Is YouTube Premium Worth It? Here's What You Should Know

What Is YouTube Premium, Anyway?

YouTube Premium is YouTube’s subscription service that gives you a bunch of extra perks for a monthly fee. The main selling points?

• No ads. Ever. (Seriously.)
• Watch videos offline
• Play videos in the background (yes, you can finally close the app!)
• Access to YouTube Music Premium
• Some exclusive content (but we’ll talk about that in a bit)

It’s kind of like Spotify Premium meets Netflix, but specifically for the YouTube world.

What You Get With YouTube Premium

1. Ad-Free Videos

Let’s start with the biggest one: no ads. No pre-rolls, no mid-rolls, no banner pop-ups. Just clean, uninterrupted video. If you watch a lot of long videos, this alone is worth it.

2. Background Play

Ever try to listen to a podcast or music video on YouTube while doing something else on your phone, only for it to stop the second you switch apps? With Premium, that’s no longer a problem. You can minimize YouTube or even lock your phone and it’ll keep playing.

3. Offline Downloads

You can download videos straight to your phone and watch them offline. Super useful for travel, flights, or just avoiding using mobile data.

4. YouTube Music Premium

This is a full-blown music streaming app, included in your Premium subscription. Think Spotify, but with access to official songs and remixes, fan covers, and more from YouTube.

5. YouTube Originals

YouTube also has a collection of original shows and movies. It’s not a massive library, and honestly, most people don’t subscribe just for this—but it’s there if you want to explore.

How Much Does It Cost?

As of 2025, here’s what you’re looking at:

• Individual Plan: $13.99/month
• Family Plan: $22.99/month (up to 5 family members)
• Student Plan: $7.99/month

There’s also usually a 1-month free trial, so you can try it before committing.

My Honest Take: Is It Worth It?

Here’s when YouTube Premium is totally worth it:

• You watch a lot of YouTube—like daily or for long periods
• You hate ads with a passion
• You use YouTube as your main music app
• You often listen to content in the background (e.g., lectures, podcasts)
• You want downloads for offline viewing while commuting or flying

And here’s when it might not be worth it:

• You only watch a couple of videos a week
• Ads don’t really bother you
• You already pay for another music service like Spotify or Apple Music
• You don’t care about offline playback or background listening

Bonus: Creators Still Get Paid

One cool thing is that creators still earn money when you watch their videos with Premium. Instead of ad revenue, YouTube splits a portion of your subscription fee based on what you watch. So if you’re worried about not supporting your favorite YouTubers by skipping ads—don’t be. They’re still getting paid.

Tips Before You Subscribe

• Use the free trial first. Try it for a month and see how often you actually use the Premium features.
• Check your habits. If you're mostly on YouTube for music, maybe try YouTube Music separately.
• Consider the family plan. If others in your household also use YouTube a lot, the family plan offers better value.

Final Thoughts

YouTube Premium isn’t for everyone—but for the right kind of user, it’s amazing. If you’re watching YouTube every day, listening to music, or just want a smoother, ad-free experience, it can absolutely be worth the cost.

Personally? I can't imagine going back to regular YouTube. Once you get used to background play and no ads, it's really hard to give that up.