial refund if you cancel early

Family

• All features of the Individual plan
• Share with up to 5 additional members (6 total) who live at the same address
• Each member must use their own Google account

Student

• All features of the Individual plan at a reduced price
• Available to full-time students at approved higher education institutions
• Eligibility must be re-verified each year
• Memberships are valid for up to four years

Premium Lite

• Mostly ad-free viewing on YouTube and YouTube Kids
• Offline downloads and background play on most videos (not Shorts or music content)
• Does not include:
  • Ad-free YouTube Music app
  • Extras such as continue watching, Jump ahead, queuing, or high quality audio and video
• Best for viewers who mainly want fewer ads on video and do not need the music app

YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Music: Which Should You Get?

Choose YouTube Music if you primarily want an ad-free music streaming service comparable to Spotify or Apple Music. It costs less than YouTube Premium; compare the two US prices at youtube.com/premium and youtube.com/musicpremium.

Choose YouTube Premium if you watch a lot of YouTube videos and want to remove ads, or if you want background play for video. Since YouTube Music is included, you also get the full music streaming service at the same time.

Annual vs. Monthly Billing

Annual plans are available to individual subscribers only. YouTube does not offer annual plans for multi-person plans, so the Family plan is billed monthly. You pay for the year upfront, and annual plans are not refundable and cannot be paused. To see whether the annual plan saves money, multiply the monthly price shown at youtube.com/premium by 12 and compare it with the annual price.

YouTube Music Premium Plans

If you want music only – no ad-free YouTube video – YouTube Music Premium is available as a standalone subscription with Individual, Family and Student plans. Current US prices are at youtube.com/musicpremium.

YouTube Music vs. Spotify vs. Apple Music: Price Comparison

Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon prices checked October 2026. Verify current prices at each service’s website before subscribing.

YouTube Music’s standout feature is its tie to YouTube itself: it is included with YouTube Premium, so one subscription covers ad-free video and the music app.

Where to Subscribe: Compare the iOS Price

If you subscribe through the iPhone or iPad app, Apple bills you and handles payment problems and refunds, and the price shown can differ from the price on YouTube’s website. Compare the price in the app with the price on youtube.com before you subscribe.

Is YouTube Premium Worth It?

YouTube Premium makes the most sense if you:

• Watch YouTube daily and find ads disruptive
• Want to play YouTube videos in the background on your phone (audio-only while using other apps)
• Already pay for a music streaming service but would save money by replacing it with YouTube Music, which is bundled at no extra cost
• Download videos for offline viewing while traveling

YouTube Premium is harder to justify if you:

• Only watch YouTube occasionally
• Already have an ad blocker on your desktop browser
• Are on a tight budget and mainly want music – YouTube Music alone costs less
• Mainly want fewer ads on video, where Premium Lite may suffice

See also: Spotify Cost 2026 | Apple Music Cost 2026 | Monthly Budget Guide

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.