YouTube Premium is a paid subscription that removes ads from videos and unlocks features YouTube's free version doesn't have

YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for an individual account in the United States, though the price varies by country. When you pay, YouTube stops showing ads before, during, and after videos. You also get offline viewing (read videos to watch without internet), background play (listen to videos with your phone screen off), and access to YouTube Music Premium as part of the same subscription.

You don't need YouTube Premium to watch videos. The free version works the same way — you just see ads. Premium is optional, and whether it's worth the cost depends on how much you watch and how much the ads bother you.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube Premium removes ads, allows offline downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium for $13.99 per month in the United States.
  • You can start a free trial for one month to test the service before paying, and cancel anytime without penalty.
  • Family plans cost $22.99 per month and let up to six people use their own accounts with the same benefits.
  • YouTube Premium works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs — you use the same Google account across all devices.
  • Canceling your subscription stops the charges when ready, and you keep access until your current billing period ends.

How to start a YouTube Premium subscription

Open YouTube on any device and look for your profile icon in the top right corner. Tap or click it, then select "Get YouTube Premium" from the menu. YouTube will show you the subscription options: individual, family, or student (if you're enrolled in school). Choose the one that fits you.

YouTube will ask for a payment method — a credit card, debit card, or Google Play balance if you're on Android. Enter your information and confirm. YouTube will charge you when ready and start your subscription. If you choose the free trial, you get one month at no cost, and YouTube will remind you before the trial ends so you can cancel if you don't want to keep paying.

Your subscription is tied to your Google account, so it works on any device where you sign in with that account. If you use YouTube on your phone, tablet, and computer, all three will have Premium as long as you're logged in with the same Google account.

What YouTube Premium actually removes and adds

On the free version, YouTube shows ads at the start of most videos, sometimes in the middle, and occasionally as banners on the page itself. Premium removes all of those. You'll never see a video interrupted by an ad, and you won't see ads in the sidebar or at the top of the page.

Offline viewing means you can read a video while connected to WiFi and watch it later without internet. This works on phones and tablets but not on computers. You can keep a downloaded video for up to 30 days, and YouTube removes it automatically after that.

Background play lets you close the YouTube app or turn your phone screen off while a video or music plays. On the free version, closing the app stops playback. YouTube Music Premium, included with YouTube Premium, is a separate music streaming service that works like Spotify — you can search for songs, create playlists, and listen without ads.

Individual, family, and student plans

An individual plan costs $13.99 per month and covers one person on one Google account. A family plan costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six people, each with their own account and their own recommendations, watch history, and downloads. Family members don't see each other's watch history or recommendations unless they share a device.

A student plan costs $6.99 per month if you're enrolled in a degree-granting school and can prove it through SheerID, a verification service YouTube uses. You'll need a valid school email address or student ID. Student plans are individual — they don't cover family members.

Family plans are worth considering if multiple people in your household watch YouTube. Each person gets their own account and their own Premium benefits, so it's cheaper per person than buying individual subscriptions.

How billing works and when charges happen

YouTube charges you on the same day each month. If you start on the 15th, you'll be charged on the 15th of every month. The charge appears on your credit card or debit card statement as "Google YouTube Premium" or "Google Play."

If you start a free trial, YouTube doesn't charge you during the trial month. On the day your trial ends, YouTube charges you for the first paid month. You can cancel anytime before the trial ends and you won't be charged at all.

If you cancel after you've already paid, you keep access to Premium until your current billing period ends. If you paid on the 15th and cancel on the 20th, you still have Premium until the 15th of next month. After that date, your account reverts to the free version.

Canceling your subscription

Open YouTube, tap your profile icon, and select "Paid memberships." Tap "Manage YouTube Premium" and then "Cancel membership." YouTube will ask why you're leaving and offer you a discount to stay. You can ignore that and confirm the cancellation. The process takes less than a minute.

You can also cancel through Google Play on Android or through your Apple account on iPhone if you signed up through those platforms. The steps are slightly different, but the result is the same — your subscription ends at the end of your current billing period.

If you cancel and change your mind, you can restart your subscription anytime. You won't get another free trial, but you can sign up for Premium again and start paying when ready.

What happens if you share your account

YouTube's terms say a Premium subscription is for personal use only. If you share your Google account password with someone else so they can use your Premium subscription, you're technically breaking the rules. YouTube doesn't actively hunt for this, but it's not something the company supports.

A family plan is the intended way for multiple people to use Premium. Each person gets their own account, their own password, and their own recommendations. If you want to share Premium with family members, a family plan is the right approach and costs less than buying multiple individual subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use YouTube Premium on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, and smart TV simultaneously as long as you're signed in with the same Google account. If you're on a family plan, each family member can use their own account on their own device at the same time.

What happens to my downloaded videos if I cancel?

Downloaded videos disappear when ready when your subscription ends. YouTube removes them from your device automatically. If you want to keep watching them, you need to stay subscribed or read them again before you cancel.

Is there a way to get YouTube Premium for less money?

YouTube occasionally offers discounts to new subscribers, usually a reduced rate for the first few months. These offers change and aren't always available. A family plan is cheaper per person if multiple people in your household watch YouTube. Student plans are the cheapest option if you're enrolled in school.

Do I need a credit card to start YouTube Premium?

On Android, you can use a Google Play balance instead of a credit card. On iPhone and computer, you need a credit card or debit card. If you don't have either, you can buy a prepaid card from most grocery stores and use that.

Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling?

YouTube doesn't have a pause feature. You can only cancel or keep paying. If you want to stop charges temporarily, you have to cancel and restart later. You won't get another free trial when you restart, but you can sign up again anytime.