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YouTube is free to watch with ads; YouTube Premium is a paid subscription. Eligible users may get a temporary free trial, but it normally turns into a recurring paid plan unless canceled before the trial ends. The exact offer and price depend on your account, location, and billing method.
Is YouTube Premium actually free?
There are three different things people may mean by “free”:
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| 1 |
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Google Play gift code | $200.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Google Play gift code | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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MasterCard Physical Gift Card – $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee) | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Google Play gift code | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Google Play Physical Gift Card | $75.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Regular YouTube: You can watch most YouTube videos without paying, but ads and other limitations apply.
- YouTube Premium: A paid membership that adds benefits such as ad-free viewing, downloads, and background playback.
- A Premium trial: A temporary offer for eligible accounts. A payment method is generally required, and the plan renews at the displayed price unless you cancel.
A free Google or YouTube account is not a Premium membership. YouTube describes Premium as a paid subscription; see its membership overview.
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How much does YouTube Premium cost?
There is no single price that applies to everyone. YouTube prices vary by country or territory, taxes may affect the charge, and billing through an app store may differ from signing up on the web. Prices can also change. Rather than relying on an old price quoted online, sign in and check YouTube’s paid-membership page or the checkout screen for the plan, amount, and next billing date that apply to you. YouTube explains price and billing details in its price-change guidance.
#1 Best Overall
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
Before confirming, check the total price, billing channel, renewal date, and whether the offer is a trial or a paid plan. Local taxes and the platform handling your payment can affect the amount charged.
What does full YouTube Premium include?
On supported devices and content, full Premium typically includes:
- Ad-free viewing: YouTube-served ads are removed from supported YouTube viewing.
- Video downloads: Save eligible videos in the YouTube app for offline viewing, subject to YouTube’s feature and content availability.
- Background playback: Keep supported videos playing while using other apps or with the screen off in supported mobile apps. Background playback is not available in the Shorts player.
- YouTube Music Premium: Ad-free music listening, downloads, and background listening in the YouTube Music app.
- Additional features: Depending on availability, features can include Smart Downloads and other Premium playback options.
Benefits follow the Google Account with the membership and work on supported platforms where you can sign in. YouTube specifically describes compatible smart TVs and gaming consoles as supported access points; that does not mean every device or feature is supported everywhere. See the current Premium benefits and device information.
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Premium is not an all-access pass to every paid YouTube product or every piece of content. It does not include YouTube TV, NFL Sunday Ticket, channel memberships, Primetime channels, rentals, purchases, or creators’ other paid offerings. YouTube lists major exclusions in its Premium benefits documentation.
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- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
- Just the app you’re looking for: Millions of apps means millions of ways to get things done, learn something new, and maybe even meet someone special.
It also does not erase sponsorships, product placements, or promotions that a creator builds into a video. Premium addresses YouTube-served advertising; it cannot remove an ad read that is part of the program itself.
How free trials work—and how to avoid an unexpected charge
YouTube’s introductory trials give eligible users Premium benefits for the period shown in their offer. Trial length and eligibility vary by account, country, and promotion. YouTube says introductory trials are generally for first-time members; some former Premium, Music Premium, or Premium Lite members may qualify after at least six months away. Its guidance also limits introductory trials to one per 12-month period. Your account’s offer is the deciding information, not a trial length advertised for someone else.
A payment method is generally required. YouTube may make a temporary authorization to verify it; the company says this is not processed as a purchase and may disappear within one to 14 days. At the end of the trial, the membership automatically renews at the price displayed for your plan unless you cancel. Read the checkout screen for the trial end date, renewal price, and terms. See YouTube’s trial rules.
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- Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- Double check if the URL/website is genuine before entering card details online. Do not provide any gift card details (example: claim code) to someone you do not know or trust. There are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- If you believe that your Card has been lost or stolen, notify Mastercard immediately by calling 1-833-791-7288. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Mastercard Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including online. Your Amazon.com Balance cannot be used to purchase Mastercard gift cards.
To avoid a charge you do not want, note the end date and cancel before renewal. Deleting the YouTube app does not cancel a membership. If you already started a trial, check that you are signed in to the same Google Account and verify the cancellation status on the account that holds the subscription.
Plans: which option might fit?
| Plan | Who it suits | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Individual monthly | One person who wants flexibility | Recurring monthly billing; not intended for multiple people sharing one account. |
| Annual prepaid | One person who prefers paying upfront | Available only in selected countries; individual-only, non-recurring, cannot be paused, and YouTube says it is not refundable. You may hold up to 24 months of prepaid access. |
| Student | An eligible full-time student | Requires SheerID verification and annual re-verification; available for up to four consecutive years. |
| Family | Eligible members of one household | Supports up to six people, subject to YouTube’s family-group and same-household requirements. |
| Two-person | Two eligible people where offered | Availability and eligibility are location-specific; check the offer in your account. |
| Premium Lite | Someone who mainly wants fewer ads on ordinary videos | Lower-cost option in locations where offered, but it has significant feature and ad exclusions. |
| YouTube Music Premium | Someone who mainly wants paid music features | Music-focused membership; it does not provide ad-free general YouTube video. |
Plan availability and prices depend on location. YouTube’s membership overview covers plan categories. Details and restrictions for annual plans and student memberships are published separately.
How to get a student plan
- Open the student membership page and select Get Premium.
- Enter your institution in the SheerID form and complete verification.
- Once approved, finish signup and review the price and renewal details.
If automatic verification does not work, YouTube may request documents for manual review. YouTube gives an estimate of about 20 minutes for U.S. eligibility emails and up to 48 hours in other locations; these are estimates, not guaranteed turnaround times.
Premium Lite versus full Premium
Premium Lite is not simply full Premium at a lower price. YouTube says most non-music videos can be watched without ads, but ads may still appear on music content, Shorts, and while browsing or searching. Downloads and background playback may be available for most videos, with exclusions including Shorts and specified music-related content. Lite does not include YouTube Music Premium or some additional full-Premium features, such as Continue Watching, Jump Ahead, queuing, and high-quality audio or video features. Check YouTube’s Premium Lite details and its signup page for current availability, price, and terms in your location.
Rank #4
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift code, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
Choose full Premium if you want ad-free viewing plus the music bundle and broader Premium features. Consider Lite if most of your viewing is ordinary, non-music video and you are comfortable with its remaining ads and feature limits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to cancel YouTube Premium
- Sign in to the Google Account with the membership and open youtube.com/paid_memberships.
- Select the membership and open its management or cancellation option.
- Follow the prompts and confirm cancellation.
- Return to the membership page to verify the status and the date access ends or billing stops.
The right place to cancel depends on who bills you. A membership purchased through Apple may need to be canceled in Apple’s subscription settings; a Google Play-billed plan may need to be managed in Google Play. Check the original receipt or membership details if you are unsure. Canceling during a trial generally keeps benefits active through the trial period, but confirm the end date shown on your account. YouTube explains how to review membership status and billing details.
What happens after you cancel?
Cancellation stops the next renewal; it does not necessarily end Premium immediately. Benefits generally remain until the end of the trial or paid access period shown on your account. After access ends, YouTube-served ads return, Premium background playback and downloads are no longer available as membership benefits, and YouTube Music Premium benefits stop. Do not treat downloaded content as permanently playable after membership access expires.
Annual plans are prepaid and do not automatically renew. YouTube says they are not refundable or pausable, so check the remaining access period before changing plans. You may need to wait for an annual plan to expire before moving to a multi-person plan.
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- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift cards can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, peel or gently scratch label and enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift card, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
Is YouTube Premium worth paying for?
- It may be good value if you watch YouTube daily, particularly on a phone, and use background playback or downloads for commuting and travel.
- It is more compelling if you also use YouTube Music. The music membership is bundled with full Premium, so compare it with what you would otherwise pay for music access.
- A student plan may suit one eligible student; a family plan may suit multiple eligible household members who will genuinely use it. Verify current requirements rather than assuming you can share outside your household.
- Premium Lite may suit video-first viewers who want fewer ads on most ordinary videos but do not need the music bundle.
- Free YouTube may be enough if you watch occasionally, do not mind ads, and rarely need downloads or background playback.
- A music-only service may be a better fit if music is your main need. YouTube Music Premium, Spotify Premium, or Apple Music do not substitute for ad-free YouTube video.
Do not choose a plan assuming it includes YouTube TV, removes creator sponsorships, or makes every YouTube surface ad-free. Those are different expectations from what Premium provides.
Price, location, and billing cautions
Plan offers, prices, payment methods, and eligibility are country-specific. Avoid relying on a location or billing detail that does not genuinely apply to you to obtain a different regional price; use the terms shown by YouTube for your account and location. If your app-store billing price differs from a web offer, compare the displayed totals and manage the subscription through the platform that bills you.
If you see an unexpected charge, first check the membership page for the Google Account, plan, billing date, and status. If the receipt shows Apple or Google Play as the billing provider, check that platform’s subscription settings too. A charge after a trial often means it renewed before cancellation was confirmed.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
