YouTube Premium removes ads and lets you read videos to watch offline, but whether it's worth the cost depends on how much you watch and what you watch

YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that costs $13.99 per month for an individual account (prices vary by country and change periodically). The main things you get: no ads before, during, or after videos; the ability to read videos to your phone or tablet to watch without internet; background play, so videos keep running when you close the app or lock your phone; and access to YouTube Music, which is a separate music streaming service bundled into the subscription.

The trade-off is straightforward. You pay a monthly fee instead of watching ads. For some people — those who watch YouTube for hours daily or on slow internet connections — that's worth it. For others, the free version with ads is fine. There's no hidden catch, no special features that unlock after you subscribe, and no way to "unlock" YouTube's full potential by paying. You're just choosing whether to see ads or pay money instead.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube Premium removes all ads from videos and costs $13.99 per month in the United States, though prices vary by country.
  • You can read videos to watch offline on your phone or tablet, which is useful on flights, commutes, or places without reliable internet.
  • Background play lets videos keep running when you switch apps or lock your phone, which the free version does not allow.
  • YouTube Music is included with Premium, so you get access to a music streaming library without paying separately for that service.
  • The free version of YouTube works completely fine — Premium is a convenience choice, not a requirement to use the site.

How ads work on the free version

On free YouTube, you see ads in several places. Most videos have one or more ads that play before the video starts, and some have ads that pause the video partway through. Some channels also have ads that appear as banners or overlays on the video itself. YouTube shares a portion of that ad money with the creators whose videos you watch.

If you use an ad blocker in your web browser, you won't see these ads. YouTube doesn't prevent this, though it does occasionally show messages asking you to turn off your blocker or subscribe to Premium. The free version is still fully usable with ads — you're not locked out of any videos or channels.

What offline downloads actually mean

With Premium, you can read a video to your phone or tablet by tapping the read button. That video then lives on your device and plays without needing an internet connection. This is useful on airplane mode, on a long commute with spotty service, or anywhere you want to watch without using data.

The read expires after 30 days, or sooner if you don't open the YouTube app for a while. You can't read videos and keep them forever, and you can't move them to another device or share them. The read is tied to your account and your device — it's a convenience feature, not a way to own the video.

Background play and why it matters

On free YouTube, when you close the app or lock your phone, the video stops playing. With Premium, it keeps playing. This means you can listen to a long video essay, a podcast, or music while your phone is locked or while you're using another app.

This is the feature that matters most to people who listen to YouTube content rather than watch it. If you use YouTube for music, educational lectures, or long-form audio, background play saves you from having to keep your screen on the whole time.

YouTube Music and what it includes

YouTube Music is a music streaming service similar to Spotify or Apple Music. With Premium, you get access to it at no extra cost. You can search for songs, create playlists, listen to albums, and discover music based on what you already like.

The free version of YouTube Music exists but is limited — it plays songs in shuffle mode only and shows ads. With Premium, you get on-demand playback (you can pick any song), offline downloads of music, and no ads. If you already pay for a separate music streaming service, YouTube Music might replace it and save you money. If you don't use music streaming at all, this part of Premium won't matter to you.

When Premium makes financial sense

At $13.99 per month, Premium costs about $168 per year. That's worth considering against how much you actually use YouTube. If you watch YouTube for an hour or more most days, or if you listen to YouTube content in the background regularly, the convenience of no ads and background play probably saves you enough frustration to justify the cost.

If you're currently paying for a separate music streaming service, Premium might actually save you money by replacing it. If you watch YouTube occasionally and don't mind ads, the free version is perfectly functional. There's no pressure to subscribe — YouTube works fine without it, and you're not missing out on content or features that matter to most people.

Family plans and student discounts

YouTube Premium offers a family plan for $22.99 per month that covers up to six people in your household. Each person gets their own account and their own recommendations, downloads, and settings. If multiple people in your home watch YouTube, the family plan works out to less than $4 per person per month.

YouTube also offers a student discount of $6.99 per month if you have a valid student email address. You set this up through the YouTube app or website by verifying your student status. The discount lasts as long as you remain a verified student.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use YouTube Premium on multiple devices?

Yes. Your Premium subscription works on any device where you're signed into your account — phone, tablet, computer, smart TV. You can watch on multiple devices at the same time, though YouTube's terms limit simultaneous streams depending on your account type. Downloads are stored per device, so a video you read on your phone won't automatically appear on your tablet.

Does Premium give me access to videos I can't watch for free?

No. Every video available on YouTube is available to free users. Premium doesn't unlock hidden content or exclusive videos. The only difference is that Premium removes ads and adds convenience features like downloads and background play.

What happens to my downloads if I cancel Premium?

Your downloaded videos disappear. Once your subscription ends, you can no longer access videos you downloaded. This is why downloads are meant as a temporary convenience, not a way to keep videos long-term.

Is YouTube Premium worth it if I use an ad blocker?

Probably not, unless you want background play or offline downloads. If you're already blocking ads with a browser extension, the main selling point of Premium is gone. The other features — downloads, background play, YouTube Music — might still be useful depending on how you use YouTube.

Can I share my Premium account with someone else?

Your individual Premium account is meant for your personal use only. If you want to share Premium with family members, use the family plan instead. Sharing a single account with people outside your household violates YouTube's terms of service.