YouTube Premium is YouTube's paid subscription. It removes ads from videos, lets videos keep playing in the background on mobile, allows offline downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium. In the US it costs $15.99 per month for one person, with cheaper Family, Student and Premium Lite plans. Prices vary by country, so always check your local price before you pay.
Key takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes ads, adds background play and downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium.
- US prices: Individual $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, Family $26.99 a month, Student $8.99 a month, Premium Lite $8.99 a month.
- Premium Lite is cheaper but keeps ads on music and Shorts and drops downloads and background play.
- A Family plan beats two Individual plans the moment a second person in the household would pay anyway.
Almost everyone watches YouTube, and almost everyone has been interrupted by an ad in the middle of a video they were enjoying. YouTube Premium exists to remove that interruption, and it bundles a few genuinely useful extras with it. This guide covers what you actually get, what each plan costs, and how to decide whether it is worth paying for.
What YouTube Premium includes
Ad-free videos. The headline benefit: no pre-roll, mid-roll or banner ads on YouTube and YouTube Kids. Creators still get paid from your subscription, so watching ad-free does not take money away from the channels you like.
Background play. On mobile, videos keep playing when you switch to another app or lock your screen. This matters most for podcasts, long interviews, music and study videos, where YouTube otherwise stops the moment you leave the app.
Offline downloads. Save videos to your phone or tablet and watch them without an internet connection, useful for flights, commutes and areas with patchy coverage. Downloaded videos sit inside the YouTube app and need a periodic online check to stay available.
YouTube Music Premium. A full Premium subscription includes the music service: ad-free music, background play and downloads in the YouTube Music app, plus music videos without ads. If you already pay for a separate music app, this is the benefit most likely to let you cancel something else.
YouTube Originals and extras. Premium members also get access to YouTube's own programming where available, along with features like picture-in-picture on supported devices. The exact extras vary by country, so the four benefits above are the ones to judge the plan on.
YouTube Premium plans and prices
Prices below are YouTube's US list prices as reported in October 2026. YouTube prices differ a lot by country, and it raised US prices during 2026, so confirm the price shown for your own account at youtube.com/premium before you commit. New members usually get a one-month free trial, although eligibility restrictions apply if you have had Premium before.
| Plan | US price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Individual, monthly | $15.99 / month | One person, full Premium benefits |
| Individual, annual | $159.99 / year | One person, paid upfront; works out to about $13.33 a month |
| Family | $26.99 / month | You plus up to 5 family members aged 13+ in the same household |
| Student | $8.99 / month | Eligible students, verified every year |
| Premium Lite | $8.99 / month | Viewers who mainly want fewer ads on most videos |
| YouTube Music Premium | $11.99 / month | Music only, without ad-free general YouTube videos |
The annual Individual plan is the quiet bargain of the list: $159.99 a year saves roughly $32 against paying monthly, but it does not renew automatically, so you need to renew it yourself at the end of the year. The Family plan is the best value per person: split six ways it works out to about $4.50 each, and it beats two Individual plans as soon as a second person in the house would pay for Premium anyway.
Premium Lite: the cheaper option, with catches
Premium Lite, at $8.99 a month in the US, removes ads from most videos, but YouTube is explicit about the gaps: ads can still appear on music content and Shorts, and when you search or browse. It also leaves out YouTube Music Premium, offline downloads and background play. That makes Lite a reasonable pick if you mostly watch regular videos on a TV or desktop and never listen to music on YouTube, but a poor one if you want the full mobile experience. Note that Lite plus a separate Music Premium subscription costs more than full Premium, so do not stack the two.
YouTube Free vs YouTube Premium: quick comparison
| Feature | YouTube Free | YouTube Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Ads on videos | Yes, before and during videos | No ads |
| Background play on mobile | No, playback stops | Yes |
| Offline downloads | No | Yes |
| YouTube Music Premium | No, music has ads | Included |
| Picture-in-picture | Limited | Yes, on supported devices |
Is YouTube Premium worth it?
Start with how you actually watch. If YouTube is your daily habit, especially on a phone, Premium changes the experience every single day: no ad breaks, audio that keeps playing while you do other things, and downloads for offline time. Heavy viewers usually notice the difference within a week, and the free trial exists precisely so you can test that before paying.
It is harder to justify if you watch a few videos a week on a TV, where ads are shorter and less disruptive, or if you already pay for another music service and would not use YouTube Music. In that case, try the trial, watch normally for a month, and cancel if you do not miss it. There is no contract, and cancelling keeps Premium running until the end of your billing period.
One more check before you subscribe: students should verify their status for the Student plan, and households should price the Family plan first, since one Family subscription usually replaces several Individual ones.
YouTube Premium pros and cons
Pros
- Completely ad-free watching, including on mobile
- Background play and downloads transform phone viewing
- YouTube Music Premium included, so it can replace a music subscription
- Family plan is excellent value per person
Cons
- US prices rose during 2026 and vary by country
- Premium Lite keeps ads on music and Shorts
- Downloads live inside the YouTube app, not as files you own
- Student plan needs yearly verification and is time-limited
Getting YouTube Premium through CodeX Link
YouTube Premium is available through the CodeX Link marketplace. Because YouTube's prices vary by country and change over time, confirm the current price with the team on WhatsApp before ordering, and they will guide you through payment and activation.
How to order
- Choose YouTube Premium on the marketplace.
- Message the team on WhatsApp to confirm the price, plan and activation steps.
- Complete activation and start watching ad-free.
Frequently asked questions
How much does YouTube Premium cost?
In the US, YouTube Premium costs $15.99 per month for an Individual plan, or $159.99 for a 12-month annual plan. Prices vary by country, so check youtube.com/premium for your local price.
What is the difference between YouTube Premium and free YouTube?
Premium removes ads from videos, adds background play and offline downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium. Free YouTube shows ads, stops playing when you leave the app on mobile, and does not include downloads.
Is YouTube Premium worth it?
It is worth it if you watch YouTube daily, especially on mobile, and ads interrupt you often. If you watch occasionally on a TV or desktop, the free version is usually enough.
How much is the YouTube Premium Family plan?
In the US, the Family plan costs $26.99 per month and covers you plus up to 5 family members aged 13 and over in the same household, each with their own account.
What is YouTube Premium Lite?
Premium Lite is a cheaper plan, $8.99 per month in the US, that removes ads from most videos but keeps ads on music content and Shorts, and does not include YouTube Music Premium, downloads or background play.
Can students get YouTube Premium cheaper?
Yes. Eligible students pay $8.99 per month in the US after verifying their student status, with verification repeated every year. Student memberships are time-limited, so check the current terms before signing up.
Does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music?
Yes. A full YouTube Premium subscription includes YouTube Music Premium, so you get ad-free music, background play and downloads in the YouTube Music app as well.
How do I get YouTube Premium through CodeX Link?
Message the CodeX Link team on WhatsApp to confirm the current price and plan, and they will guide you through payment and activation.
Interested in YouTube Premium?
Chat with the CodeX Link team for the current price and activation details, or browse every tool in the marketplace.
Product names and logos belong to their respective owners. Features and plan details change over time, so confirm the current terms with the provider before you buy.