🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 181 (from laksa153)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa181.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/youtube-premium-review\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/youtube-premium-review\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/streaming\/youtube-premium-review","crawl_time":1774877329,"first_indexed_time":1649709100,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,businessinsider!www,\/guides\/streaming\/youtube-premium-review s443","src_root_hash":"15170859634011428381","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"YouTube Premium Review: Price, Features, and Is It Worth It? - Business Insider","meta_descriptions":["YouTube Premium lets you watch videos and listen to music without ads for $12 a month. Here's why it's worth the money."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Sarah Saril\/Insider\nApr 11, 2022, 8:29 PM GMT\nAs someone who grew up on the internet, I've always been an avid watcher of\nYouTube\n. Over the years, the video-sharing service has become a noteworthy platform for content creators, and it has amassed a huge library of videos covering all topics.\nI often forgo watching shows and movies on other apps, like Netflix or\nHulu\n, in favor of some bite-size entertainment from popular YouTubers. But as much as I love watching the service, there is one key downside: the platform has evolved from a no-cost, commercial-free website to one full of ads.\nThough YouTube's videos are still free to watch, you often have to sit through commercials before and, in some cases, during your stream. That is, unless you pay $12 a month for\nYouTube Premium\n. \nThough I held off for a while, I ultimately bit the bullet and made the switch to YouTube Premium. Now, there's simply no going back. The Premium plan only comes with four primary benefits, but depending on how much you use the service, these perks can add up to an essential upgrade.\nAd-free viewing\nSarah Saril\/Insider\nThis is the big one. Ads on streaming services make it feel like you're just watching cable with commercials, and that's no fun. It's even worse when using YouTube to listen to a music playlist on your phone since ads distract between each song. \nPremium skips the ads altogether. Since subscribing, I'm sure I've gotten back hours and hours of time that would have gone straight into commercials.\nIt's also worth mentioning that you aren't shorting your favorite YouTube channels by skipping ads — content creators on the platform still get revenue from Premium subscription viewers. \nBackground play\nSarah Saril\/Insider\nThough YouTube clumps this one with ad-free viewing as a benefit, I think it's worth its own mention. Background play means that you can lock your phone or switch to another app, and your video's audio will keep playing. \nThis comes in handy during long drives where I need a navigation app, but still want to listen to that one album on YouTube that's no longer on Spotify. I'm looking at you \"\nWithout My Enemy What Would I Do\n\" by Made in Heights. Other streams that are primarily audio-based, like video essays and ASMR, also make for good background play.\nDownloads\nSarah Saril\/Insider\nI only use this feature a handful of times a year, but it really comes in clutch when I do. YouTube Premium gives you the ability to download videos on your mobile device for viewing later when you have no internet connection. I find this especially helpful for long plane flights — I use it to save up some viewing material I want to watch.\nYouTube Music Premium\nSarah Saril\/Insider\nYouTube Premium also includes YouTube's\nmusic streaming service\nbuilt right into its subscription. YouTube Music normally costs $10 a month, so its inclusion with YouTube Premium is a huge plus.\nYouTube Music isn't the best service of its kind, but it's good enough to eliminate your Spotify or Apple Music subs if you're cutting costs. \nRemember that Made in Heights album that I can no longer find on Spotify? I can listen to the whole album here, with a familiar music player interface that just makes sense. You can also download albums for offline-listening.\nIs YouTube Premium worth it?\nSarah Saril\/Insider\nIf you're like me and you use YouTube multiple times a day, YouTube Premium is definitely a worthwhile investment. \nThe time I've saved on ads alone make it worth $12 a month. When you add in the fact that YouTube Premium comes with YouTube Music — which normally costs $10 a month on its own — the service becomes even more of a no-brainer.\nSubscribing also supports content creators in a way that other streaming services don't. YouTube Premium views count toward a YouTuber's revenue, the same way that ad views pay them. \nIf you have other interested users in your household, you can also opt for a family plan. My husband and I share a\nfamily account\n, which means we pay $18\/month for the two of us — that's $6 less per month compared to when we were subscribed individually.\nDoes YouTube Premium have a free trial?\nYes! If you want to see just how much you'd actually use the service, new subscribers can give\nYouTube Premium\na free shot for a whole month. Afterward, it'll be $12 a month.\nSarah Saril\nEditor, Deals and Tickets\nSarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts.\nExperience\nSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. \nShe began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. \nFollowing her weekly contributions to\nBusiness Insider’s Newsletter\nwill illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. \nWhy you can trust Sarah\nSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.\nExpertise\nDeal hunting and vetting\nE-readers\nGaming accessories\nSmart home devices\nConcert tickets\nTravel bookings\nStreaming services \nEducation\nSarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake).\nSay hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at\nssaril@businessinsider.com\n, or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. \nLearn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here\n.\nRead more\nRead less\nBack to Top\nA white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page'.\nRead next","attrs_markdown":"[Subscribe](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/subscription)\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/subscription\/newsletter)\n\n[Business](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/business)\n\n[Strategy](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/strategy)\n\n[Economy](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/economy)\n\n[Finance](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/finance)\n\n[Retail](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/retail)\n\n[Advertising](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/advertising)\n\n[Careers](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/careers)\n\n[Law](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/law)\n\n[Media](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/media)\n\n[Real Estate](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/real-estate)\n\n[Small Business](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/smallbusiness)\n\n[The Better Work Project](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/sc\/introducing-the-better-work-project-hub)\n\n[Personal Finance](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/personal-finance)\n\n[Tech](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/tech)\n\n[Science](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/science)\n\n[AI](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/artificial-intelligence)\n\n[Enterprise](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/enterprise)\n\n[Transportation](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/transportation)\n\n[Startups](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/startups)\n\n[Innovation](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/innovation)\n\n[Markets](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/)\n\n[Stocks](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/stocks)\n\n[Indices](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/indices)\n\n[Commodities](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/commodities)\n\n[Crypto](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/cryptocurrencies)\n\n[Currencies](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/currencies)\n\n[ETFs](https:\/\/markets.businessinsider.com\/etfs)\n\n[Lifestyle](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/lifestyle)\n\n[Entertainment](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/entertainment)\n\n[Culture](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/culture)\n\n[Travel](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/travel)\n\n[Food](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/food)\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/health)\n\n[Education](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/education)\n\n[Parenting](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/parenting)\n\n[Military & Defense](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/defense)\n\n[Politics](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/politics)\n\n[Reviews](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides)\n\n[Home](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/home)\n\n[Kitchen](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/kitchen)\n\n[Style](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/style)\n\n[Streaming](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/streaming)\n\n[Pets](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/pets)\n\n[Tech](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/tech)\n\n[Deals](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/deals)\n\n[Gifts](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/gifts)\n\n[Tickets](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/tickets)\n\n[Video](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/video)\n\n[Big Business](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/big-business)\n\n[So Expensive](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/so-expensive)\n\n[View From Above](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/view-from-above)\n\n[Small Business](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/small-business)\n\n[Authorized Account](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/authorized-account)\n\n[Risky Business](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/risky-business)\n\n[Boot Camp](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/boot-camp)\n\n[Still Standing](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/still-standing)\n\n[How Crime Works](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/how-crime-works)\n\n[Life Lessons](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/show\/life-lessons)\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/subscription)\n\n[My account]()\n\n[Log in]()\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/subscription\/newsletter)\n\nUS edition\n\n[Deutschland & Österreich](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.de\/?IR=C)\n\n[España](https:\/\/businessinsider.es\/)\n\n[Japan](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.jp\/)\n\n[Polska](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com.pl\/?IR=C)\n\n[TW 全球中文版](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.tw\/)\n\n[Get the app](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/app \"Get the Business Insider app\")\n\n[Reviews](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides)\n\n[Streaming](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/streaming)\n# YouTube Premium is an essential upgrade for frequent users — it offers ad-free playback, downloads, and music streaming\nWritten by   [Sarah Saril](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/author\/sarah-saril)  edited by [Steven Cohen](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/author\/steven-cohen)\n\nWhen you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/about-us)\n\n![side by side youtube premium on a tv and on a mobile phone](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625095b0ee61990018ddddb4?width=700)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nApr 11, 2022, 8:29 PM GMT\n\nShare\n\nCopy link\n\n[Email](<mailto:?subject=YouTube Premium is an essential upgrade for frequent users — it offers ad-free playback, downloads, and music streaming&body=YouTube%20Premium%20is%20an%20essential%20upgrade%20for%20frequent%20users%20%E2%80%94%20it%20offers%20ad-free%20playback%2C%20downloads%2C%20and%20music%20streaming%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fguides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&> \"Email\")\n\nFacebook\n\nWhatsApp\n\nX\n\nLinkedIn\n\nBluesky\n\nThreads\n\nAn icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.\n\nImpact Link\n\nSave Saved\n\n[Read in app](https:\/\/insider-app.onelink.me\/4cpG\/?af_js_web=true&af_ss_ver=2_3_0&af_dp=insider%3A%2F%2Fbi%2Fpost%2Fguides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&af_force_deeplink=true&is_retargeting=true&deep_link_value=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fguides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&pid=businessinsider&c=post_page_share_bar_v2_smart_4.13.23 \"Download the app\")\n\n[![YouTube Premium](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/605a1b820d155e0019ef637d?width=200&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/605a1b820d155e0019ef637d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https:\/\/affiliate.insider.com\/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium)\n\n[YouTube Premium](https:\/\/affiliate.insider.com\/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium)\n\n[Check price at YouTube](https:\/\/affiliate.insider.com\/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium)\n\nAs someone who grew up on the internet, I've always been an avid watcher of [YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/). Over the years, the video-sharing service has become a noteworthy platform for content creators, and it has amassed a huge library of videos covering all topics.\n\nI often forgo watching shows and movies on other apps, like Netflix or [Hulu](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/tech\/how-much-is-hulu), in favor of some bite-size entertainment from popular YouTubers. But as much as I love watching the service, there is one key downside: the platform has evolved from a no-cost, commercial-free website to one full of ads.\n\nThough YouTube's videos are still free to watch, you often have to sit through commercials before and, in some cases, during your stream. That is, unless you pay \\$12 a month for [YouTube Premium](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/premium).\n\nThough I held off for a while, I ultimately bit the bullet and made the switch to YouTube Premium. Now, there's simply no going back. The Premium plan only comes with four primary benefits, but depending on how much you use the service, these perks can add up to an essential upgrade.\n\n## Ad-free viewing\n![screencap of youtube withwendy sewing video for youtube premium](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625096a700ada10018fc2893?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625096a700ada10018fc2893?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nThis is the big one. Ads on streaming services make it feel like you're just watching cable with commercials, and that's no fun. It's even worse when using YouTube to listen to a music playlist on your phone since ads distract between each song.\n\nPremium skips the ads altogether. Since subscribing, I'm sure I've gotten back hours and hours of time that would have gone straight into commercials.\n\nIt's also worth mentioning that you aren't shorting your favorite YouTube channels by skipping ads — content creators on the platform still get revenue from Premium subscription viewers.\n\n## Background play\n![sarah's youtube premium stats showing her hours in ad-free, background play, and youtube music](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62509d30ee61990018dde106?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62509d30ee61990018dde106?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nThough YouTube clumps this one with ad-free viewing as a benefit, I think it's worth its own mention. Background play means that you can lock your phone or switch to another app, and your video's audio will keep playing.\n\nThis comes in handy during long drives where I need a navigation app, but still want to listen to that one album on YouTube that's no longer on Spotify. I'm looking at you \"[Without My Enemy What Would I Do](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLDyRBt5er0BH1Wty60yzwtmpHtSkO-Tmu)\" by Made in Heights. Other streams that are primarily audio-based, like video essays and ASMR, also make for good background play.\n\n## Downloads\n![side by side youtube premium downloads and sarah browsing her phone](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625098fc00ada10018fc2984?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625098fc00ada10018fc2984?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nI only use this feature a handful of times a year, but it really comes in clutch when I do. YouTube Premium gives you the ability to download videos on your mobile device for viewing later when you have no internet connection. I find this especially helpful for long plane flights — I use it to save up some viewing material I want to watch.\n\n## YouTube Music Premium\n![Youtube music app on someone's phone with youtube premium subscription](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6250993cee61990018dddf43?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6250993cee61990018dddf43?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nYouTube Premium also includes YouTube's [music streaming service](https:\/\/music.youtube.com\/music_premium) built right into its subscription. YouTube Music normally costs \\$10 a month, so its inclusion with YouTube Premium is a huge plus.\n\nYouTube Music isn't the best service of its kind, but it's good enough to eliminate your Spotify or Apple Music subs if you're cutting costs.\n\nRemember that Made in Heights album that I can no longer find on Spotify? I can listen to the whole album here, with a familiar music player interface that just makes sense. You can also download albums for offline-listening.\n\n## Is YouTube Premium worth it?\n![sarah browsing youtube music with her youtube premium account through the youtube app on smart TV](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62509a1400ada10018fc29e7?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62509a1400ada10018fc29e7?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nIf you're like me and you use YouTube multiple times a day, YouTube Premium is definitely a worthwhile investment.\n\nThe time I've saved on ads alone make it worth \\$12 a month. When you add in the fact that YouTube Premium comes with YouTube Music — which normally costs \\$10 a month on its own — the service becomes even more of a no-brainer.\n\nSubscribing also supports content creators in a way that other streaming services don't. YouTube Premium views count toward a YouTuber's revenue, the same way that ad views pay them.\n\nIf you have other interested users in your household, you can also opt for a family plan. My husband and I share a [family account](https:\/\/accounts.google.com\/ServiceLogin?service=youtube&uilel=3&passive=true&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fpremium%253Fybp%253DOgIICEoNCAYSCXVubGltaXRlZA%2525253D%2525253D&hl=en), which means we pay \\$18\/month for the two of us — that's \\$6 less per month compared to when we were subscribed individually.\n\n## Does YouTube Premium have a free trial?\nYes! If you want to see just how much you'd actually use the service, new subscribers can give [YouTube Premium](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/premium) a free shot for a whole month. Afterward, it'll be \\$12 a month.\n\n[Check price at YouTube](https:\/\/affiliate.insider.com\/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium)\n\n[![a picture of deals editor sarah saril](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69b857264d65ec51752a16c8?crop=1:1&width=256&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69b857264d65ec51752a16c8?crop=1:1&width=256&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/author\/sarah-saril)\n\n[Sarah Saril](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/author\/sarah-saril)\n\nEditor, Deals and Tickets\n\nSarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts.ExperienceSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to [Business Insider’s Newsletter](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/subscription\/newsletter\/insider-today) will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust SarahSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.Expertise\n\n- Deal hunting and vetting\n- E-readers\n- Gaming accessories\n- Smart home devices\n- Concert tickets\n- Travel bookings\n- Streaming services\n\nEducationSarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake).Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at [ssaril@businessinsider.com](mailto:ssaril@businessinsider.com), or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. [Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/insider-reviews-expertise-in-product-reviews).\n\nRead more\n\nRead less\n\nA white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. 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[Jump to top of page](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"![side by side youtube premium on a tv and on a mobile phone](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625095b0ee61990018ddddb4?width=700)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nApr 11, 2022, 8:29 PM GMT\n\n[![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/605a1b820d155e0019ef637d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https:\/\/affiliate.insider.com\/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium)\n\nAs someone who grew up on the internet, I've always been an avid watcher of [YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/). Over the years, the video-sharing service has become a noteworthy platform for content creators, and it has amassed a huge library of videos covering all topics.\n\nI often forgo watching shows and movies on other apps, like Netflix or [Hulu](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/guides\/tech\/how-much-is-hulu), in favor of some bite-size entertainment from popular YouTubers. But as much as I love watching the service, there is one key downside: the platform has evolved from a no-cost, commercial-free website to one full of ads.\n\nThough YouTube's videos are still free to watch, you often have to sit through commercials before and, in some cases, during your stream. That is, unless you pay \\$12 a month for [YouTube Premium](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/premium).\n\nThough I held off for a while, I ultimately bit the bullet and made the switch to YouTube Premium. Now, there's simply no going back. The Premium plan only comes with four primary benefits, but depending on how much you use the service, these perks can add up to an essential upgrade.\n\n## Ad-free viewing\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625096a700ada10018fc2893?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nThis is the big one. Ads on streaming services make it feel like you're just watching cable with commercials, and that's no fun. It's even worse when using YouTube to listen to a music playlist on your phone since ads distract between each song.\n\nPremium skips the ads altogether. Since subscribing, I'm sure I've gotten back hours and hours of time that would have gone straight into commercials.\n\nIt's also worth mentioning that you aren't shorting your favorite YouTube channels by skipping ads — content creators on the platform still get revenue from Premium subscription viewers.\n\n## Background play\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62509d30ee61990018dde106?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nThough YouTube clumps this one with ad-free viewing as a benefit, I think it's worth its own mention. Background play means that you can lock your phone or switch to another app, and your video's audio will keep playing.\n\nThis comes in handy during long drives where I need a navigation app, but still want to listen to that one album on YouTube that's no longer on Spotify. I'm looking at you \"[Without My Enemy What Would I Do](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLDyRBt5er0BH1Wty60yzwtmpHtSkO-Tmu)\" by Made in Heights. Other streams that are primarily audio-based, like video essays and ASMR, also make for good background play.\n\n## Downloads\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625098fc00ada10018fc2984?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nI only use this feature a handful of times a year, but it really comes in clutch when I do. YouTube Premium gives you the ability to download videos on your mobile device for viewing later when you have no internet connection. I find this especially helpful for long plane flights — I use it to save up some viewing material I want to watch.\n\n## YouTube Music Premium\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/6250993cee61990018dddf43?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nYouTube Premium also includes YouTube's [music streaming service](https:\/\/music.youtube.com\/music_premium) built right into its subscription. YouTube Music normally costs \\$10 a month, so its inclusion with YouTube Premium is a huge plus.\n\nYouTube Music isn't the best service of its kind, but it's good enough to eliminate your Spotify or Apple Music subs if you're cutting costs.\n\nRemember that Made in Heights album that I can no longer find on Spotify? I can listen to the whole album here, with a familiar music player interface that just makes sense. You can also download albums for offline-listening.\n\n## Is YouTube Premium worth it?\n![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62509a1400ada10018fc29e7?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)\n\nSarah Saril\/Insider\n\nIf you're like me and you use YouTube multiple times a day, YouTube Premium is definitely a worthwhile investment.\n\nThe time I've saved on ads alone make it worth \\$12 a month. When you add in the fact that YouTube Premium comes with YouTube Music — which normally costs \\$10 a month on its own — the service becomes even more of a no-brainer.\n\nSubscribing also supports content creators in a way that other streaming services don't. YouTube Premium views count toward a YouTuber's revenue, the same way that ad views pay them.\n\nIf you have other interested users in your household, you can also opt for a family plan. My husband and I share a [family account](https:\/\/accounts.google.com\/ServiceLogin?service=youtube&uilel=3&passive=true&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fpremium%253Fybp%253DOgIICEoNCAYSCXVubGltaXRlZA%2525253D%2525253D&hl=en), which means we pay \\$18\/month for the two of us — that's \\$6 less per month compared to when we were subscribed individually.\n\n## Does YouTube Premium have a free trial?\nYes! If you want to see just how much you'd actually use the service, new subscribers can give [YouTube Premium](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/premium) a free shot for a whole month. Afterward, it'll be \\$12 a month.\n\n[![](https:\/\/i.insider.com\/69b857264d65ec51752a16c8?crop=1:1&width=256&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/author\/sarah-saril)\n\n[Sarah Saril](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/author\/sarah-saril)\n\nEditor, Deals and Tickets\n\nSarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts.ExperienceSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to [Business Insider’s Newsletter](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/subscription\/newsletter\/insider-today) will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust SarahSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.Expertise\n\n- Deal hunting and vetting\n- E-readers\n- Gaming accessories\n- Smart home devices\n- Concert tickets\n- Travel bookings\n- Streaming services\n\nEducationSarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake).Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at [ssaril@businessinsider.com](mailto:ssaril@businessinsider.com), or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. [Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here](https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/insider-reviews-expertise-in-product-reviews).\n\nRead more Read less\n\nA white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page'.\n\nRead next","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Sarah Saril/Insider Apr 11, 2022, 8:29 PM GMT As someone who grew up on the internet, I've always been an avid watcher of YouTube . Over the years, the video-sharing service has become a noteworthy platform for content creators, and it has amassed a huge library of videos covering all topics. I often forgo watching shows and movies on other apps, like Netflix or Hulu , in favor of some bite-size entertainment from popular YouTubers. But as much as I love watching the service, there is one key downside: the platform has evolved from a no-cost, commercial-free website to one full of ads. Though YouTube's videos are still free to watch, you often have to sit through commercials before and, in some cases, during your stream. That is, unless you pay $12 a month for YouTube Premium . Though I held off for a while, I ultimately bit the bullet and made the switch to YouTube Premium. Now, there's simply no going back. The Premium plan only comes with four primary benefits, but depending on how much you use the service, these perks can add up to an essential upgrade. Ad-free viewing Sarah Saril/Insider This is the big one. Ads on streaming services make it feel like you're just watching cable with commercials, and that's no fun. It's even worse when using YouTube to listen to a music playlist on your phone since ads distract between each song. Premium skips the ads altogether. Since subscribing, I'm sure I've gotten back hours and hours of time that would have gone straight into commercials. It's also worth mentioning that you aren't shorting your favorite YouTube channels by skipping ads — content creators on the platform still get revenue from Premium subscription viewers. Background play Sarah Saril/Insider Though YouTube clumps this one with ad-free viewing as a benefit, I think it's worth its own mention. Background play means that you can lock your phone or switch to another app, and your video's audio will keep playing. This comes in handy during long drives where I need a navigation app, but still want to listen to that one album on YouTube that's no longer on Spotify. I'm looking at you " Without My Enemy What Would I Do " by Made in Heights. Other streams that are primarily audio-based, like video essays and ASMR, also make for good background play. Downloads Sarah Saril/Insider I only use this feature a handful of times a year, but it really comes in clutch when I do. YouTube Premium gives you the ability to download videos on your mobile device for viewing later when you have no internet connection. I find this especially helpful for long plane flights — I use it to save up some viewing material I want to watch. YouTube Music Premium Sarah Saril/Insider YouTube Premium also includes YouTube's music streaming service built right into its subscription. YouTube Music normally costs $10 a month, so its inclusion with YouTube Premium is a huge plus. YouTube Music isn't the best service of its kind, but it's good enough to eliminate your Spotify or Apple Music subs if you're cutting costs. Remember that Made in Heights album that I can no longer find on Spotify? I can listen to the whole album here, with a familiar music player interface that just makes sense. You can also download albums for offline-listening. Is YouTube Premium worth it? Sarah Saril/Insider If you're like me and you use YouTube multiple times a day, YouTube Premium is definitely a worthwhile investment. The time I've saved on ads alone make it worth $12 a month. When you add in the fact that YouTube Premium comes with YouTube Music — which normally costs $10 a month on its own — the service becomes even more of a no-brainer. Subscribing also supports content creators in a way that other streaming services don't. YouTube Premium views count toward a YouTuber's revenue, the same way that ad views pay them. If you have other interested users in your household, you can also opt for a family plan. My husband and I share a family account , which means we pay $18/month for the two of us — that's $6 less per month compared to when we were subscribed individually. Does YouTube Premium have a free trial? Yes! If you want to see just how much you'd actually use the service, new subscribers can give YouTube Premium a free shot for a whole month. Afterward, it'll be $12 a month. Sarah Saril Editor, Deals and Tickets Sarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts. Experience Sarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to Business Insider’s Newsletter will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust Sarah Sarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings. Expertise Deal hunting and vetting E-readers Gaming accessories Smart home devices Concert tickets Travel bookings Streaming services Education Sarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake). Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at ssaril@businessinsider.com , or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here . Read more Read less Back to Top A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It indicates 'click here to go back to the top of the page'. Read next
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[Learn more](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/about-us) ![side by side youtube premium on a tv and on a mobile phone](https://i.insider.com/625095b0ee61990018ddddb4?width=700) Sarah Saril/Insider Apr 11, 2022, 8:29 PM GMT Share Copy link [Email](<mailto:?subject=YouTube Premium is an essential upgrade for frequent users — it offers ad-free playback, downloads, and music streaming&body=YouTube%20Premium%20is%20an%20essential%20upgrade%20for%20frequent%20users%20%E2%80%94%20it%20offers%20ad-free%20playback%2C%20downloads%2C%20and%20music%20streaming%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fguides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&> "Email") Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved [Read in app](https://insider-app.onelink.me/4cpG/?af_js_web=true&af_ss_ver=2_3_0&af_dp=insider%3A%2F%2Fbi%2Fpost%2Fguides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&af_force_deeplink=true&is_retargeting=true&deep_link_value=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fguides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&pid=businessinsider&c=post_page_share_bar_v2_smart_4.13.23 "Download the app") [![YouTube Premium](https://i.insider.com/605a1b820d155e0019ef637d?width=200&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/605a1b820d155e0019ef637d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https://affiliate.insider.com/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium) [YouTube Premium](https://affiliate.insider.com/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium) [Check price at YouTube](https://affiliate.insider.com/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium) As someone who grew up on the internet, I've always been an avid watcher of [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/). Over the years, the video-sharing service has become a noteworthy platform for content creators, and it has amassed a huge library of videos covering all topics. I often forgo watching shows and movies on other apps, like Netflix or [Hulu](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-much-is-hulu), in favor of some bite-size entertainment from popular YouTubers. But as much as I love watching the service, there is one key downside: the platform has evolved from a no-cost, commercial-free website to one full of ads. Though YouTube's videos are still free to watch, you often have to sit through commercials before and, in some cases, during your stream. That is, unless you pay \$12 a month for [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium). Though I held off for a while, I ultimately bit the bullet and made the switch to YouTube Premium. Now, there's simply no going back. The Premium plan only comes with four primary benefits, but depending on how much you use the service, these perks can add up to an essential upgrade. ## Ad-free viewing ![screencap of youtube withwendy sewing video for youtube premium](https://i.insider.com/625096a700ada10018fc2893?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/625096a700ada10018fc2893?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider This is the big one. Ads on streaming services make it feel like you're just watching cable with commercials, and that's no fun. It's even worse when using YouTube to listen to a music playlist on your phone since ads distract between each song. Premium skips the ads altogether. Since subscribing, I'm sure I've gotten back hours and hours of time that would have gone straight into commercials. It's also worth mentioning that you aren't shorting your favorite YouTube channels by skipping ads — content creators on the platform still get revenue from Premium subscription viewers. ## Background play ![sarah's youtube premium stats showing her hours in ad-free, background play, and youtube music](https://i.insider.com/62509d30ee61990018dde106?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/62509d30ee61990018dde106?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider Though YouTube clumps this one with ad-free viewing as a benefit, I think it's worth its own mention. Background play means that you can lock your phone or switch to another app, and your video's audio will keep playing. This comes in handy during long drives where I need a navigation app, but still want to listen to that one album on YouTube that's no longer on Spotify. I'm looking at you "[Without My Enemy What Would I Do](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDyRBt5er0BH1Wty60yzwtmpHtSkO-Tmu)" by Made in Heights. Other streams that are primarily audio-based, like video essays and ASMR, also make for good background play. ## Downloads ![side by side youtube premium downloads and sarah browsing her phone](https://i.insider.com/625098fc00ada10018fc2984?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/625098fc00ada10018fc2984?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider I only use this feature a handful of times a year, but it really comes in clutch when I do. YouTube Premium gives you the ability to download videos on your mobile device for viewing later when you have no internet connection. I find this especially helpful for long plane flights — I use it to save up some viewing material I want to watch. ## YouTube Music Premium ![Youtube music app on someone's phone with youtube premium subscription](https://i.insider.com/6250993cee61990018dddf43?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/6250993cee61990018dddf43?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider YouTube Premium also includes YouTube's [music streaming service](https://music.youtube.com/music_premium) built right into its subscription. YouTube Music normally costs \$10 a month, so its inclusion with YouTube Premium is a huge plus. YouTube Music isn't the best service of its kind, but it's good enough to eliminate your Spotify or Apple Music subs if you're cutting costs. Remember that Made in Heights album that I can no longer find on Spotify? I can listen to the whole album here, with a familiar music player interface that just makes sense. You can also download albums for offline-listening. ## Is YouTube Premium worth it? ![sarah browsing youtube music with her youtube premium account through the youtube app on smart TV](https://i.insider.com/62509a1400ada10018fc29e7?width=500&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/62509a1400ada10018fc29e7?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider If you're like me and you use YouTube multiple times a day, YouTube Premium is definitely a worthwhile investment. The time I've saved on ads alone make it worth \$12 a month. When you add in the fact that YouTube Premium comes with YouTube Music — which normally costs \$10 a month on its own — the service becomes even more of a no-brainer. Subscribing also supports content creators in a way that other streaming services don't. YouTube Premium views count toward a YouTuber's revenue, the same way that ad views pay them. If you have other interested users in your household, you can also opt for a family plan. My husband and I share a [family account](https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=youtube&uilel=3&passive=true&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fpremium%253Fybp%253DOgIICEoNCAYSCXVubGltaXRlZA%2525253D%2525253D&hl=en), which means we pay \$18/month for the two of us — that's \$6 less per month compared to when we were subscribed individually. ## Does YouTube Premium have a free trial? Yes! If you want to see just how much you'd actually use the service, new subscribers can give [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) a free shot for a whole month. Afterward, it'll be \$12 a month. [Check price at YouTube](https://affiliate.insider.com/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium) [![a picture of deals editor sarah saril](https://i.insider.com/69b857264d65ec51752a16c8?crop=1:1&width=256&format=jpeg&auto=webp) ![](https://i.insider.com/69b857264d65ec51752a16c8?crop=1:1&width=256&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/sarah-saril) [Sarah Saril](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/sarah-saril) Editor, Deals and Tickets Sarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts.ExperienceSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to [Business Insider’s Newsletter](https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today) will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust SarahSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.Expertise - Deal hunting and vetting - E-readers - Gaming accessories - Smart home devices - Concert tickets - Travel bookings - Streaming services EducationSarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake).Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at [ssaril@businessinsider.com](mailto:ssaril@businessinsider.com), or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. [Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here](https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-reviews-expertise-in-product-reviews). Read more Read less A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. 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Readable Markdown	![side by side youtube premium on a tv and on a mobile phone](https://i.insider.com/625095b0ee61990018ddddb4?width=700) Sarah Saril/Insider Apr 11, 2022, 8:29 PM GMT [![](https://i.insider.com/605a1b820d155e0019ef637d?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https://affiliate.insider.com/?amazonTrackingID=biauto-53824-20&h=92752142f78b93f30f10ea869a4a7ebaa4a798aa25e3d7ed79bc78e9bbd5e41f&platform=browser&postID=6250845a26c49019eb555817&postSlug=guides%2Fstreaming%2Fyoutube-premium-review&tags=service%3Aquicksilver&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium) As someone who grew up on the internet, I've always been an avid watcher of [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/). Over the years, the video-sharing service has become a noteworthy platform for content creators, and it has amassed a huge library of videos covering all topics. I often forgo watching shows and movies on other apps, like Netflix or [Hulu](https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-much-is-hulu), in favor of some bite-size entertainment from popular YouTubers. But as much as I love watching the service, there is one key downside: the platform has evolved from a no-cost, commercial-free website to one full of ads. Though YouTube's videos are still free to watch, you often have to sit through commercials before and, in some cases, during your stream. That is, unless you pay \$12 a month for [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium). Though I held off for a while, I ultimately bit the bullet and made the switch to YouTube Premium. Now, there's simply no going back. The Premium plan only comes with four primary benefits, but depending on how much you use the service, these perks can add up to an essential upgrade. ## Ad-free viewing ![](https://i.insider.com/625096a700ada10018fc2893?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider This is the big one. Ads on streaming services make it feel like you're just watching cable with commercials, and that's no fun. It's even worse when using YouTube to listen to a music playlist on your phone since ads distract between each song. Premium skips the ads altogether. Since subscribing, I'm sure I've gotten back hours and hours of time that would have gone straight into commercials. It's also worth mentioning that you aren't shorting your favorite YouTube channels by skipping ads — content creators on the platform still get revenue from Premium subscription viewers. ## Background play ![](https://i.insider.com/62509d30ee61990018dde106?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider Though YouTube clumps this one with ad-free viewing as a benefit, I think it's worth its own mention. Background play means that you can lock your phone or switch to another app, and your video's audio will keep playing. This comes in handy during long drives where I need a navigation app, but still want to listen to that one album on YouTube that's no longer on Spotify. I'm looking at you "[Without My Enemy What Would I Do](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDyRBt5er0BH1Wty60yzwtmpHtSkO-Tmu)" by Made in Heights. Other streams that are primarily audio-based, like video essays and ASMR, also make for good background play. ## Downloads ![](https://i.insider.com/625098fc00ada10018fc2984?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider I only use this feature a handful of times a year, but it really comes in clutch when I do. YouTube Premium gives you the ability to download videos on your mobile device for viewing later when you have no internet connection. I find this especially helpful for long plane flights — I use it to save up some viewing material I want to watch. ## YouTube Music Premium ![](https://i.insider.com/6250993cee61990018dddf43?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider YouTube Premium also includes YouTube's [music streaming service](https://music.youtube.com/music_premium) built right into its subscription. YouTube Music normally costs \$10 a month, so its inclusion with YouTube Premium is a huge plus. YouTube Music isn't the best service of its kind, but it's good enough to eliminate your Spotify or Apple Music subs if you're cutting costs. Remember that Made in Heights album that I can no longer find on Spotify? I can listen to the whole album here, with a familiar music player interface that just makes sense. You can also download albums for offline-listening. ## Is YouTube Premium worth it? ![](https://i.insider.com/62509a1400ada10018fc29e7?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp) Sarah Saril/Insider If you're like me and you use YouTube multiple times a day, YouTube Premium is definitely a worthwhile investment. The time I've saved on ads alone make it worth \$12 a month. When you add in the fact that YouTube Premium comes with YouTube Music — which normally costs \$10 a month on its own — the service becomes even more of a no-brainer. Subscribing also supports content creators in a way that other streaming services don't. YouTube Premium views count toward a YouTuber's revenue, the same way that ad views pay them. If you have other interested users in your household, you can also opt for a family plan. My husband and I share a [family account](https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=youtube&uilel=3&passive=true&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fpremium%253Fybp%253DOgIICEoNCAYSCXVubGltaXRlZA%2525253D%2525253D&hl=en), which means we pay \$18/month for the two of us — that's \$6 less per month compared to when we were subscribed individually. ## Does YouTube Premium have a free trial? Yes! If you want to see just how much you'd actually use the service, new subscribers can give [YouTube Premium](https://www.youtube.com/premium) a free shot for a whole month. Afterward, it'll be \$12 a month. [![](https://i.insider.com/69b857264d65ec51752a16c8?crop=1:1&width=256&format=jpeg&auto=webp)](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/sarah-saril) [Sarah Saril](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/sarah-saril) Editor, Deals and Tickets Sarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts.ExperienceSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to [Business Insider’s Newsletter](https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today) will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust SarahSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.Expertise - Deal hunting and vetting - E-readers - Gaming accessories - Smart home devices - Concert tickets - Travel bookings - Streaming services EducationSarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake).Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at [ssaril@businessinsider.com](mailto:ssaril@businessinsider.com), or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. [Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here](https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-reviews-expertise-in-product-reviews). 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