YouTube Premium has become an increasingly popular subscription service, but many people wonder if it’s really worth the investment. Let me break down everything you need to know about the costs and value proposition.
Current YouTube Premium Pricing
The standard YouTube Premium individual plan costs $13.99 per month in the US, though pricing varies by country. For students who can verify their enrollment, there’s a discounted rate of $7.49 monthly. If you’re looking to share with family members, the Family Plan runs $22.99 monthly and covers up to 6 family members living in the same household.
What You Actually Get
I remember when I first subscribed to Premium, I was amazed at how different the YouTube experience became. Here’s what you’ll get:
– Ad-free viewing across all devices
– Background play (videos continue when your phone is locked)
– Downloads for offline viewing
– Access to YouTube Music Premium
– YouTube Premium content
The True Value Proposition
Think about how many hours you spend watching YouTube content. If you’re like most people, it’s probably several hours per week. The ad-free experience alone can save you countless interruptions – I calculated that I was watching about 15-20 ads per hour before Premium.
Is It Worth The Money?
Here’s how I usually explain it to friends: if you use YouTube daily and find yourself frustrated by ads, or if you frequently watch on mobile and want background play, Premium is probably worth it. Consider this: if you watch just 2 hours of YouTube daily, you’re paying roughly 23 cents per hour of ad-free entertainment.
Money-Saving Tips
If you’re interested in trying Premium, here are some insider tips:
– Look for promotional offers (YouTube often runs 3-month trials)
– Consider the Family Plan if you have household members to share with
– Check if you’re eligible for student pricing
– Some new devices come with free trial periods
Remember, you can always start with a free trial to test whether Premium fits your viewing habits. The service is definitely not for everyone – if you’re an occasional YouTube viewer or don’t mind ads, the free version might serve you just fine. But for heavy users who value their time and want an uninterrupted experience, Premium can be a worthwhile investment.
The best part is you can cancel anytime if you find it’s not adding enough value to your YouTube experience. I’d suggest trying it for a month and keeping track of how much you actually use the Premium features before making a long-term commitment.
