Is YouTube Premium Worth It in 2026? Honest Review

YouTube Premium is worth it if you watch more than 2 hours of YouTube daily and use YouTube Music as your primary streaming service. At $13.99/month, you save roughly 25-40 minutes daily from skipped ads, get full YouTube Music access (normally $10.99/month separately), and gain offline downloads plus background play. For light viewers watching under 1 hour daily, it's harder to justify the cost.

Key Takeaways

• YouTube Premium costs $13.99/month ($139.99/year) and includes ad-free viewing + YouTube Music
• Heavy YouTube users save 25-40 minutes daily by skipping ads
• YouTube Music Premium alone costs $10.99/month, making Premium only $3 more for additional features
• Family plan at $22.99/month covers 5 people—excellent value at $4.60/person
• Student plan at $7.99/month is the best deal if you qualify
• The main decision factor is how much YouTube you watch and whether you'd use YouTube Music

YouTube Premium Plans and Pricing (2026)

Regional Pricing Note

Prices vary by country. Some regions pay significantly less:

• US: $13.99/month
• India: ~$1.60/month
• Argentina: ~$1.20/month
• UK: £12.99/month

What You Get with YouTube Premium

1. Ad-Free Viewing

The Primary Benefit

YouTube shows approximately 5-8 ads per hour of viewing. Premium eliminates all:

• Pre-roll ads (before videos)
• Mid-roll ads (during videos)
• Post-roll ads (after videos)
• Banner ads and overlays

Time Saved:

Monetary Value Calculation:

If your time is worth $20/hour and you watch 2 hours daily:

• Time saved: ~20 minutes/day = 10 hours/month
• Value: 10 hours × $20 = $200/month
• Cost: $13.99/month
• ROI: Extremely positive for heavy viewers

2. YouTube Music Premium (Included)

YouTube Premium includes full access to YouTube Music, which normally costs $10.99/month.

YouTube Music Features:

Why YouTube Music Is Unique:

• Contains every song on YouTube (covers, remixes, live versions)
• Great for finding rare music not on Spotify/Apple Music
• Integrates with your YouTube recommendations
• Lyrics support and music videos included

YouTube Music vs Competitors:

3. Background Play

Play videos with your screen off or while using other apps.

Use Cases:

• Listen to podcasts on YouTube
• Play music from YouTube while multitasking
• Listen to educational content during commute
• Save battery by turning off screen

Who Benefits Most:

• Podcast listeners who use YouTube
• Music listeners using YouTube Music
• People who listen to long-form content while working
• Mobile users who multitask

4. Offline Downloads

Download videos to watch without internet.

Practical Applications:

• Airplane flights
• Subway commutes (no signal)
• Remote areas
• Saving mobile data
• Kids content for road trips

Download Quality Options:

Limitations:

• Downloads expire after 30 days
• Must reconnect online periodically
• Not available for all videos (creator opt-out)
• Storage depends on device

5. Picture-in-Picture (PIP)

Watch videos in a small floating window while using other apps.

Available On:

• iOS (with Premium)
• Android (free in some regions, Premium elsewhere)
• Computers (browser feature)

6. YouTube Originals

Access to YouTube's exclusive content.

Who Should Get YouTube Premium?

YouTube Premium IS Worth It For:

Heavy Viewers (3+ hours/day)

• Ad time saved: 30-60+ minutes daily
• Clear ROI on subscription cost
• Better viewing experience

YouTube Music Users

• Already paying for music streaming? Switch and save $7/month
• Prefer YouTube Music's catalog (rare tracks, live versions)
• Want integrated music + video experience

Families with Kids

• Kids' content has heavy ad loads
• YouTube Kids benefits from Premium
• Family plan: $4.60/person is excellent value

Commuters & Travelers

• Offline downloads are genuinely useful
• Background play for podcast-style content
• Saves mobile data

Professionals Using YouTube for Learning

• Uninterrupted educational content
• Better focus without ad breaks
• Background listening while working

YouTube Premium is NOT Worth It For:

Light Viewers (<1 hour/day)

• Limited ad exposure already
• Hard to justify monthly cost
• Free tier is acceptable

Ad Blocker Users

• Already getting ad-free (on desktop)
• Lose other benefits though
• Consider ethics of ad blocking

Non-YouTube Music Users

• Already subscribe to Spotify/Apple Music?
• Music benefit is wasted
• Unless you'd switch services

Budget-Conscious Users

• $167/year adds up
• Free alternatives exist
• Prioritize other subscriptions

Alternatives to YouTube Premium

Free Alternatives

Budget-Friendly Legal Options

Student Plan ($7.99/month)

• 43% discount if you qualify
• Requires SheerID verification
• Up to 4 years

Family Plan ($22.99/month)

• $4.60/person with 5 members
• Same household requirement
• Best per-person value

Annual Plan ($139.99/year)

• Saves $27.89 vs monthly
• 17% discount
• Commitment required

Regional Pricing (VPN)

• Some users subscribe through cheaper regions
• Against ToS (risk of ban)
• Not recommended

YouTube Premium Cost-Benefit Analysis

Break-Even Calculation

Assumptions:

• Average ad length: 20 seconds
• Ads per hour: 6
• Your time value: $15/hour

Math:

• Time saved per hour: 2 minutes (6 ads × 20 seconds)
• Hours needed to save $13.99 worth of time at $15/hr: 7 hours
• At 2 minutes saved per hour, break-even: ~420 hours = 14 hours/day

Realistic Analysis:

The math doesn't work on pure time value for most people. The real value comes from:

1. 1.Quality of Experience - No interruptions
2. 2.YouTube Music - $10.99 value included
3. 3.Convenience - Background play, downloads
4. 4.Supporting Creators - Premium views pay more than ads

Value Per Dollar

For most regular users, the combined value exceeds the cost.

YouTube Premium vs YouTube Music Premium

How to Get YouTube Premium

Sign Up Process

Free Trial

• New users typically get 1-2 month free trial
• Credit card required but not charged until trial ends
• Cancel anytime before trial ends
• Can only use trial once per payment method

Cancel Anytime

YouTube Premium is month-to-month (or annual). To cancel:

You keep benefits until the end of your billing period.

• Watch 2+ hours of YouTube daily
• Would use YouTube Music as your primary streaming service
• Value the convenience of background play and offline downloads
• Want to support creators more than ad views do

It's probably not worth it if you:

• Watch less than 1 hour of YouTube daily
• Already subscribe to Spotify/Apple Music
• Primarily watch on desktop with an ad blocker
• Are on a tight budget

My Recommendation:

1. 1.Try the free trial (usually 1-2 months)
2. 2.Track your usage during the trial
3. 3.Evaluate the music benefit - would you switch from Spotify/Apple Music?
4. 4.Consider the family plan if you have household members who watch YouTube

For heavy YouTube users, Premium pays for itself in saved time and improved experience. For occasional viewers, the free tier remains perfectly functional.

Related Resources:

• YouTube Music Library Complete Guide
• YouTube Ad Blocker Guide
• YouTube Partner Program Overview