With YouTube Premium, you can watch without YouTube ads, save videos for later viewing without an internet connection, and keep the audio playing when you open another app. You also get YouTube Music Premium. Whether it is worth the price depends on how you use it. First, write down which features you find useful, then check the monthly price for your account.
Below, you will read what the benefits mean in everyday use and compare Premium with Lite and free YouTube.
What does YouTube Premium offer?
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription for watching and listening. Which benefits you notice depends on how you use YouTube:
- You often watch long videos. Think of a cooking tutorial or a one hour conversation. Without separate ad breaks, you can keep watching.
- You travel with a poor connection. With a download, you save a video in advance to watch later without an internet connection.
- You listen while doing something else. Background playback means the audio continues when you use another app or turn off your screen.
- You use YouTube for music. YouTube Music Premium may then factor into your decision. Also consider what you already pay for a music service.
For a few days, try keeping track of when ads, a poor connection or stopping audio bothers you. This will show you which features you would actually use.
Comparing YouTube Premium, Lite and free YouTube
According to YouTube’s comparison of Premium Lite and Premium Lite offers most videos on YouTube and YouTube Kids without ads, offline and in the background. YouTube Music Premium is not included.
Pay attention to the word ‘most’: do not expect the benefits to apply to every video. Before paying, check which features are listed for the Lite offer on your account.
| How do you use YouTube? | What could you consider? | What should you look for? |
|---|---|---|
| You occasionally watch a short video | Continue using free YouTube | Are ads bothersome enough that you would pay for them every month? |
| You mainly watch videos and already use another music service | Compare Premium Lite | Are the videos and features you use covered by the offer? |
| You watch a lot and also want to listen to music | Compare the full Premium subscription | Could you do without another music subscription because of it? |
| You are not sure what you need yet | Track your usage first | Which feature do you miss several times a week? |
How much does YouTube Premium cost in the Netherlands and Belgium?
You can find the current price when subscribing through your account. The amount may vary by country, subscription type and where you sign up. A price for the Netherlands therefore does not necessarily apply to Belgium.
Compare the costs step by step:
- Compare the same subscription type. Lite and the full Premium subscription do not offer the same thing.
- Check both the website and the app. Check which offer you see in both places with your account.
- Read what you will pay after a promotion. A temporary offer does not tell you what you will pay each month afterwards.
- Calculate the cost for one year. If the monthly price stays the same, that is the monthly amount × 12.
- Include your other subscriptions. Keeping your current music service? Then you will continue paying for it as well.
Do you not see Lite or another subscription type listed? Then compare only the options you can subscribe to yourself. An offer available to someone else may not be available for your account.
Which advertising remains with YouTube Premium?
Premium does not remove every commercial message. In YouTube’s explanation of Premium and advertising it states that creator promotions and promotional links may remain, as may promotions during some live events.
Suppose a creator talks about a sponsor in the middle of a video. That section is part of the video itself. It is not a separate ad that YouTube places around the video.
If those sponsor sections bother you most, Premium will not completely solve that.
When is YouTube Premium worth it?
Premium is mainly worth considering if you use the benefits regularly. Do not look only at how much time you spend on YouTube, but also at what you do there:
- You listen every day while walking or doing household chores. Pay particular attention to features that let you keep listening.
- You occasionally watch a few short videos at home. Consider whether you would use the extra features often enough. Free YouTube may suit you better.
- You watch a lot but want to keep your music service. First compare Lite with the full subscription. This will show whether you need Premium’s extra features.
Have you taken out a subscription? After a month, check which features you actually used. If you barely use what you are paying for, you can adjust your choice.
Does YouTube Premium give your own videos more reach?
No, taking out Premium yourself does not automatically give your videos more views or reach. Choose the subscription for watching and listening, even if you upload videos yourself.
Do you want to improve your own videos? Start quickly with the topic, make sure speech is easy to understand and cut out sections that add nothing. Find more information in a YouTube video editing guide.
Changing or cancelling YouTube Premium
Do you want to stop or choose another subscription type? First check which subscription you have, who processes your payment and when your next payment is scheduled.
After the change, save the confirmation. Also check the end date shown to you. You can read the remaining steps at Cancelling YouTube Premium. If you also publish your own content, our YouTube services includes packages for subscribers and views. The product pages show the available quantities and prices.
