Ahh, YouTube Premium, by far the most bang for you buck subscription in the market, especially if you love consuming your video content on the platform. I have been subscribed to YouTube Premium for a better part of the year, and I think it’s just perfect for me. Obviously, there are those who complain about the pricing of the plan and how it is not suited to every consumer bracket, and it looks like Google has heard the feedback and they have now launched a cheaper version of YouTube Premium in the USA today.
YouTube Premium Lite is now fully rolled out in the United States. $7.99 per month, compared to the $13.99 per month you would have to pay for the full YouTube Premium experience.
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What Does YouTube Premium Lite Offer?
The Lite plan is designed for people who don’t need all the bells and whistles of YouTube Premium. Here’s what you get:
- Ad-free videos: Watch “most” videos without interruptions, including gaming, comedy, cooking, and learning content.
- No music perks: Music videos, Shorts, and some search/browse pages may still show ads.
- No offline or background playback: You’ll need the full Premium plan for these features.
- No YouTube Music access: If you’re already using Spotify, Apple Music, or another music streaming service, this won’t be a dealbreaker.
In short, Premium Lite is perfect for viewers who primarily watch non-music content and don’t need advanced features like downloads or background playback.
Who Is This For?
YouTube Premium Lite is ideal for:
- Casual viewers: If you mostly watch subscribed channels and avoid music videos, this plan is a great fit.
- Budget-conscious users: At $7.99/month, it’s almost half the cost of full Premium.
- Existing music subscribers: If you’re already paying for Spotify or another music service, you won’t miss YouTube Music.
Personally, I would not subscribe to the lite plan because I do use YouTube Music as well, but as I already mentioned above,
What’s Missing?
While Premium Lite is a great option, it’s not a complete ad-free experience. Ads may still appear on:
- Music videos
- YouTube Shorts
- Search and browse pages
Additionally, you won’t get offline downloads or background playback, which are reserved for the full Premium plan.
Global Rollout Plans
For now, Premium Lite is only available in the United States, but YouTube has announced plans to expand it to other countries soon. The service will first roll out in Thailand, Germany, and Australia in the coming weeks, with more countries to follow later this year. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on a UK release, but here’s hoping it arrives soon!
One big question remains: If you’re already on a full YouTube Premium plan, can you switch to the cheaper Lite option? So far, it seems the answer is unclear. YouTube hasn’t yet clarified the process, but we’ll update this story if we hear more.
