YouTube Premium is the safer, more reliable choice that supports creators and works on all devices. ReVanced (the Vanced successor) is free but requires technical setup, violates Terms of Service, only works on Android, and doesn't compensate creators. Your choice depends on budget, technical comfort, device usage, and ethics.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium: $13.99/mo, all devices, supports creators, 100% reliable
- ReVanced: Free, Android only, ToS violation, no creator compensation
- Premium includes YouTube Music ($10.99 value); ReVanced doesn't
- ReVanced has extra features (SponsorBlock, dislikes) Premium lacks
- Premium requires no setup; ReVanced requires patching knowledge
- Family Premium ($4.60/person) makes cost comparison closer
Feature Comparison
Core Features
| Feature | Premium | ReVanced |
|---|
| Ad-free videos | ✅ | ✅ |
| Background play | ✅ | ✅ |
| Video downloads | ✅ | ✅ |
| Picture-in-picture | ✅ | ✅ |
| High quality audio | ✅ | ✅ |
Exclusive to Premium
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| YouTube Music | Full streaming service included |
| All devices | Works on TV, iOS, web, consoles |
| Creator support | Creators paid for your views |
| Instant updates | Automatic, seamless |
| ToS compliance | No account risk |
Exclusive to ReVanced
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| SponsorBlock | Auto-skip sponsored segments |
| Return dislikes | Shows dislike counts |
| Custom speeds | More playback speed options |
| Free | No monthly cost |
| Open source | Community-driven development |
Cost Analysis
YouTube Premium Costs
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|
| Individual | $13.99 | $139.99 |
| Family (5) | $22.99 | ~$275 |
| Per-person (Family) | $4.60 | ~$55 |
| Student | $7.99 | N/A |
ReVanced Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|
| App | Free |
| Setup time | 30-60 minutes |
| Maintenance | Occasional repatching |
| Hidden cost | No creator support |
True Cost Comparison
Premium value includes:
- Ad-free YouTube: ~$10/mo value
- YouTube Music: $10.99/mo value
- Total value: ~$21/mo for $13.99
ReVanced hidden costs:
- Time spent on setup/updates
- Potential account risks
- No YouTube Music equivalent
- Doesn't work on all devices
Reliability Comparison
YouTube Premium Reliability
| Aspect | Rating | Notes |
|---|
| Uptime | 100% | Always works |
| Updates | Automatic | No action needed |
| Compatibility | Perfect | Official app |
| Account safety | 100% | No ToS issues |
ReVanced Reliability
| Aspect | Rating | Notes |
|---|
| Uptime | ~95% | Breaks occasionally |
| Updates | Manual | Requires repatching |
| Compatibility | Varies | Some YouTube features may break |
| Account safety | ~98% | Small ToS risk |
Device Support
Where Premium Works
| Device | Supported |
|---|
| Android | ✅ |
| iPhone/iPad | ✅ |
| Web browsers | ✅ |
| Smart TVs | ✅ |
| Roku/Fire TV | ✅ |
| PlayStation/Xbox | ✅ |
| Google Home | ✅ |
Where ReVanced Works
| Device | Supported |
|---|
| Android | ✅ |
| iPhone/iPad | ❌ |
| Web browsers | ❌ |
| Smart TVs | ❌ |
| Streaming devices | ❌ |
| Consoles | ❌ |
If you use YouTube on multiple devices, Premium is the only option that covers everything.
Ethical Considerations
Supporting Creators
YouTube Premium:
- Creators earn revenue from Premium views
- Premium views pay MORE than ad views
- Supports the YouTube ecosystem
- Allows creators to make a living
ReVanced:
- Creators earn $0 from your views
- Equivalent to watching pirated content
- Doesn't support the ecosystem
- May harm creators you enjoy
Terms of Service
YouTube Premium:
- 100% ToS compliant
- No risk to your account
- Legitimate use
ReVanced:
- Explicitly violates ToS
- Theoretical account risk
- Google could enforce at any time
User Experience Comparison
Setup Experience
Premium:
- 1.Go to youtube.com/premium
- 2.Choose plan
- 3.Enter payment
- 4.Done (2 minutes)
ReVanced:
- 1.Download ReVanced Manager
- 2.Download GmsCore
- 3.Get compatible YouTube APK
- 4.Patch the APK
- 5.Install patched app
- 6.Configure settings
(30-60 minutes, technical knowledge needed)
Daily Use
Premium:
- Open YouTube, everything works
- No maintenance needed
- Same app, same interface
- Updates automatic
ReVanced:
- Open ReVanced app
- Mostly works like YouTube
- Occasional bugs/breaks
- Manual updates needed
Who Should Choose What?
Choose YouTube Premium If:
✅ You watch YouTube on multiple devices
✅ You want YouTube Music included
✅ You value simplicity and reliability
✅ You want to support creators
✅ You're not technically inclined
✅ You use iOS or Smart TV
✅ Family plan makes it affordable
✅ You don't want account risks
Choose ReVanced If:
✅ You ONLY use Android
✅ You're comfortable with technical setup
✅ You want SponsorBlock integration
✅ Budget is extremely tight
✅ You accept ToS violation risks
✅ You don't mind occasional maintenance
✅ You'll support creators other ways
Hybrid Approach
Some users combine both approaches:
Option 1: Premium + SponsorBlock Browser Extension
- Use Premium for ad-free
- Use SponsorBlock extension on desktop
- Best of both worlds on computer
Option 2: ReVanced + Direct Creator Support
- Use ReVanced to avoid ads
- Support favorite creators via Patreon, memberships, merch
- Ethically balances free viewing
Q1Is YouTube Premium worth it over ReVanced?
If you use multiple devices, want YouTube Music, or value simplicity and creator support, Premium is worth it. Family plan at $4.60/person is particularly good value. ReVanced only makes sense for Android-only, budget-conscious, technically comfortable users.
Q2Does ReVanced have features Premium doesn't?
Yes. ReVanced has SponsorBlock (skips sponsor segments), Return YouTube Dislikes, more playback speeds, and other patches. Premium focuses on ad-free experience and YouTube Music, not extra features.
Q3Can I use both Premium and ReVanced?
Technically yes, but there's no reason to. Premium already removes ads, and ReVanced's ad blocking would be redundant. The only benefit would be ReVanced's extra features like SponsorBlock.
Q4Will my YouTube account get banned for using ReVanced?
Unlikely but possible. Google hasn't mass-banned ReVanced users, but it violates ToS and Google could change enforcement at any time. Premium users have zero account risk.
Q5Is the Family plan good value compared to ReVanced?
Yes. At $22.99 for 5 people ($4.60/person), the Family plan is excellent value, especially considering YouTube Music inclusion, multi-device support, and creator support. Individual plan is harder to justify against free alternatives.
Q6Do creators actually make money from Premium views?
Yes. YouTube pays creators from a portion of Premium subscription revenue based on watch time. Premium views typically pay MORE per view than ad-supported views, making Premium users more valuable to creators.
The clear answer depends on your situation:
| Your Situation | Recommendation |
|---|
| Multi-device user | Premium |
| Family household | Premium Family |
| Student | Premium Student |
| Android-only, tight budget | ReVanced |
| Technical user, extra features needed | ReVanced |
| Creator/professional | Premium |
| Want YouTube Music | Premium |
| Values supporting creators | Premium |
YouTube Premium is the better choice for most users due to reliability, multi-device support, YouTube Music, and creator support. ReVanced is a viable free alternative for technically comfortable Android users who accept the trade-offs.
Related Resources:
- YouTube Premium Complete Review
- YouTube ReVanced Setup Guide
- YouTube Vanced Alternatives