🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 109 (from laksa065)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa109.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.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-premium\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-premium\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-premium","crawl_time":1775107692,"first_indexed_time":1658860916,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,pcmag!www,\/reviews\/youtube-premium s443","src_root_hash":"15303950204440063509","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"YouTube Premium Review | PCMag","meta_descriptions":["YouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"You already know\nYouTube\n. Google's video platform is a load-bearing pillar of the internet that houses everything from the dumbest memes to the most\nradical political content\n. It's all there, and it's all free. However, there's an option to pay for a slightly better version of YouTube. YouTube Premium offers convenient perks such as an ad-free experience and offline viewing on mobile devices. But the other benefits are so slight compared with what you get from basic YouTube that we have difficulty recommending the\nvideo streaming service\nto anyone who isn't a YouTube die-hard. The cheaper Lite option is a good addition, but it has fewer features. You're better off paying for one of our more well-rounded Editors' Choice winners for streaming video services, such as\nHulu\nor\nNetflix\n.\nYouTube knows most viewers are accustomed to using the site without spending a dime, so YouTube Premium offers a one-month free trial. You must enter payment information into your YouTube account before enjoying the features. After that, you can choose between the different pricing tiers. \n(Credit: YouTube\/PCMag)\nThe standard individual tier costs $13.99 per month, which is a bit expensive given what YouTube Premium offers. However, the standalone\nYouTube Music\ncosts $10.99 per month, making YouTube Premium an appealing way to access that service alongside the video library. The $22.99-per-month Family plan lets six people experience YouTube Premium. The student discount knocks the price down to a more reasonable $7.99 per month.\nYouTube also has a lower-cost option called YouTube Premium Lite. At $7.99 per month, it's nearly half the cost, but its reduced features are disappointing. Like the regular Premium plan, Premium Lite removes ads from videos. There's one difference: It doesn't remove all ads. YouTube says \"most\" Premium Lite videos are ad-free, like ones in the comedy, cooking, and\ngaming\ncategories. In addition, ad-free music and background play remain locked to the higher tier. It reminds us of Netflix's ad-supported plan that doesn't include all videos. Although a more affordable package is welcome, YouTube Premium Lite needs additional benefits to be worth the cash.\nOther ways to spend money on YouTube have nothing to do with YouTube Premium. For example, you can buy and rent popular movies and TV shows a la carte. YouTube also offers\nYouTube TV\nfor $82.99 per month. Confused? Check out the\ndifferences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV\n.\nYouTube Premium enhances your existing YouTube account, so you gain those benefits on any platform where you use YouTube. That includes the web, mobile devices (\nAndroid\nand\niOS\n), video game consoles (\nPlayStation\n,\nSwitch\n,\nXbox\n),\nsmart TVs\nfrom all major manufacturers, and\nmedia streaming devices\n(Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku). \nAnything you can watch on YouTube, you can watch on YouTube Premium. That's an unfathomable amount of videos to consider, with uploads from companies, influencers, or regular folks in their living rooms. However, the list quickly becomes much less enticing regarding the content you can only watch on YouTube Premium.\n(Credit: YouTube Premium\/PCMag)\nPreviously, YouTube called its premium tier YouTube Red and launched it alongside a slate of original programming. Mostly, those videos felt like existing popular YouTube shows with slightly bigger budgets rather than full-on professional shows that other streaming services include as exclusives. It's telling that one of YouTube's biggest exclusives, the\nKarate Kid\nspin-off series\nCobra Kai\n, graduated to Netflix. In addition, you can watch PewDiePie freak out while playing a\nvideo game\nor check out\nBad Internet\n, College Humor's take on\nBlack Mirror\n.\nThese days, YouTube seems to put less promotional effort behind its exclusive Premium shows. The YouTube Originals channel doesn't frequently upload new content. Many shows have ended, including a few original\nanime\nseries. The target audience seems to be younger viewers primed to enjoy cooking reality shows or documentaries about pop musicians like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Overall, YouTube Premium's anemic exclusive library doesn't compete with what you'll find on Hulu or\nMax\n.\nTubi\nlets you watch movies and shows for free.\nDisney+\nis the far better option for families.  \nLike Amazon\nPrime Video\nand Hulu, YouTube lets you subscribe to additional premium channels, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz. Note that these\nPrimetime Channels\ndon't come as part of YouTube Premium; they're each a separate paid subscription.\nOn the upside, YouTube Premium has gradually rolled out intriguing perks. The service includes an ad-free YouTube Music subscription, a welcome addition. It's not our absolute favorite\nmusic streaming service\n, but it's an excellent option thanks to its music videos, collaborative playlists, lyric searching, and other cool features. \nYouTube Premium now has casual games for all desktop and mobile users under the YouTube Playables banner. You can fire up familiar hits like Angry Birds, The Daily Crossword, or Solitaire. The catalog includes more than 75 games, playable via mouse or touch screen, depending on the platform, and you can save your progress and high scores. This is closer to, say,\nNetflix's game offerings\nor\nGoogle Play Games\nthan Google's ambitious (and now shuttered)\nStadia\n. Gaming is so interwoven into YouTube culture that these Playables have appeal.\nYouTube Premium subscribers also gain early access to experimental YouTube Studio features before they roll out to all users, including higher-quality audio and a redesigned watch page. You can even be among the first creators to try out new and upcoming\nAI\ntools like a video conversation assistant, comment summaries, music recommendations, intelligently jumping ahead to key moments in a video, and image generation.\nGet Our Best Stories!\nAll the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts\nThanks for signing up!\nYour subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!\nYouTube Premium isn't an app unto itself; it's just an upgrade to the existing YouTube app. Subscribers see the word \"Premium\" next to the red YouTube logo upon signing up for the service. As a result, YouTube and YouTube Premium have essentially the same interface on mobile or the web.\nThis isn't a bad thing, as YouTube is a premier platform for a reason. I experienced smooth video playback over my home Wi-Fi connection (60Mbps download), even with\n4K\nvideos. You can easily share videos, like them, clip them, and save them for later. If nothing else, the YouTube commenter community is very passionate and large, but many Premium videos turn comments off. \n(Credit: YouTube\/PCMag)\nYouTube Premium adds useful features that make watching YouTube more convenient. For example, Premium removes YouTube's commercials. Many YouTubers incorporate ads as part of their content, so you must skip those manually. But now you can watch videos without being randomly interrupted by entirely separate commercials. No more dealing with self-aware ads that talk about the fact there's a skip button before shaming you into not clicking it. \nOn mobile, YouTube Premium lets you keep listening to a video in the background even when you turn your screen off. This is great for listening to music, but it has potentially even more uses. I watch many YouTube videos that are more about the discussion than anything happening on screen—\npodcasts\n, essentially. Now, I can listen to those videos while doing other things and not waste my phone's battery life by leaving the screen on. On mobile, you can now watch YouTube Shorts while browsing elsewhere thanks to picture-in-picture.\nWith an individual plan, you can simultaneously stream YouTube Premium on two devices; the Family plan bumps that limit to four per account. YouTube Premium also lets you download videos for offline viewing on mobile, with the Smart Downloads feature automatically adding recommended videos to your library. Smart Downloads supports regular YouTube videos as well as YouTube Shorts. Offline downloading works on up to 10 devices regardless of plan. This is a cool feature, something we like to see in premium video subscriptions, but with clever workarounds, there are already ways to\ndownload YouTube videos\nwithout paying. \nOther features make the YouTube Premium viewing experience even more convenient. For example, queuing tools empower mobile viewers to decide which videos play next and to watch videos together via FaceTime or\nGoogle Meet\n. In addition, you can easily switch from one device to another for uninterrupted viewing and watch 1080p videos with an enhanced bitrate.\nAlthough these are nice perks, they feel like the extra features a premium service includes to pump up its overall appeal. They're not strong enough to be major selling points in their own right, which is the case here.\nYouTube has a ridiculous amount of content, so check out our list of\nthe best YouTube channels\nfor recommendations.\nYouTube Premium features the same accessibility options on regular YouTube, such as customizable subtitles (where applicable) and adjustable playback speed. Premium videos typically have multiple language options for closed captioning. \nFor parental controls, YouTube has a separate app for children, YouTube Kids, where young ones can only watch select content (even if that algorithmically served content can get pretty freaky). With YouTube Premium, parents can rest easy knowing their kids won't be exposed to commercials. Offline downloads ensure children can watch their favorite shows when a wireless signal isn't available.\nDepending on what rabbit holes you stumble down, YouTube is arguably one of the most dangerous online places. The least you can do is keep yourself safe and secure with a\nVPN\n. Typically, VPNs don't work with most video streaming services because the geographic location spoofing interferes with regional licensing deals. Still, I suspected YouTube Premium would be a special case, since it is just YouTube.\nI tested YouTube Premium with a Windows PC connected to\nProton VPN\nservers and encountered zero issues streaming premium shows from around the globe. This may change in the future, though.\nVideo streaming services\nhave been known to block VPN traffic after the fact. \nVideo Streaming Services: What You Should Know\nIf you watch a lot of YouTube, YouTube Premium improves your viewing experience thanks to offline downloads and zero ads. You might even find a YouTube Premium show you enjoy, a fun YouTube Playables game, or use the subscription as a gateway to the excellent YouTube Music. However, casual YouTube watchers are better off sticking with the free service as you don't miss out on much by upgrading (besides the time spent watching ads). The cheaper but even more limited YouTube Premium Lite doesn't change that. If you're looking for a traditional premium streaming subscription, check out our Editors' Choice winners: Netflix for original shows, Hulu for live and on-demand content, and Tubi for free TV programs and movies.\nYouTube Premium\nBest for Hard-Core YouTube Viewers\n3.0\nPros\nCons\nThe Bottom Line\nYouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else.\nAbout Our Expert\nJordan Minor\nSenior Writer, Software\nExperience\nMy PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book\nVideo Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977\n, and the reason everything you know about\nStreet Sharks\nis a lie.\nLatest By Jordan Minor\nRead Full Bio","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/zdbb.net\/l\/z0WVjCBSEeGLoxIxOQVEwQ\/)\n\n[Skip to Main Content](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-premium#main \"Skip to Main Content\")\n\nMenu\n\n- ![Maggie AI Logo](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/icons\/maggie-logo.svg)\n  \n  ![Maggie AI White Logo](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/icons\/maggie-logo-white.svg)\n  \n  Maggie: AI Product Finder\n- [\\#50YearsofApple](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/series\/apple)\n- Best Products\n  - [The Best Laptops for 2025](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-laptops)\n  - [The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2025](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-desktop-computers)\n  - [The Best Tablets for 2025](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tablets)\n  - 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[Home](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/)\n2. [Reviews](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews)\n3. [Video](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/video)\n4. [Video Streaming Services](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/video-streaming-services)\n# YouTube Premium Review\n\n[![Jordan Minor](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/authors\/02LlFeCNCCJg1CPvWM9eoU0.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1722457854.jpg)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\nJordan Minor\n\nJordan Minor\n\nSenior Writer, Software\n\nExperience\n\nMy PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book [*Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977*](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/first-look-video-game-of-the-year-paints-a-vibrant-picture-of-gaming-history), and the reason everything you know about [*Street Sharks*](https:\/\/medium.com\/pcmag-access\/how-i-used-lies-about-a-cartoon-to-prove-history-is-meaningless-on-the-internet-6c88bcbc62d7) is a lie.\n\nAreas of Expertise\n\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/games)\n- [Website Builders](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/website-builders)\n- [Video Streaming Services](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/video-streaming-services)\n- [Dating](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/dating)\n- [Meal Kits](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/meal-kits)\n- [GPS Navigation](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/gps-navigation)\n\n[Read Full Bio](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\nSenior Writer, Software\n\nOUR EXPERT\n\nJordan has been writing about consumer technology for more than a decade, specializing in video games, streaming, and software.\n\nLOOK INSIDE PC LABS [HOW WE TEST](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/how-we-test-everything-we-review)\n\n65 EXPERTS\n\n44 YEARS\n\n43K+ REVIEWS\n\nUpdated  March 10, 2025\n\nSocial Share\n\n[Threads](https:\/\/threads.net\/intent\/post?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium \"Threads (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Bluesky](https:\/\/bsky.app\/intent\/compose?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium \"Bluesky (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Reddit](http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&title=YouTube%20Premium \"Reddit (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium \"Facebook (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&title=YouTube%20Premium&source=PCMag \"LinkedIn (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Pinterest](http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&description=YouTube%20Premium \"Pinterest (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&title=YouTube%20Premium \"Flipboard (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&text=YouTube%20Premium&hashtags=PCMag \"X (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nCopied\n\nError\\!\n\n[Copy Link]()\n\nhttps:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-premium\n\n[Email](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#dae5a9afb8b0bfb9aee783b5af8eafb8bfffe8ea8aa8bfb7b3afb7fcbbb7aae1b8b5bea3e7b2aeaeaaa9ffe99bffe89cffe89cadadadf4aab9b7bbbdf4b9b5b7ffe89ca8bfacb3bfada9ffe89ca3b5afaeafb8bff7aaa8bfb7b3afb7ffea9effea9bffea9effea9b97b5a8bffabca8b5b7fa8a9997bbbde0fab2aeaeaaa9e0f5f5adadadf4aab9b7bbbdf4b9b5b7 \"Email (Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[Comments](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-premium#comments)\n\n[Add as a preferred source on Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=pcmag.com)\n\n![YouTube Premium](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/reviews\/014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ-1.fit_scale.size_400x225.v1658774486.png)\n\n(Credit: YouTube)\n\n![YouTube Premium](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/reviews\/014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ-1.fit_scale.size_400x225.v1658774486.png)\n\n(Credit: YouTube)\n\n3\\.0\n\nWhat Our Ratings Mean\n***\n- 5\\.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking\n- 4\\.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors\n- 4\\.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls\n- 3\\.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors\n- 3\\.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack\n- 2\\.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution\n- 2\\.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution\n- 1\\.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product\n- 1\\.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product\n\nRead Our [Editorial Mission Statement](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/pcmagcom-mission-statement) and [Testing Methodologies](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/how-we-test-everything-we-review).\n\n### The Bottom Line\nYouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else.\n\nPer Month, Starts at \\$7.99\n\nStarts at \\$7.99 Per Month\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=score-card-persistent&element=buy-button&item=offer&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nPCMag editors select and review products [independently](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/pcmagcom-mission-statement). If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our [testing](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/how-we-test-everything-we-review).\n\n## Pros & Cons\n- Removes YouTube's many ads\n- Includes YouTube Music\n- Optional early access to upcoming features\n- Casual games\n- Offline downloads on mobile\n\n- Little content benefit compared with free YouTube\n- Unexciting original shows\n- Lower-cost Lite version doesn't remove all ads\n\n## YouTube Premium Specs\n| Name | Value |\n|---|---|\n| Starting Price | \\$7.99 per month |\n| Concurrent Streams | 4 |\n| Live TV |   |\n\nMore Specs\n\nYou already know [YouTube](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/best-youtube-channels). Google's video platform is a load-bearing pillar of the internet that houses everything from the dumbest memes to the most [radical political content](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-watch-or-listen-to-dr-martin-luther-king-jrs-speeches-online). It's all there, and it's all free. However, there's an option to pay for a slightly better version of YouTube. YouTube Premium offers convenient perks such as an ad-free experience and offline viewing on mobile devices. But the other benefits are so slight compared with what you get from basic YouTube that we have difficulty recommending the [video streaming service](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-video-streaming-services) to anyone who isn't a YouTube die-hard. The cheaper Lite option is a good addition, but it has fewer features. You're better off paying for one of our more well-rounded Editors' Choice winners for streaming video services, such as [Hulu](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hulu) or [Netflix](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/netflix).\n\n## How Much Does YouTube Premium Cost?\nYouTube knows most viewers are accustomed to using the site without spending a dime, so YouTube Premium offers a one-month free trial. You must enter payment information into your YouTube account before enjoying the features. After that, you can choose between the different pricing tiers.\n\n![YouTube Premium](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n(Credit: YouTube\/PCMag)\n\nThe standard individual tier costs \\$13.99 per month, which is a bit expensive given what YouTube Premium offers. However, the standalone [YouTube Music](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-music) costs \\$10.99 per month, making YouTube Premium an appealing way to access that service alongside the video library. The \\$22.99-per-month Family plan lets six people experience YouTube Premium. The student discount knocks the price down to a more reasonable \\$7.99 per month.\n\nYouTube also has a lower-cost option called YouTube Premium Lite. At \\$7.99 per month, it's nearly half the cost, but its reduced features are disappointing. Like the regular Premium plan, Premium Lite removes ads from videos. There's one difference: It doesn't remove all ads. YouTube says \"most\" Premium Lite videos are ad-free, like ones in the comedy, cooking, and [gaming](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-pc-games) categories. In addition, ad-free music and background play remain locked to the higher tier. It reminds us of Netflix's ad-supported plan that doesn't include all videos. Although a more affordable package is welcome, YouTube Premium Lite needs additional benefits to be worth the cash.\n\n### Similar Products\n![Netflix logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Netflix\n4\\.5\n\nOutstanding\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00S4qlR07vjUsO2dYVGoNLA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netflix.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=05isp366kc1079ybQvTT8oQ \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/netflix)\n\n![Prime Video logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Amazon Prime Video\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fvideo%2Foffers%2Fref%3Datv_pv_new_offer&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=2&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=0367zRTOuJ6y7kyrSRQqOjY \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/amazon-prime-video)\n\n![Hulu logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Hulu\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=01sTBhxGbvAtiZQAdjvaWeI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fclick%3Fid%3Dyr7LsPS5ySE%26offerid%3D1589238.1517%26type%3D3%26subid%3D0&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=3&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=00WpfWAIRGXiYqRaRTzeTiy \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hulu)\n\n![Disney+ new logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Disney+\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=04SNeTyhMZYHvnjKDXj97OY&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdisneyplus.bn5x.net%2Fc%2F10915%2F692368%2F9358&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=4&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=06c0sAhVU2OqYR9TrQjYAmZ \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/disney-plus)\n\n![kanopy logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Kanopy\n4\\.5\n\nOutstanding\n\n\\$0.00  at Kanopy\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=027E8FzcpbSOtyATsCuZ0pn&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kanopy.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=5&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=06rUJLiLnjKWliZGoWaDySe \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kanopy)\n\n![Nebula logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Nebula\n3\\.5\n\nGood\n\n\\$5 Per Month  at Nebula App\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=05eJTdiqTdTP2zO6PKPzIif&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnebula.app%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=6&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=01aHUbUWOFtzQ7dOZXlAaaN \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/nebula-streaming)\n\n![Curiosity Stream Logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Curiosity Stream\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n\\$4.99 Per Month  at CuriosityStream\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=016rQAHwtHw8BOSVRpGJBqm&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kqzyfj.com%2Fclick-5226272-12658720&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=7&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=07MSb3cPAI6ODLUKbKQwvOr \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/curiositystream)\n\n![YouTube TV Logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### YouTube TV\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n\\$82.99  at YouTube TV\n\n[\\$82 at YouTube TV](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=03dZcpNfhp7e8ujvUDpTrOY&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftv.youtube.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=8&element_label=%2482+at+YouTube+TV&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=04TvuuZvEgYYQtMUcycRQIm \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-tv)\n\n![YouTube Music](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### YouTube Music\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n\\$10.99 Per Month  at YouTube\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.youtube.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=9&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=00STQlW2nkrJ7W2rLkB3DvW \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-music)\n\n![Tubi logo](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n### Tubi\n4\\.0\n\nExcellent\n\n\\$0.00  at Tubi\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=072IFLd7lNShgP2tgeyZpPp&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftubitv.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=10&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=0638IGnoAoa05cvLZ2zgG7i \"(Opens in a new tab)\")  [Read Our Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/tubi)\n\nOther ways to spend money on YouTube have nothing to do with YouTube Premium. For example, you can buy and rent popular movies and TV shows a la carte. YouTube also offers [YouTube TV](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-tv) for \\$82.99 per month. Confused? Check out the [differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/youtube-premium-vs-youtube-tv-whats-the-difference).\n\nYouTube Premium enhances your existing YouTube account, so you gain those benefits on any platform where you use YouTube. That includes the web, mobile devices ([Android](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-android-apps) and [iOS](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-iphone-apps)), video game consoles ([PlayStation](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/sony-playstation-5-vs-ps5-pro-should-you-upgrade), [Switch](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/nintendo-switch-oled-model), [Xbox](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/microsoft-xbox-series-x)), [smart TVs](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tvs) from all major manufacturers, and [media streaming devices](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-media-streaming-devices) (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku).\n\n## What Can You Watch on YouTube Premium?\nAnything you can watch on YouTube, you can watch on YouTube Premium. That's an unfathomable amount of videos to consider, with uploads from companies, influencers, or regular folks in their living rooms. However, the list quickly becomes much less enticing regarding the content you can only watch on YouTube Premium.\n\n![YouTube Premium Review](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n(Credit: YouTube Premium\/PCMag)\n\nPreviously, YouTube called its premium tier YouTube Red and launched it alongside a slate of original programming. Mostly, those videos felt like existing popular YouTube shows with slightly bigger budgets rather than full-on professional shows that other streaming services include as exclusives. It's telling that one of YouTube's biggest exclusives, the *Karate Kid* spin-off series *Cobra Kai*, graduated to Netflix. In addition, you can watch PewDiePie freak out while playing a [video game](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-pc-games) or check out *Bad Internet*, College Humor's take on *Black Mirror*.\n\nThese days, YouTube seems to put less promotional effort behind its exclusive Premium shows. The YouTube Originals channel doesn't frequently upload new content. Many shows have ended, including a few original [anime](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-anime-streaming-services) series. The target audience seems to be younger viewers primed to enjoy cooking reality shows or documentaries about pop musicians like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Overall, YouTube Premium's anemic exclusive library doesn't compete with what you'll find on Hulu or [Max](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hbo-max). [Tubi](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/tubi) lets you watch movies and shows for free. [Disney+](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/disney-plus) is the far better option for families.\n\nLike Amazon [Prime Video](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/amazon-prime-video) and Hulu, YouTube lets you subscribe to additional premium channels, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz. Note that these [Primetime Channels](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/subscribe-to-streaming-services-on-youtube-via-primetime-channels) don't come as part of YouTube Premium; they're each a separate paid subscription.\n\n## Premium Extras: Music, Games, and Early Access to New Features\nOn the upside, YouTube Premium has gradually rolled out intriguing perks. The service includes an ad-free YouTube Music subscription, a welcome addition. It's not our absolute favorite [music streaming service](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-online-music-streaming-services), but it's an excellent option thanks to its music videos, collaborative playlists, lyric searching, and other cool features.\n\nYouTube Premium now has casual games for all desktop and mobile users under the YouTube Playables banner. You can fire up familiar hits like Angry Birds, The Daily Crossword, or Solitaire. The catalog includes more than 75 games, playable via mouse or touch screen, depending on the platform, and you can save your progress and high scores. This is closer to, say, [Netflix's game offerings](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-netflix-games) or [Google Play Games](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-play-games) than Google's ambitious (and now shuttered) [Stadia](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-stadia). Gaming is so interwoven into YouTube culture that these Playables have appeal.\n\nYouTube Premium subscribers also gain early access to experimental YouTube Studio features before they roll out to all users, including higher-quality audio and a redesigned watch page. You can even be among the first creators to try out new and upcoming [AI](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai) tools like a video conversation assistant, comment summaries, music recommendations, intelligently jumping ahead to key moments in a video, and image generation.\n\n![Newsletter Icon](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/images\/newsletter-envelope.svg)\n\n![Newsletter Icon](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/images\/newsletter-envelope.svg)\n\nGet Our Best Stories\\!\n\n### All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts\n![Lab Report Newsletter Image](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/newsletters\/17709142-contextual.fit_lpad.size_250x140.v1752614027.png)\n\nSign up for the **Lab Report** to receive PCMag's latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.\n\nSign up for the **Lab Report** to receive PCMag's latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.\n\nBy clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/privacy).\n\nThanks for signing up\\!\n\nYour subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox\\!\n\n## YouTube Premium on the Web and Mobile\nYouTube Premium isn't an app unto itself; it's just an upgrade to the existing YouTube app. Subscribers see the word \"Premium\" next to the red YouTube logo upon signing up for the service. As a result, YouTube and YouTube Premium have essentially the same interface on mobile or the web.\n\nThis isn't a bad thing, as YouTube is a premier platform for a reason. I experienced smooth video playback over my home Wi-Fi connection (60Mbps download), even with [4K](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/what-is-4k-ultra-hd) videos. You can easily share videos, like them, clip them, and save them for later. If nothing else, the YouTube commenter community is very passionate and large, but many Premium videos turn comments off.\n\n![YouTube Playables](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n(Credit: YouTube\/PCMag)\n\nYouTube Premium adds useful features that make watching YouTube more convenient. For example, Premium removes YouTube's commercials. Many YouTubers incorporate ads as part of their content, so you must skip those manually. But now you can watch videos without being randomly interrupted by entirely separate commercials. No more dealing with self-aware ads that talk about the fact there's a skip button before shaming you into not clicking it.\n\nOn mobile, YouTube Premium lets you keep listening to a video in the background even when you turn your screen off. This is great for listening to music, but it has potentially even more uses. I watch many YouTube videos that are more about the discussion than anything happening on screen—[podcasts](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/the-best-podcasts), essentially. Now, I can listen to those videos while doing other things and not waste my phone's battery life by leaving the screen on. On mobile, you can now watch YouTube Shorts while browsing elsewhere thanks to picture-in-picture.\n\nWith an individual plan, you can simultaneously stream YouTube Premium on two devices; the Family plan bumps that limit to four per account. YouTube Premium also lets you download videos for offline viewing on mobile, with the Smart Downloads feature automatically adding recommended videos to your library. Smart Downloads supports regular YouTube videos as well as YouTube Shorts. Offline downloading works on up to 10 devices regardless of plan. This is a cool feature, something we like to see in premium video subscriptions, but with clever workarounds, there are already ways to [download YouTube videos](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-download-video-from-your-favorite-streaming-service) without paying.\n\nOther features make the YouTube Premium viewing experience even more convenient. For example, queuing tools empower mobile viewers to decide which videos play next and to watch videos together via FaceTime or [Google Meet](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-meet). In addition, you can easily switch from one device to another for uninterrupted viewing and watch 1080p videos with an enhanced bitrate.\n\nAlthough these are nice perks, they feel like the extra features a premium service includes to pump up its overall appeal. They're not strong enough to be major selling points in their own right, which is the case here.\n\nYouTube has a ridiculous amount of content, so check out our list of [the best YouTube channels](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/best-youtube-channels) for recommendations.\n\n## Accessibility and Parental Controls\nYouTube Premium features the same accessibility options on regular YouTube, such as customizable subtitles (where applicable) and adjustable playback speed. Premium videos typically have multiple language options for closed captioning.\n\nFor parental controls, YouTube has a separate app for children, YouTube Kids, where young ones can only watch select content (even if that algorithmically served content can get pretty freaky). With YouTube Premium, parents can rest easy knowing their kids won't be exposed to commercials. Offline downloads ensure children can watch their favorite shows when a wireless signal isn't available.\n\n## Can You Watch YouTube Premium With a VPN?\nDepending on what rabbit holes you stumble down, YouTube is arguably one of the most dangerous online places. The least you can do is keep yourself safe and secure with a [VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services). Typically, VPNs don't work with most video streaming services because the geographic location spoofing interferes with regional licensing deals. Still, I suspected YouTube Premium would be a special case, since it is just YouTube.\n\nI tested YouTube Premium with a Windows PC connected to [Proton VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/protonvpn) servers and encountered zero issues streaming premium shows from around the globe. This may change in the future, though. [Video streaming services](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-vpns-for-video-streaming) have been known to block VPN traffic after the fact.\n\n![Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know](https:\/\/cdn.ex.co\/transformations\/production\/ab776fe7-0140-466a-a052-a13fcb907c6a\/thumbnail-720.webp)\n\n![PCMag Logo](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/images\/pcmag.svg)\n\nVideo Streaming Services: What You Should Know\n\n## Verdict: Premium Is Only for the YouTube Faithful\nIf you watch a lot of YouTube, YouTube Premium improves your viewing experience thanks to offline downloads and zero ads. You might even find a YouTube Premium show you enjoy, a fun YouTube Playables game, or use the subscription as a gateway to the excellent YouTube Music. However, casual YouTube watchers are better off sticking with the free service as you don't miss out on much by upgrading (besides the time spent watching ads). The cheaper but even more limited YouTube Premium Lite doesn't change that. If you're looking for a traditional premium streaming subscription, check out our Editors' Choice winners: Netflix for original shows, Hulu for live and on-demand content, and Tubi for free TV programs and movies.\n\nYouTube Premium\n\nBest for Hard-Core YouTube Viewers\n\n3\\.0\n\n[![YouTube Premium](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 528 297'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=image&position=1&element_label=&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")   [See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nStarts at \\$7.99 Per Month at YouTube\n\nPer Month, Starts at \\$7.99\n\nPros\n\n- Removes YouTube's many ads\n- Includes YouTube Music\n- Optional early access to upcoming features\n- Casual games\n- Offline downloads on mobile\n\nView More\n\nCons\n\n- Little content benefit compared with free YouTube\n- Unexciting original shows\n- Lower-cost Lite version doesn't remove all ads\n\n[![YouTube Premium](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 528 297'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=image&position=1&element_label=&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")   [See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nStarts at \\$7.99 Per Month at YouTube\n\nPer Month, Starts at \\$7.99\n\nThe Bottom Line\n\nYouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else.\n\n## About Our Expert\n![Jordan Minor](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/authors\/02LlFeCNCCJg1CPvWM9eoU0.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1722457854.jpg)\n\nJordan Minor\n\nSenior Writer, Software\n***\nExperience\n\nMy PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book [*Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977*](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/first-look-video-game-of-the-year-paints-a-vibrant-picture-of-gaming-history), and the reason everything you know about [*Street Sharks*](https:\/\/medium.com\/pcmag-access\/how-i-used-lies-about-a-cartoon-to-prove-history-is-meaningless-on-the-internet-6c88bcbc62d7) is a lie.\n\nAreas of Expertise\n\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/games)\n- [Website Builders](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/website-builders)\n- [Video Streaming Services](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/video-streaming-services)\n- [Dating](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/dating)\n- [Meal Kits](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/meal-kits)\n- [GPS Navigation](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/categories\/gps-navigation)\n\nLatest By Jordan Minor\n\n- [Mario Kart World Review: A Wonderful New Spin on Nintendo's Arcade Racer](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mario-kart-world)\n- [March Madness 2026: How to Watch the NCAA Final Four Games Live Without Cable](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/watch-march-madness-2026-ncaa-tournament-games-live-no-cable-march-31)\n- [The Best MLB Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-mlb-streaming-services)\n- [The Best Website Builders for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-website-builders)\n- [Hulu Review: A Top-Notch Blend of Live and On-Demand Programming](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hulu)\n- [More from Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\n[Read Full Bio](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\nAdvertisement\n\n### Apple\n[![Late Night Calls From Steve Jobs and Angry Fan Mail: Apple Memories From a Former PCMag Editor-in-Chief](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/articles\/apple-50-steve-jobs-angry-mac-fans-pcmag-eic-recollections)\n\n[Late Night Calls From Steve Jobs and Angry Fan Mail: Apple Memories From a Former PCMag Editor-in-Chief](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/articles\/apple-50-steve-jobs-angry-mac-fans-pcmag-eic-recollections)\n\nBy [Michael J. Miller](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/michael-miller)\n\n[![Looking Back: How the Apple II Kickstarted the Personal Computer Era](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/machine-that-changed-everything-kickstarted-personal-computers-apple-50)\n\n[Looking Back: How the Apple II Kickstarted the Personal Computer Era](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/machine-that-changed-everything-kickstarted-personal-computers-apple-50)\n\nBy [Jamie Lendino](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jamie-lendino)\n\n[![Apple at 50: The iPod Mattered More Than the iPhone](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/opinions\/apple-50-the-ipod-mattered-more-than-the-iphone)\n\n[Apple at 50: The iPod Mattered More Than the iPhone](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/opinions\/apple-50-the-ipod-mattered-more-than-the-iphone)\n\nBy [Jamie Lendino](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jamie-lendino)\n\n[![From the Pages of PC Magazine: How We Covered Apple's Greatest Hits and Misses](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/articles\/apple-50-hits-misses-from-the-pages-of-pc-magazine)\n\n[From the Pages of PC Magazine: How We Covered Apple's Greatest Hits and Misses](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/articles\/apple-50-hits-misses-from-the-pages-of-pc-magazine)\n\nBy [Brian Westover](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/brian-westover)\n\n[![Apple's Little-Known Digital Camera From the '90s Was Way Ahead of Its Time](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/articles\/apple-50-quicktake-100-digital-camera-lo-fi-photos)\n\n[Apple's Little-Known Digital Camera From the '90s Was Way Ahead of Its Time](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/articles\/apple-50-quicktake-100-digital-camera-lo-fi-photos)\n\nBy [Jim Fisher](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jim-fisher)\n\n[All Apple Stories](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/series\/apple)\n\n### Further Reading\n[![The Best MLB Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-mlb-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best MLB Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-mlb-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\n[![The Best Live TV Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Live TV Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\n[![The Best Video Streaming Services for Celebrating Black Art](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/celebrate-black-art-with-these-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Video Streaming Services for Celebrating Black Art](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/celebrate-black-art-with-these-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\n[![The Best Video Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-video-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Video Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-video-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\n[![The Best Movie Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-movie-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Movie Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-movie-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)\n\n[![The Best Anime Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-anime-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Anime Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-anime-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor) & [Ben Moore](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/ben-moore)\n\n[![The Best Free Video Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-free-video-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Free Video Streaming Services for 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-free-video-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Jordan Minor](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor) & [Ben Moore](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/ben-moore)\n\n[![The Best Streaming Services for Classical Music in 2026](<data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E>)](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-classical-music-video-streaming-services)\n\n[The Best Streaming Services for Classical Music in 2026](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-classical-music-video-streaming-services)\n\nBy [Michael Muchmore](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/michael-muchmore)\n\nTable of Contents\n\nYouTube Premium\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=toc-commerce&element=toc-commerce-link&item=toc-commerce-list&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n### YouTube Premium\n![YouTube Premium](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/reviews\/014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ-1.fit_lpad.size_238x139.v1658774486.png)\n\n[See It](https:\/\/cc.pcmag.com\/v1\/otc\/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=toc-commerce&element=toc-commerce-link&item=toc-commerce-list&position=&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\n[PCMag Newsletters](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/newsletter_manage)\n\nPCMag Newsletters\n\nOur Best Stories in Your\n\nInbox\n\nFollow PCMag\n\n## Honest, Objective, Lab-Tested Reviews\nPCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. 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Speakers](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-wireless-and-bluetooth-speakers)\n\n- [Car Phone Mounts](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-car-phone-mounts)\n- [CPUs For Gaming](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-cpus-for-gaming)\n- [Ereaders](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-ereaders)\n- [Fastest VPNs](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-fastest-vpns)\n- [Fitness Trackers](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-fitness-trackers)\n- [Gaming Keyboards](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-gaming-keyboards)\n- [Gaming Laptops](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-gaming-laptops)\n- [Gaming Monitors](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-gaming-monitors)\n\n- [Graphics Cards](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-graphics-cards)\n- [Headphones](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-headphones)\n- [Keyboards](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-keyboards)\n- [Laptops](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-laptops)\n- [Laptops For College Students](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-laptops-for-college-students)\n- [Media Streaming Devices](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-media-streaming-devices)\n- [Password Managers](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-password-managers)\n- [Photo Printers](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-photo-printers)\n\n- [Robot Vacuums](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-robot-vacuums)\n- [Smart Thermostats](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-smart-thermostats)\n- [Smartwatches](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-smartwatches)\n- [Soundbars](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-soundbars)\n- [Tablets](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tablets)\n- [Tax Software](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tax-software)\n- [TVs](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tvs)\n- [Video Editing Software](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-video-editing-software)\n\n- [VPN Services](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services)\n- [VPNs for Android](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-android-vpns)\n- [VPNs for iPhones](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-iphone-vpns)\n- [VPNs for Mac](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-mac-vpns)\n- [VPNs for Pornhub](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpns-for-pornhub)\n- [VPNs for TikTok](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-vpns-for-tiktok)\n- [VR Headsets](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vr-headsets)\n\n### Popular Reviews\n[Popular Reviews](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews)\n\n- [Acer Swift X 14 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/acer-swift-x-14)\n- [Alienware Gaming Monitor (AW2725QF) Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/alienware-27-inch-4k-dual-resolution-gaming-monitor-aw2725qf)\n- [AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/amd-ryzen-7-7700x)\n- [Beats Studio Buds + Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/beats-studio-buds-plus)\n- [Blink Outdoor 4 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/blink-outdoor-4)\n\n- [Ecobee Smart Thermostat Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/ecobee-smart-thermostat-premium)\n- [FreshBooks Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/freshbooks)\n- [Google Pixel 9 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-pixel-9)\n- [H\\&R Block 2025 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hr-block)\n- [Intuit TurboTax 2025 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/intuit-turbotax)\n\n- [Lenovo Legion Go Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/lenovo-legion-go)\n- [NordVPN Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/nordvpn)\n- [Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5080-founders-edition)\n- [ProtonVPN Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/protonvpn)\n- [Samsung Galaxy S25 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-s25)\n\n- [Samsung Galaxy S25+ Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-s25-plus)\n- [Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra)\n- [Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-watch-7)\n- [Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-watch-ultra)\n\n- [Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6)\n- [SimpliSafe Home Security System Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/simplisafe-home-security-system)\n- [Surfshark VPN Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/surfshark-vpn)\n- [Windscribe VPN Review](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/windscribe-vpn)\n\n### Popular Product Comparisons\n[Popular Product Comparisons](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons)\n\n- [Apple AirPods 4 vs. AirPods Pro 2](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/apple-airpods-4-vs-airpods-pro-2-whats-the-difference)\n- [Apple iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/apple-iphone-16e-vs-iphone-16-whats-the-difference)\n- [Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 9](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/apple-watch-series-10-vs-series-9)\n\n- [FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/freshbooks-vs-quickbooks-which-is-best-for-your-small-business)\n- [Mac vs. Windows](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/macos-vs-windows-which-os-really-is-the-best)\n- [Meta Quest 3 vs. 3S](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/meta-quest-3-vs-meta-quest-3s-whats-the-difference)\n\n- [Nest vs. Ring](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/nest-vs-ring-which-video-doorbell-is-right-for-you)\n- [OLED vs. QLED](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/oled-vs-qled-whats-the-difference)\n- [Proton VPN vs. NordVPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/proton-vpn-vs-nordvpn-which-service-is-better)\n\n- [Sony PlayStation 5 vs. PlayStation 5 Pro](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/sony-playstation-5-vs-ps5-pro-should-you-upgrade)\n- [SSD vs. Hard Drive](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/ssd-vs-hdd-whats-the-difference)\n\n- [Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/wi-fi-range-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference)\n- [Windows 11 Home vs. Pro](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/windows-11-home-vs-pro)\n\n### Top Explainers\n[Top Explainers](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to)\n\n- [How Do Airtags Work?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/apple-airtag-tips)\n- [How Does Starlink Work?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-starlink-spacex-satellite-internet-service-explained)\n- [How to Organize Tax Documents](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/how-to-organize-tax-documents)\n- [How to Set Up a VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-set-up-and-use-a-vpn)\n\n- [How to Unblock Netflix With a VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-unblock-netflix-with-a-vpn)\n- [Is Google Password Manager Safe?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-master-google-password-manager)\n- [What Is a Proxy Server?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-a-proxy-server-and-do-you-need-one)\n\n- [What Is Agentic AI?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-agentic-ai-white-collar-robots-are-here-for-better-or-worse)\n- [What Is an AI PC?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-an-ai-pc)\n- [What Is an eSim Card?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-an-esim-card)\n- [What Is Discord?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-discord-and-how-do-you-use-it)\n\n- [What Is Microsoft Copilot?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/explainers\/what-is-microsoft-copilot)\n- [What Is the Best Browser?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/chrome-edge-firefox-opera-or-safari-which-browser-is-best)\n- [What Is USB-C?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/what-is-usb-c-an-explainer)\n- [What Is Wi-Fi 6E?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/what-is-wi-fi-6e)\n\n- [What Is Wi-Fi 7?](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/wi-fi-7-explained-everything-to-know-about-tomorrows-fastest-wireless-spec)\n- [What To Stream This Weekend](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/what-to-watch-this-weekend)\n- [Why You Need a VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/what-is-a-vpn-and-why-you-need-one)\n\n### Popular Brands\n[Popular Brands](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands)\n\n- [Acer](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/acer)\n- [Adobe](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/adobe)\n- [AMD](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/amd)\n- [Apple](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/apple)\n- [Asus](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/asus)\n- [Bitdefender](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/bitdefender)\n\n- [Dell](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/dell)\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/facebook)\n- [Google](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/google)\n- [HP](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/hp)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/instagram)\n- [Intel](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/intel)\n\n- [Lenovo](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/lenovo)\n- [LG](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/lg)\n- [Microsoft](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/microsoft)\n- [Motorola](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/motorola)\n- [MSI](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/msi)\n- [Netflix](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/netflix)\n\n- [NordVPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/nordvpn)\n- [Nvidia](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/nvidia)\n- [OpenAI](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/openai)\n- [Qualcomm](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/qualcomm)\n- [Samsung](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/samsung)\n- [Sony](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/sony)\n\n- [SpaceX](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/spacex)\n- [Tesla](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/tesla)\n- [X\/Twitter](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/brands\/twitter)\n\n### Series\n[Series](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/series)\n\n- [All About 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Recommendation\n\n![](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/formatImage\$product.image.url,%20325,%20183\$)\n\nWhat Our Ratings Mean\n***\nRead Our [Editorial Mission Statement](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/pcmagcom-mission-statement) and [Testing Methodologies](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/how-we-test-everything-we-review).\n\n[Read Full Review](\"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nat\n\n[See It](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trackCommerceUrl\$product.offer.commerceUrl,%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20'Top%20Recommendation%20Card',%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20productIndex%20+%201\$ \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nHere's What I Found\n\nMore Recommendations\n\n![](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/formatImage\$product.image.url,%20200,%20113\$)\n\nWhat Our Ratings Mean\n***\nRead Our [Editorial Mission Statement](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/pcmagcom-mission-statement) and [Testing Methodologies](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/how-we-test-everything-we-review).\n\n[Read Full Review](\"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nat\n\n[See It](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trackCommerceUrl\$product.offer.commerceUrl,%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20'Stacked%20Product%20Card',%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20productIndex%20+%201\$ \"(Opens in a new tab)\")\n\nBased on these stories\n\n[![Product Image](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/formatImage\$content.image,%20160,%2090\$) By ,](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/content.url)\n\n**Here are some examples of the types of questions you can ask:**\n\n- What's the best graphics card for 4K gaming?\n- Should I get the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 17 Pro?\n- Show me some good VPNs under \\$10 a month.\n\nI'm in Beta. [Help me get better](https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdL9ayCDMigj08oQXjAgDJVX77ti49d9ILHwE--ZFlRtEHOSw\/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117991066449526760970).\n\nKeep scrolling for next article","attrs_readable_markdown":"You already know [YouTube](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/best-youtube-channels). Google's video platform is a load-bearing pillar of the internet that houses everything from the dumbest memes to the most [radical political content](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-watch-or-listen-to-dr-martin-luther-king-jrs-speeches-online). It's all there, and it's all free. However, there's an option to pay for a slightly better version of YouTube. YouTube Premium offers convenient perks such as an ad-free experience and offline viewing on mobile devices. But the other benefits are so slight compared with what you get from basic YouTube that we have difficulty recommending the [video streaming service](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-video-streaming-services) to anyone who isn't a YouTube die-hard. The cheaper Lite option is a good addition, but it has fewer features. You're better off paying for one of our more well-rounded Editors' Choice winners for streaming video services, such as [Hulu](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hulu) or [Netflix](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/netflix).\n\nYouTube knows most viewers are accustomed to using the site without spending a dime, so YouTube Premium offers a one-month free trial. You must enter payment information into your YouTube account before enjoying the features. After that, you can choose between the different pricing tiers.\n\n![YouTube Premium](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n(Credit: YouTube\/PCMag)\n\nThe standard individual tier costs \\$13.99 per month, which is a bit expensive given what YouTube Premium offers. However, the standalone [YouTube Music](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-music) costs \\$10.99 per month, making YouTube Premium an appealing way to access that service alongside the video library. The \\$22.99-per-month Family plan lets six people experience YouTube Premium. The student discount knocks the price down to a more reasonable \\$7.99 per month.\n\nYouTube also has a lower-cost option called YouTube Premium Lite. At \\$7.99 per month, it's nearly half the cost, but its reduced features are disappointing. Like the regular Premium plan, Premium Lite removes ads from videos. There's one difference: It doesn't remove all ads. YouTube says \"most\" Premium Lite videos are ad-free, like ones in the comedy, cooking, and [gaming](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-pc-games) categories. In addition, ad-free music and background play remain locked to the higher tier. It reminds us of Netflix's ad-supported plan that doesn't include all videos. Although a more affordable package is welcome, YouTube Premium Lite needs additional benefits to be worth the cash.\n\nOther ways to spend money on YouTube have nothing to do with YouTube Premium. For example, you can buy and rent popular movies and TV shows a la carte. YouTube also offers [YouTube TV](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/youtube-tv) for \\$82.99 per month. Confused? Check out the [differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/youtube-premium-vs-youtube-tv-whats-the-difference).\n\nYouTube Premium enhances your existing YouTube account, so you gain those benefits on any platform where you use YouTube. That includes the web, mobile devices ([Android](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-android-apps) and [iOS](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-iphone-apps)), video game consoles ([PlayStation](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/comparisons\/sony-playstation-5-vs-ps5-pro-should-you-upgrade), [Switch](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/nintendo-switch-oled-model), [Xbox](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/microsoft-xbox-series-x)), [smart TVs](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tvs) from all major manufacturers, and [media streaming devices](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-media-streaming-devices) (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku).\n\nAnything you can watch on YouTube, you can watch on YouTube Premium. That's an unfathomable amount of videos to consider, with uploads from companies, influencers, or regular folks in their living rooms. However, the list quickly becomes much less enticing regarding the content you can only watch on YouTube Premium.\n\n![YouTube Premium Review](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n(Credit: YouTube Premium\/PCMag)\n\nPreviously, YouTube called its premium tier YouTube Red and launched it alongside a slate of original programming. Mostly, those videos felt like existing popular YouTube shows with slightly bigger budgets rather than full-on professional shows that other streaming services include as exclusives. It's telling that one of YouTube's biggest exclusives, the *Karate Kid* spin-off series *Cobra Kai*, graduated to Netflix. In addition, you can watch PewDiePie freak out while playing a [video game](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-pc-games) or check out *Bad Internet*, College Humor's take on *Black Mirror*.\n\nThese days, YouTube seems to put less promotional effort behind its exclusive Premium shows. The YouTube Originals channel doesn't frequently upload new content. Many shows have ended, including a few original [anime](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-anime-streaming-services) series. The target audience seems to be younger viewers primed to enjoy cooking reality shows or documentaries about pop musicians like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Overall, YouTube Premium's anemic exclusive library doesn't compete with what you'll find on Hulu or [Max](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/hbo-max). [Tubi](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/tubi) lets you watch movies and shows for free. [Disney+](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/disney-plus) is the far better option for families.\n\nLike Amazon [Prime Video](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/amazon-prime-video) and Hulu, YouTube lets you subscribe to additional premium channels, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz. Note that these [Primetime Channels](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/subscribe-to-streaming-services-on-youtube-via-primetime-channels) don't come as part of YouTube Premium; they're each a separate paid subscription.\n\nOn the upside, YouTube Premium has gradually rolled out intriguing perks. The service includes an ad-free YouTube Music subscription, a welcome addition. It's not our absolute favorite [music streaming service](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-online-music-streaming-services), but it's an excellent option thanks to its music videos, collaborative playlists, lyric searching, and other cool features.\n\nYouTube Premium now has casual games for all desktop and mobile users under the YouTube Playables banner. You can fire up familiar hits like Angry Birds, The Daily Crossword, or Solitaire. The catalog includes more than 75 games, playable via mouse or touch screen, depending on the platform, and you can save your progress and high scores. This is closer to, say, [Netflix's game offerings](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-netflix-games) or [Google Play Games](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-play-games) than Google's ambitious (and now shuttered) [Stadia](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-stadia). Gaming is so interwoven into YouTube culture that these Playables have appeal.\n\nYouTube Premium subscribers also gain early access to experimental YouTube Studio features before they roll out to all users, including higher-quality audio and a redesigned watch page. You can even be among the first creators to try out new and upcoming [AI](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai) tools like a video conversation assistant, comment summaries, music recommendations, intelligently jumping ahead to key moments in a video, and image generation.\n\n![Newsletter Icon](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/images\/newsletter-envelope.svg)\n\n![Newsletter Icon](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/images\/newsletter-envelope.svg)\n\nGet Our Best Stories\\!\n\n### All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts\n![Lab Report Newsletter Image](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/newsletters\/17709142-contextual.fit_lpad.size_250x140.v1752614027.png)\n\nThanks for signing up\\!\n\nYour subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox\\!\n\nYouTube Premium isn't an app unto itself; it's just an upgrade to the existing YouTube app. Subscribers see the word \"Premium\" next to the red YouTube logo upon signing up for the service. As a result, YouTube and YouTube Premium have essentially the same interface on mobile or the web.\n\nThis isn't a bad thing, as YouTube is a premier platform for a reason. I experienced smooth video playback over my home Wi-Fi connection (60Mbps download), even with [4K](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/what-is-4k-ultra-hd) videos. You can easily share videos, like them, clip them, and save them for later. If nothing else, the YouTube commenter community is very passionate and large, but many Premium videos turn comments off.\n\n![YouTube Playables](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n(Credit: YouTube\/PCMag)\n\nYouTube Premium adds useful features that make watching YouTube more convenient. For example, Premium removes YouTube's commercials. Many YouTubers incorporate ads as part of their content, so you must skip those manually. But now you can watch videos without being randomly interrupted by entirely separate commercials. No more dealing with self-aware ads that talk about the fact there's a skip button before shaming you into not clicking it.\n\nOn mobile, YouTube Premium lets you keep listening to a video in the background even when you turn your screen off. This is great for listening to music, but it has potentially even more uses. I watch many YouTube videos that are more about the discussion than anything happening on screen—[podcasts](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/the-best-podcasts), essentially. Now, I can listen to those videos while doing other things and not waste my phone's battery life by leaving the screen on. On mobile, you can now watch YouTube Shorts while browsing elsewhere thanks to picture-in-picture.\n\nWith an individual plan, you can simultaneously stream YouTube Premium on two devices; the Family plan bumps that limit to four per account. YouTube Premium also lets you download videos for offline viewing on mobile, with the Smart Downloads feature automatically adding recommended videos to your library. Smart Downloads supports regular YouTube videos as well as YouTube Shorts. Offline downloading works on up to 10 devices regardless of plan. This is a cool feature, something we like to see in premium video subscriptions, but with clever workarounds, there are already ways to [download YouTube videos](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-download-video-from-your-favorite-streaming-service) without paying.\n\nOther features make the YouTube Premium viewing experience even more convenient. For example, queuing tools empower mobile viewers to decide which videos play next and to watch videos together via FaceTime or [Google Meet](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/google-meet). In addition, you can easily switch from one device to another for uninterrupted viewing and watch 1080p videos with an enhanced bitrate.\n\nAlthough these are nice perks, they feel like the extra features a premium service includes to pump up its overall appeal. They're not strong enough to be major selling points in their own right, which is the case here.\n\nYouTube has a ridiculous amount of content, so check out our list of [the best YouTube channels](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/best-youtube-channels) for recommendations.\n\nYouTube Premium features the same accessibility options on regular YouTube, such as customizable subtitles (where applicable) and adjustable playback speed. Premium videos typically have multiple language options for closed captioning.\n\nFor parental controls, YouTube has a separate app for children, YouTube Kids, where young ones can only watch select content (even if that algorithmically served content can get pretty freaky). With YouTube Premium, parents can rest easy knowing their kids won't be exposed to commercials. Offline downloads ensure children can watch their favorite shows when a wireless signal isn't available.\n\nDepending on what rabbit holes you stumble down, YouTube is arguably one of the most dangerous online places. The least you can do is keep yourself safe and secure with a [VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services). Typically, VPNs don't work with most video streaming services because the geographic location spoofing interferes with regional licensing deals. Still, I suspected YouTube Premium would be a special case, since it is just YouTube.\n\nI tested YouTube Premium with a Windows PC connected to [Proton VPN](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/protonvpn) servers and encountered zero issues streaming premium shows from around the globe. This may change in the future, though. [Video streaming services](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-vpns-for-video-streaming) have been known to block VPN traffic after the fact.\n\n![Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know](https:\/\/cdn.ex.co\/transformations\/production\/ab776fe7-0140-466a-a052-a13fcb907c6a\/thumbnail-720.webp)\n\n![PCMag Logo](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/images\/pcmag.svg)\n\nVideo Streaming Services: What You Should Know\n\nIf you watch a lot of YouTube, YouTube Premium improves your viewing experience thanks to offline downloads and zero ads. You might even find a YouTube Premium show you enjoy, a fun YouTube Playables game, or use the subscription as a gateway to the excellent YouTube Music. However, casual YouTube watchers are better off sticking with the free service as you don't miss out on much by upgrading (besides the time spent watching ads). The cheaper but even more limited YouTube Premium Lite doesn't change that. If you're looking for a traditional premium streaming subscription, check out our Editors' Choice winners: Netflix for original shows, Hulu for live and on-demand content, and Tubi for free TV programs and movies.\n\nYouTube Premium\n\nBest for Hard-Core YouTube Viewers\n\n3\\.0\n\nPros\n\nCons\n\nThe Bottom Line\n\nYouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else.\n\n## About Our Expert\n![Jordan Minor](https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/authors\/02LlFeCNCCJg1CPvWM9eoU0.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1722457854.jpg)\n\nJordan Minor\n\nSenior Writer, Software\n***\nExperience\n\nMy PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book [*Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977*](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/first-look-video-game-of-the-year-paints-a-vibrant-picture-of-gaming-history), and the reason everything you know about [*Street Sharks*](https:\/\/medium.com\/pcmag-access\/how-i-used-lies-about-a-cartoon-to-prove-history-is-meaningless-on-the-internet-6c88bcbc62d7) is a lie.\n\nLatest By Jordan Minor\n\n[Read Full Bio](https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/jordan-minor)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Description	YouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	You already know YouTube . Google's video platform is a load-bearing pillar of the internet that houses everything from the dumbest memes to the most radical political content . It's all there, and it's all free. However, there's an option to pay for a slightly better version of YouTube. YouTube Premium offers convenient perks such as an ad-free experience and offline viewing on mobile devices. But the other benefits are so slight compared with what you get from basic YouTube that we have difficulty recommending the video streaming service to anyone who isn't a YouTube die-hard. The cheaper Lite option is a good addition, but it has fewer features. You're better off paying for one of our more well-rounded Editors' Choice winners for streaming video services, such as Hulu or Netflix . YouTube knows most viewers are accustomed to using the site without spending a dime, so YouTube Premium offers a one-month free trial. You must enter payment information into your YouTube account before enjoying the features. After that, you can choose between the different pricing tiers. (Credit: YouTube/PCMag) The standard individual tier costs $13.99 per month, which is a bit expensive given what YouTube Premium offers. However, the standalone YouTube Music costs $10.99 per month, making YouTube Premium an appealing way to access that service alongside the video library. The $22.99-per-month Family plan lets six people experience YouTube Premium. The student discount knocks the price down to a more reasonable $7.99 per month. YouTube also has a lower-cost option called YouTube Premium Lite. At $7.99 per month, it's nearly half the cost, but its reduced features are disappointing. Like the regular Premium plan, Premium Lite removes ads from videos. There's one difference: It doesn't remove all ads. YouTube says "most" Premium Lite videos are ad-free, like ones in the comedy, cooking, and gaming categories. In addition, ad-free music and background play remain locked to the higher tier. It reminds us of Netflix's ad-supported plan that doesn't include all videos. Although a more affordable package is welcome, YouTube Premium Lite needs additional benefits to be worth the cash. Other ways to spend money on YouTube have nothing to do with YouTube Premium. For example, you can buy and rent popular movies and TV shows a la carte. YouTube also offers YouTube TV for $82.99 per month. Confused? Check out the differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV . YouTube Premium enhances your existing YouTube account, so you gain those benefits on any platform where you use YouTube. That includes the web, mobile devices ( Android and iOS ), video game consoles ( PlayStation , Switch , Xbox ), smart TVs from all major manufacturers, and media streaming devices (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku). Anything you can watch on YouTube, you can watch on YouTube Premium. That's an unfathomable amount of videos to consider, with uploads from companies, influencers, or regular folks in their living rooms. However, the list quickly becomes much less enticing regarding the content you can only watch on YouTube Premium. (Credit: YouTube Premium/PCMag) Previously, YouTube called its premium tier YouTube Red and launched it alongside a slate of original programming. Mostly, those videos felt like existing popular YouTube shows with slightly bigger budgets rather than full-on professional shows that other streaming services include as exclusives. It's telling that one of YouTube's biggest exclusives, the Karate Kid spin-off series Cobra Kai , graduated to Netflix. In addition, you can watch PewDiePie freak out while playing a video game or check out Bad Internet , College Humor's take on Black Mirror . These days, YouTube seems to put less promotional effort behind its exclusive Premium shows. The YouTube Originals channel doesn't frequently upload new content. Many shows have ended, including a few original anime series. The target audience seems to be younger viewers primed to enjoy cooking reality shows or documentaries about pop musicians like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Overall, YouTube Premium's anemic exclusive library doesn't compete with what you'll find on Hulu or Max . Tubi lets you watch movies and shows for free. Disney+ is the far better option for families. Like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, YouTube lets you subscribe to additional premium channels, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz. Note that these Primetime Channels don't come as part of YouTube Premium; they're each a separate paid subscription. On the upside, YouTube Premium has gradually rolled out intriguing perks. The service includes an ad-free YouTube Music subscription, a welcome addition. It's not our absolute favorite music streaming service , but it's an excellent option thanks to its music videos, collaborative playlists, lyric searching, and other cool features. YouTube Premium now has casual games for all desktop and mobile users under the YouTube Playables banner. You can fire up familiar hits like Angry Birds, The Daily Crossword, or Solitaire. The catalog includes more than 75 games, playable via mouse or touch screen, depending on the platform, and you can save your progress and high scores. This is closer to, say, Netflix's game offerings or Google Play Games than Google's ambitious (and now shuttered) Stadia . Gaming is so interwoven into YouTube culture that these Playables have appeal. YouTube Premium subscribers also gain early access to experimental YouTube Studio features before they roll out to all users, including higher-quality audio and a redesigned watch page. You can even be among the first creators to try out new and upcoming AI tools like a video conversation assistant, comment summaries, music recommendations, intelligently jumping ahead to key moments in a video, and image generation. Get Our Best Stories! All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts Thanks for signing up! Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox! YouTube Premium isn't an app unto itself; it's just an upgrade to the existing YouTube app. Subscribers see the word "Premium" next to the red YouTube logo upon signing up for the service. As a result, YouTube and YouTube Premium have essentially the same interface on mobile or the web. This isn't a bad thing, as YouTube is a premier platform for a reason. I experienced smooth video playback over my home Wi-Fi connection (60Mbps download), even with 4K videos. You can easily share videos, like them, clip them, and save them for later. If nothing else, the YouTube commenter community is very passionate and large, but many Premium videos turn comments off. (Credit: YouTube/PCMag) YouTube Premium adds useful features that make watching YouTube more convenient. For example, Premium removes YouTube's commercials. Many YouTubers incorporate ads as part of their content, so you must skip those manually. But now you can watch videos without being randomly interrupted by entirely separate commercials. No more dealing with self-aware ads that talk about the fact there's a skip button before shaming you into not clicking it. On mobile, YouTube Premium lets you keep listening to a video in the background even when you turn your screen off. This is great for listening to music, but it has potentially even more uses. I watch many YouTube videos that are more about the discussion than anything happening on screen— podcasts , essentially. Now, I can listen to those videos while doing other things and not waste my phone's battery life by leaving the screen on. On mobile, you can now watch YouTube Shorts while browsing elsewhere thanks to picture-in-picture. With an individual plan, you can simultaneously stream YouTube Premium on two devices; the Family plan bumps that limit to four per account. YouTube Premium also lets you download videos for offline viewing on mobile, with the Smart Downloads feature automatically adding recommended videos to your library. Smart Downloads supports regular YouTube videos as well as YouTube Shorts. Offline downloading works on up to 10 devices regardless of plan. This is a cool feature, something we like to see in premium video subscriptions, but with clever workarounds, there are already ways to download YouTube videos without paying. Other features make the YouTube Premium viewing experience even more convenient. For example, queuing tools empower mobile viewers to decide which videos play next and to watch videos together via FaceTime or Google Meet . In addition, you can easily switch from one device to another for uninterrupted viewing and watch 1080p videos with an enhanced bitrate. Although these are nice perks, they feel like the extra features a premium service includes to pump up its overall appeal. They're not strong enough to be major selling points in their own right, which is the case here. YouTube has a ridiculous amount of content, so check out our list of the best YouTube channels for recommendations. YouTube Premium features the same accessibility options on regular YouTube, such as customizable subtitles (where applicable) and adjustable playback speed. Premium videos typically have multiple language options for closed captioning. For parental controls, YouTube has a separate app for children, YouTube Kids, where young ones can only watch select content (even if that algorithmically served content can get pretty freaky). With YouTube Premium, parents can rest easy knowing their kids won't be exposed to commercials. Offline downloads ensure children can watch their favorite shows when a wireless signal isn't available. Depending on what rabbit holes you stumble down, YouTube is arguably one of the most dangerous online places. The least you can do is keep yourself safe and secure with a VPN . Typically, VPNs don't work with most video streaming services because the geographic location spoofing interferes with regional licensing deals. Still, I suspected YouTube Premium would be a special case, since it is just YouTube. I tested YouTube Premium with a Windows PC connected to Proton VPN servers and encountered zero issues streaming premium shows from around the globe. This may change in the future, though. Video streaming services have been known to block VPN traffic after the fact. Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know If you watch a lot of YouTube, YouTube Premium improves your viewing experience thanks to offline downloads and zero ads. You might even find a YouTube Premium show you enjoy, a fun YouTube Playables game, or use the subscription as a gateway to the excellent YouTube Music. However, casual YouTube watchers are better off sticking with the free service as you don't miss out on much by upgrading (besides the time spent watching ads). The cheaper but even more limited YouTube Premium Lite doesn't change that. If you're looking for a traditional premium streaming subscription, check out our Editors' Choice winners: Netflix for original shows, Hulu for live and on-demand content, and Tubi for free TV programs and movies. YouTube Premium Best for Hard-Core YouTube Viewers 3.0 Pros Cons The Bottom Line YouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else. About Our Expert Jordan Minor Senior Writer, Software Experience My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977 , and the reason everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie. Latest By Jordan Minor Read Full Bio
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[Home](https://www.pcmag.com/) 2. [Reviews](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews) 3. [Video](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/video) 4. [Video Streaming Services](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/video-streaming-services) # YouTube Premium Review [![Jordan Minor](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/authors/02LlFeCNCCJg1CPvWM9eoU0.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1722457854.jpg)](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) Jordan Minor Jordan Minor Senior Writer, Software Experience My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book [Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977](https://www.pcmag.com/news/first-look-video-game-of-the-year-paints-a-vibrant-picture-of-gaming-history), and the reason everything you know about [Street Sharks](https://medium.com/pcmag-access/how-i-used-lies-about-a-cartoon-to-prove-history-is-meaningless-on-the-internet-6c88bcbc62d7) is a lie. Areas of Expertise - [Games](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/games) - [Website Builders](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/website-builders) - [Video Streaming Services](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/video-streaming-services) - [Dating](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/dating) - [Meal Kits](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/meal-kits) - [GPS Navigation](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/gps-navigation) [Read Full Bio](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) Senior Writer, Software OUR EXPERT Jordan has been writing about consumer technology for more than a decade, specializing in video games, streaming, and software. LOOK INSIDE PC LABS [HOW WE TEST](https://www.pcmag.com/about/how-we-test-everything-we-review) 65 EXPERTS 44 YEARS 43K+ REVIEWS Updated March 10, 2025 Social Share [Threads](https://threads.net/intent/post?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium "Threads (Opens in a new tab)") [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium "Bluesky (Opens in a new tab)") [Reddit](http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&title=YouTube%20Premium "Reddit (Opens in a new tab)") [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium "Facebook (Opens in a new tab)") [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&title=YouTube%20Premium&source=PCMag "LinkedIn (Opens in a new tab)") [Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&description=YouTube%20Premium "Pinterest (Opens in a new tab)") [Flipboard](https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?v=2&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&title=YouTube%20Premium "Flipboard (Opens in a new tab)") [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&text=YouTube%20Premium&hashtags=PCMag "X (Opens in a new tab)") Copied Error\! [Copy Link]() https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-premium [Email](https://www.pcmag.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dae5a9afb8b0bfb9aee783b5af8eafb8bfffe8ea8aa8bfb7b3afb7fcbbb7aae1b8b5bea3e7b2aeaeaaa9ffe99bffe89cffe89cadadadf4aab9b7bbbdf4b9b5b7ffe89ca8bfacb3bfada9ffe89ca3b5afaeafb8bff7aaa8bfb7b3afb7ffea9effea9bffea9effea9b97b5a8bffabca8b5b7fa8a9997bbbde0fab2aeaeaaa9e0f5f5adadadf4aab9b7bbbdf4b9b5b7 "Email (Opens in a new tab)") [Comments](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-premium#comments) [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=pcmag.com) ![YouTube Premium](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/reviews/014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ-1.fit_scale.size_400x225.v1658774486.png) (Credit: YouTube) ![YouTube Premium](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/reviews/014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ-1.fit_scale.size_400x225.v1658774486.png) (Credit: YouTube) 3\.0 What Our Ratings Mean *** - 5\.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking - 4\.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors - 4\.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls - 3\.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors - 3\.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack - 2\.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution - 2\.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution - 1\.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product - 1\.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product Read Our [Editorial Mission Statement](https://www.pcmag.com/about/pcmagcom-mission-statement) and [Testing Methodologies](https://www.pcmag.com/about/how-we-test-everything-we-review). ### The Bottom Line YouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else. Per Month, Starts at \$7.99 Starts at \$7.99 Per Month [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=score-card-persistent&element=buy-button&item=offer&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new tab)") PCMag editors select and review products [independently](https://www.pcmag.com/about/pcmagcom-mission-statement). If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our [testing](https://www.pcmag.com/about/how-we-test-everything-we-review). ## Pros & Cons - Removes YouTube's many ads - Includes YouTube Music - Optional early access to upcoming features - Casual games - Offline downloads on mobile - Little content benefit compared with free YouTube - Unexciting original shows - Lower-cost Lite version doesn't remove all ads ## YouTube Premium Specs \| Name \| Value \| \|---\|---\| \| Starting Price \| \$7.99 per month \| \| Concurrent Streams \| 4 \| \| Live TV \| \| More Specs You already know [YouTube](https://www.pcmag.com/news/best-youtube-channels). Google's video platform is a load-bearing pillar of the internet that houses everything from the dumbest memes to the most [radical political content](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-watch-or-listen-to-dr-martin-luther-king-jrs-speeches-online). It's all there, and it's all free. However, there's an option to pay for a slightly better version of YouTube. YouTube Premium offers convenient perks such as an ad-free experience and offline viewing on mobile devices. But the other benefits are so slight compared with what you get from basic YouTube that we have difficulty recommending the [video streaming service](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-video-streaming-services) to anyone who isn't a YouTube die-hard. The cheaper Lite option is a good addition, but it has fewer features. You're better off paying for one of our more well-rounded Editors' Choice winners for streaming video services, such as [Hulu](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hulu) or [Netflix](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/netflix). ## How Much Does YouTube Premium Cost? YouTube knows most viewers are accustomed to using the site without spending a dime, so YouTube Premium offers a one-month free trial. You must enter payment information into your YouTube account before enjoying the features. After that, you can choose between the different pricing tiers. ![YouTube Premium](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) (Credit: YouTube/PCMag) The standard individual tier costs \$13.99 per month, which is a bit expensive given what YouTube Premium offers. However, the standalone [YouTube Music](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-music) costs \$10.99 per month, making YouTube Premium an appealing way to access that service alongside the video library. The \$22.99-per-month Family plan lets six people experience YouTube Premium. The student discount knocks the price down to a more reasonable \$7.99 per month. YouTube also has a lower-cost option called YouTube Premium Lite. At \$7.99 per month, it's nearly half the cost, but its reduced features are disappointing. Like the regular Premium plan, Premium Lite removes ads from videos. There's one difference: It doesn't remove all ads. YouTube says "most" Premium Lite videos are ad-free, like ones in the comedy, cooking, and [gaming](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-pc-games) categories. In addition, ad-free music and background play remain locked to the higher tier. It reminds us of Netflix's ad-supported plan that doesn't include all videos. Although a more affordable package is welcome, YouTube Premium Lite needs additional benefits to be worth the cash. ### Similar Products ![Netflix logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Netflix 4\.5 Outstanding [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00S4qlR07vjUsO2dYVGoNLA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netflix.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=05isp366kc1079ybQvTT8oQ "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/netflix) ![Prime Video logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Amazon Prime Video 4\.0 Excellent [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=05kie42h3YvHwjr4G1w80Qq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fvideo%2Foffers%2Fref%3Datv_pv_new_offer&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=2&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=0367zRTOuJ6y7kyrSRQqOjY "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-video) ![Hulu logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Hulu 4\.0 Excellent [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=01sTBhxGbvAtiZQAdjvaWeI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fclick%3Fid%3Dyr7LsPS5ySE%26offerid%3D1589238.1517%26type%3D3%26subid%3D0&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=3&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=00WpfWAIRGXiYqRaRTzeTiy "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hulu) ![Disney+ new logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Disney+ 4\.0 Excellent [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=04SNeTyhMZYHvnjKDXj97OY&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdisneyplus.bn5x.net%2Fc%2F10915%2F692368%2F9358&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=4&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=06c0sAhVU2OqYR9TrQjYAmZ "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/disney-plus) ![kanopy logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Kanopy 4\.5 Outstanding \$0.00 at Kanopy [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=027E8FzcpbSOtyATsCuZ0pn&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kanopy.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=5&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=06rUJLiLnjKWliZGoWaDySe "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kanopy) ![Nebula logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Nebula 3\.5 Good \$5 Per Month at Nebula App [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=05eJTdiqTdTP2zO6PKPzIif&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnebula.app%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=6&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=01aHUbUWOFtzQ7dOZXlAaaN "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nebula-streaming) ![Curiosity Stream Logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Curiosity Stream 4\.0 Excellent \$4.99 Per Month at CuriosityStream [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=016rQAHwtHw8BOSVRpGJBqm&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kqzyfj.com%2Fclick-5226272-12658720&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=7&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=07MSb3cPAI6ODLUKbKQwvOr "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/curiositystream) ![YouTube TV Logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### YouTube TV 4\.0 Excellent \$82.99 at YouTube TV [\$82 at YouTube TV](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=03dZcpNfhp7e8ujvUDpTrOY&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftv.youtube.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=8&element_label=%2482+at+YouTube+TV&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=04TvuuZvEgYYQtMUcycRQIm "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-tv) ![YouTube Music](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### YouTube Music 4\.0 Excellent \$10.99 Per Month at YouTube [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.youtube.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=9&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=00STQlW2nkrJ7W2rLkB3DvW "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-music) ![Tubi logo](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20238%20139'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) ### Tubi 4\.0 Excellent \$0.00 at Tubi [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=072IFLd7lNShgP2tgeyZpPp&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftubitv.com%2F&template=review-page&module=similar-products-carousel&element=product-tile&item=buy-button&position=10&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=0638IGnoAoa05cvLZ2zgG7i "(Opens in a new tab)") [Read Our Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/tubi) Other ways to spend money on YouTube have nothing to do with YouTube Premium. For example, you can buy and rent popular movies and TV shows a la carte. YouTube also offers [YouTube TV](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-tv) for \$82.99 per month. Confused? Check out the [differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/youtube-premium-vs-youtube-tv-whats-the-difference). YouTube Premium enhances your existing YouTube account, so you gain those benefits on any platform where you use YouTube. That includes the web, mobile devices ([Android](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-android-apps) and [iOS](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-iphone-apps)), video game consoles ([PlayStation](https://www.pcmag.com/comparisons/sony-playstation-5-vs-ps5-pro-should-you-upgrade), [Switch](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-oled-model), [Xbox](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/microsoft-xbox-series-x)), [smart TVs](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-tvs) from all major manufacturers, and [media streaming devices](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-media-streaming-devices) (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku). ## What Can You Watch on YouTube Premium? Anything you can watch on YouTube, you can watch on YouTube Premium. That's an unfathomable amount of videos to consider, with uploads from companies, influencers, or regular folks in their living rooms. However, the list quickly becomes much less enticing regarding the content you can only watch on YouTube Premium. ![YouTube Premium Review](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) (Credit: YouTube Premium/PCMag) Previously, YouTube called its premium tier YouTube Red and launched it alongside a slate of original programming. Mostly, those videos felt like existing popular YouTube shows with slightly bigger budgets rather than full-on professional shows that other streaming services include as exclusives. It's telling that one of YouTube's biggest exclusives, the Karate Kid spin-off series Cobra Kai, graduated to Netflix. In addition, you can watch PewDiePie freak out while playing a [video game](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-pc-games) or check out Bad Internet, College Humor's take on Black Mirror. These days, YouTube seems to put less promotional effort behind its exclusive Premium shows. The YouTube Originals channel doesn't frequently upload new content. Many shows have ended, including a few original [anime](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-anime-streaming-services) series. The target audience seems to be younger viewers primed to enjoy cooking reality shows or documentaries about pop musicians like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Overall, YouTube Premium's anemic exclusive library doesn't compete with what you'll find on Hulu or [Max](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hbo-max). [Tubi](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/tubi) lets you watch movies and shows for free. [Disney+](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/disney-plus) is the far better option for families. Like Amazon [Prime Video](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-video) and Hulu, YouTube lets you subscribe to additional premium channels, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz. Note that these [Primetime Channels](https://www.pcmag.com/news/subscribe-to-streaming-services-on-youtube-via-primetime-channels) don't come as part of YouTube Premium; they're each a separate paid subscription. ## Premium Extras: Music, Games, and Early Access to New Features On the upside, YouTube Premium has gradually rolled out intriguing perks. The service includes an ad-free YouTube Music subscription, a welcome addition. It's not our absolute favorite [music streaming service](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-online-music-streaming-services), but it's an excellent option thanks to its music videos, collaborative playlists, lyric searching, and other cool features. YouTube Premium now has casual games for all desktop and mobile users under the YouTube Playables banner. You can fire up familiar hits like Angry Birds, The Daily Crossword, or Solitaire. The catalog includes more than 75 games, playable via mouse or touch screen, depending on the platform, and you can save your progress and high scores. This is closer to, say, [Netflix's game offerings](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-netflix-games) or [Google Play Games](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-play-games) than Google's ambitious (and now shuttered) [Stadia](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-stadia). Gaming is so interwoven into YouTube culture that these Playables have appeal. YouTube Premium subscribers also gain early access to experimental YouTube Studio features before they roll out to all users, including higher-quality audio and a redesigned watch page. You can even be among the first creators to try out new and upcoming [AI](https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai) tools like a video conversation assistant, comment summaries, music recommendations, intelligently jumping ahead to key moments in a video, and image generation. ![Newsletter Icon](https://www.pcmag.com/images/newsletter-envelope.svg) ![Newsletter Icon](https://www.pcmag.com/images/newsletter-envelope.svg) Get Our Best Stories\! ### All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts ![Lab Report Newsletter Image](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/newsletters/17709142-contextual.fit_lpad.size_250x140.v1752614027.png) Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag's latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights. Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag's latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our [Terms of Use](https://www.pcmag.com/terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.pcmag.com/privacy). Thanks for signing up\! Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox\! ## YouTube Premium on the Web and Mobile YouTube Premium isn't an app unto itself; it's just an upgrade to the existing YouTube app. Subscribers see the word "Premium" next to the red YouTube logo upon signing up for the service. As a result, YouTube and YouTube Premium have essentially the same interface on mobile or the web. This isn't a bad thing, as YouTube is a premier platform for a reason. I experienced smooth video playback over my home Wi-Fi connection (60Mbps download), even with [4K](https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-4k-ultra-hd) videos. You can easily share videos, like them, clip them, and save them for later. If nothing else, the YouTube commenter community is very passionate and large, but many Premium videos turn comments off. ![YouTube Playables](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) (Credit: YouTube/PCMag) YouTube Premium adds useful features that make watching YouTube more convenient. For example, Premium removes YouTube's commercials. Many YouTubers incorporate ads as part of their content, so you must skip those manually. But now you can watch videos without being randomly interrupted by entirely separate commercials. No more dealing with self-aware ads that talk about the fact there's a skip button before shaming you into not clicking it. On mobile, YouTube Premium lets you keep listening to a video in the background even when you turn your screen off. This is great for listening to music, but it has potentially even more uses. I watch many YouTube videos that are more about the discussion than anything happening on screen—[podcasts](https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-best-podcasts), essentially. Now, I can listen to those videos while doing other things and not waste my phone's battery life by leaving the screen on. On mobile, you can now watch YouTube Shorts while browsing elsewhere thanks to picture-in-picture. With an individual plan, you can simultaneously stream YouTube Premium on two devices; the Family plan bumps that limit to four per account. YouTube Premium also lets you download videos for offline viewing on mobile, with the Smart Downloads feature automatically adding recommended videos to your library. Smart Downloads supports regular YouTube videos as well as YouTube Shorts. Offline downloading works on up to 10 devices regardless of plan. This is a cool feature, something we like to see in premium video subscriptions, but with clever workarounds, there are already ways to [download YouTube videos](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-download-video-from-your-favorite-streaming-service) without paying. Other features make the YouTube Premium viewing experience even more convenient. For example, queuing tools empower mobile viewers to decide which videos play next and to watch videos together via FaceTime or [Google Meet](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-meet). In addition, you can easily switch from one device to another for uninterrupted viewing and watch 1080p videos with an enhanced bitrate. Although these are nice perks, they feel like the extra features a premium service includes to pump up its overall appeal. They're not strong enough to be major selling points in their own right, which is the case here. YouTube has a ridiculous amount of content, so check out our list of [the best YouTube channels](https://www.pcmag.com/news/best-youtube-channels) for recommendations. ## Accessibility and Parental Controls YouTube Premium features the same accessibility options on regular YouTube, such as customizable subtitles (where applicable) and adjustable playback speed. Premium videos typically have multiple language options for closed captioning. For parental controls, YouTube has a separate app for children, YouTube Kids, where young ones can only watch select content (even if that algorithmically served content can get pretty freaky). With YouTube Premium, parents can rest easy knowing their kids won't be exposed to commercials. Offline downloads ensure children can watch their favorite shows when a wireless signal isn't available. ## Can You Watch YouTube Premium With a VPN? Depending on what rabbit holes you stumble down, YouTube is arguably one of the most dangerous online places. The least you can do is keep yourself safe and secure with a [VPN](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-vpn-services). Typically, VPNs don't work with most video streaming services because the geographic location spoofing interferes with regional licensing deals. Still, I suspected YouTube Premium would be a special case, since it is just YouTube. I tested YouTube Premium with a Windows PC connected to [Proton VPN](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/protonvpn) servers and encountered zero issues streaming premium shows from around the globe. This may change in the future, though. [Video streaming services](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-vpns-for-video-streaming) have been known to block VPN traffic after the fact. ![Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know](https://cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/ab776fe7-0140-466a-a052-a13fcb907c6a/thumbnail-720.webp) ![PCMag Logo](https://www.pcmag.com/images/pcmag.svg) Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know ## Verdict: Premium Is Only for the YouTube Faithful If you watch a lot of YouTube, YouTube Premium improves your viewing experience thanks to offline downloads and zero ads. You might even find a YouTube Premium show you enjoy, a fun YouTube Playables game, or use the subscription as a gateway to the excellent YouTube Music. However, casual YouTube watchers are better off sticking with the free service as you don't miss out on much by upgrading (besides the time spent watching ads). The cheaper but even more limited YouTube Premium Lite doesn't change that. If you're looking for a traditional premium streaming subscription, check out our Editors' Choice winners: Netflix for original shows, Hulu for live and on-demand content, and Tubi for free TV programs and movies. YouTube Premium Best for Hard-Core YouTube Viewers 3\.0 [![YouTube Premium](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 528 297'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=image&position=1&element_label=&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new tab)") [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new tab)") Starts at \$7.99 Per Month at YouTube Per Month, Starts at \$7.99 Pros - Removes YouTube's many ads - Includes YouTube Music - Optional early access to upcoming features - Casual games - Offline downloads on mobile View More Cons - Little content benefit compared with free YouTube - Unexciting original shows - Lower-cost Lite version doesn't remove all ads [![YouTube Premium](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 528 297'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=image&position=1&element_label=&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new tab)") [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=product-cards&element=product-card&item=buy-button&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new tab)") Starts at \$7.99 Per Month at YouTube Per Month, Starts at \$7.99 The Bottom Line YouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else. ## About Our Expert ![Jordan Minor](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/authors/02LlFeCNCCJg1CPvWM9eoU0.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1722457854.jpg) Jordan Minor Senior Writer, Software *** Experience My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book [Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977](https://www.pcmag.com/news/first-look-video-game-of-the-year-paints-a-vibrant-picture-of-gaming-history), and the reason everything you know about [Street Sharks](https://medium.com/pcmag-access/how-i-used-lies-about-a-cartoon-to-prove-history-is-meaningless-on-the-internet-6c88bcbc62d7) is a lie. Areas of Expertise - [Games](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/games) - [Website Builders](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/website-builders) - [Video Streaming Services](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/video-streaming-services) - [Dating](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/dating) - [Meal Kits](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/meal-kits) - [GPS Navigation](https://www.pcmag.com/categories/gps-navigation) Latest By Jordan Minor - [Mario Kart World Review: A Wonderful New Spin on Nintendo's Arcade Racer](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/mario-kart-world) - [March Madness 2026: How to Watch the NCAA Final Four Games Live Without Cable](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/watch-march-madness-2026-ncaa-tournament-games-live-no-cable-march-31) - [The Best MLB Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-mlb-streaming-services) - [The Best Website Builders for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-website-builders) - [Hulu Review: A Top-Notch Blend of Live and On-Demand Programming](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hulu) - [More from Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) [Read Full Bio](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) Advertisement ### Apple [![Late Night Calls From Steve Jobs and Angry Fan Mail: Apple Memories From a Former PCMag Editor-in-Chief](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/apple-50-steve-jobs-angry-mac-fans-pcmag-eic-recollections) [Late Night Calls From Steve Jobs and Angry Fan Mail: Apple Memories From a Former PCMag Editor-in-Chief](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/apple-50-steve-jobs-angry-mac-fans-pcmag-eic-recollections) By [Michael J. Miller](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/michael-miller) [![Looking Back: How the Apple II Kickstarted the Personal Computer Era](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/news/machine-that-changed-everything-kickstarted-personal-computers-apple-50) [Looking Back: How the Apple II Kickstarted the Personal Computer Era](https://www.pcmag.com/news/machine-that-changed-everything-kickstarted-personal-computers-apple-50) By [Jamie Lendino](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jamie-lendino) [![Apple at 50: The iPod Mattered More Than the iPhone](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/apple-50-the-ipod-mattered-more-than-the-iphone) [Apple at 50: The iPod Mattered More Than the iPhone](https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/apple-50-the-ipod-mattered-more-than-the-iphone) By [Jamie Lendino](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jamie-lendino) [![From the Pages of PC Magazine: How We Covered Apple's Greatest Hits and Misses](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/apple-50-hits-misses-from-the-pages-of-pc-magazine) [From the Pages of PC Magazine: How We Covered Apple's Greatest Hits and Misses](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/apple-50-hits-misses-from-the-pages-of-pc-magazine) By [Brian Westover](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/brian-westover) [![Apple's Little-Known Digital Camera From the '90s Was Way Ahead of Its Time](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/apple-50-quicktake-100-digital-camera-lo-fi-photos) [Apple's Little-Known Digital Camera From the '90s Was Way Ahead of Its Time](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/apple-50-quicktake-100-digital-camera-lo-fi-photos) By [Jim Fisher](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jim-fisher) [All Apple Stories](https://www.pcmag.com/series/apple) ### Further Reading [![The Best MLB Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-mlb-streaming-services) [The Best MLB Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-mlb-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) [![The Best Live TV Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services) [The Best Live TV Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) [![The Best Video Streaming Services for Celebrating Black Art](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/celebrate-black-art-with-these-streaming-services) [The Best Video Streaming Services for Celebrating Black Art](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/celebrate-black-art-with-these-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) [![The Best Video Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-video-streaming-services) [The Best Video Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-video-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) [![The Best Movie Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-movie-streaming-services) [The Best Movie Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-movie-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) [![The Best Anime Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-anime-streaming-services) [The Best Anime Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-anime-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) & [Ben Moore](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/ben-moore) [![The Best Free Video Streaming Services for 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-free-video-streaming-services) [The Best Free Video Streaming Services for 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-free-video-streaming-services) By [Jordan Minor](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor) & [Ben Moore](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/ben-moore) [![The Best Streaming Services for Classical Music in 2026](<data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 400 225'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' /%3E%3C/svg%3E>)](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-classical-music-video-streaming-services) [The Best Streaming Services for Classical Music in 2026](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-classical-music-video-streaming-services) By [Michael Muchmore](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/michael-muchmore) Table of Contents YouTube Premium [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=toc-commerce&element=toc-commerce-link&item=toc-commerce-list&position=1&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new tab)") ### YouTube Premium ![YouTube Premium](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/reviews/014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ-1.fit_lpad.size_238x139.v1658774486.png) [See It](https://cc.pcmag.com/v1/otc/01r1WRIAJykbQgN4oGQ8FSi?merchant=00unnVlv520njqwPwxMLf0Z&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fpremium&template=review-page&module=toc-commerce&element=toc-commerce-link&item=toc-commerce-list&position=&element_label=See+It&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcmag.com%2Freviews%2Fyoutube-premium&object_type=review&object_uuid=014Z1jr11xUgkPmZJKtJ0GQ&product_uuid=02eqjQEBC85dnBeUsm5zwH9 "(Opens in a new 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I'm Maggie, PCMag's AI-powered product finder, exclusively powered by our deep library of reviews and buying advice written by our expert team of technology journalists. PRESENTED BY ![]() * Recommended for You ![](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/formatImage$product.image.url,%20325,%20183$) What Our Ratings Mean * Read Our [Editorial Mission Statement](https://www.pcmag.com/about/pcmagcom-mission-statement) and [Testing Methodologies](https://www.pcmag.com/about/how-we-test-everything-we-review). 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Readable Markdown	You already know [YouTube](https://www.pcmag.com/news/best-youtube-channels). Google's video platform is a load-bearing pillar of the internet that houses everything from the dumbest memes to the most [radical political content](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-watch-or-listen-to-dr-martin-luther-king-jrs-speeches-online). It's all there, and it's all free. However, there's an option to pay for a slightly better version of YouTube. YouTube Premium offers convenient perks such as an ad-free experience and offline viewing on mobile devices. But the other benefits are so slight compared with what you get from basic YouTube that we have difficulty recommending the [video streaming service](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-video-streaming-services) to anyone who isn't a YouTube die-hard. The cheaper Lite option is a good addition, but it has fewer features. You're better off paying for one of our more well-rounded Editors' Choice winners for streaming video services, such as [Hulu](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hulu) or [Netflix](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/netflix). YouTube knows most viewers are accustomed to using the site without spending a dime, so YouTube Premium offers a one-month free trial. You must enter payment information into your YouTube account before enjoying the features. After that, you can choose between the different pricing tiers. ![YouTube Premium](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) (Credit: YouTube/PCMag) The standard individual tier costs \$13.99 per month, which is a bit expensive given what YouTube Premium offers. However, the standalone [YouTube Music](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-music) costs \$10.99 per month, making YouTube Premium an appealing way to access that service alongside the video library. The \$22.99-per-month Family plan lets six people experience YouTube Premium. The student discount knocks the price down to a more reasonable \$7.99 per month. YouTube also has a lower-cost option called YouTube Premium Lite. At \$7.99 per month, it's nearly half the cost, but its reduced features are disappointing. Like the regular Premium plan, Premium Lite removes ads from videos. There's one difference: It doesn't remove all ads. YouTube says "most" Premium Lite videos are ad-free, like ones in the comedy, cooking, and [gaming](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-pc-games) categories. In addition, ad-free music and background play remain locked to the higher tier. It reminds us of Netflix's ad-supported plan that doesn't include all videos. Although a more affordable package is welcome, YouTube Premium Lite needs additional benefits to be worth the cash. Other ways to spend money on YouTube have nothing to do with YouTube Premium. For example, you can buy and rent popular movies and TV shows a la carte. YouTube also offers [YouTube TV](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/youtube-tv) for \$82.99 per month. Confused? Check out the [differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/youtube-premium-vs-youtube-tv-whats-the-difference). YouTube Premium enhances your existing YouTube account, so you gain those benefits on any platform where you use YouTube. That includes the web, mobile devices ([Android](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-android-apps) and [iOS](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-iphone-apps)), video game consoles ([PlayStation](https://www.pcmag.com/comparisons/sony-playstation-5-vs-ps5-pro-should-you-upgrade), [Switch](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-oled-model), [Xbox](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/microsoft-xbox-series-x)), [smart TVs](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-tvs) from all major manufacturers, and [media streaming devices](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-media-streaming-devices) (Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku). Anything you can watch on YouTube, you can watch on YouTube Premium. That's an unfathomable amount of videos to consider, with uploads from companies, influencers, or regular folks in their living rooms. However, the list quickly becomes much less enticing regarding the content you can only watch on YouTube Premium. ![YouTube Premium Review](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) (Credit: YouTube Premium/PCMag) Previously, YouTube called its premium tier YouTube Red and launched it alongside a slate of original programming. Mostly, those videos felt like existing popular YouTube shows with slightly bigger budgets rather than full-on professional shows that other streaming services include as exclusives. It's telling that one of YouTube's biggest exclusives, the Karate Kid spin-off series Cobra Kai, graduated to Netflix. In addition, you can watch PewDiePie freak out while playing a [video game](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-pc-games) or check out Bad Internet, College Humor's take on Black Mirror. These days, YouTube seems to put less promotional effort behind its exclusive Premium shows. The YouTube Originals channel doesn't frequently upload new content. Many shows have ended, including a few original [anime](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-anime-streaming-services) series. The target audience seems to be younger viewers primed to enjoy cooking reality shows or documentaries about pop musicians like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. Overall, YouTube Premium's anemic exclusive library doesn't compete with what you'll find on Hulu or [Max](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hbo-max). [Tubi](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/tubi) lets you watch movies and shows for free. [Disney+](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/disney-plus) is the far better option for families. Like Amazon [Prime Video](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/amazon-prime-video) and Hulu, YouTube lets you subscribe to additional premium channels, such as AMC+, Paramount+, and Starz. Note that these [Primetime Channels](https://www.pcmag.com/news/subscribe-to-streaming-services-on-youtube-via-primetime-channels) don't come as part of YouTube Premium; they're each a separate paid subscription. On the upside, YouTube Premium has gradually rolled out intriguing perks. The service includes an ad-free YouTube Music subscription, a welcome addition. It's not our absolute favorite [music streaming service](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-online-music-streaming-services), but it's an excellent option thanks to its music videos, collaborative playlists, lyric searching, and other cool features. YouTube Premium now has casual games for all desktop and mobile users under the YouTube Playables banner. You can fire up familiar hits like Angry Birds, The Daily Crossword, or Solitaire. The catalog includes more than 75 games, playable via mouse or touch screen, depending on the platform, and you can save your progress and high scores. This is closer to, say, [Netflix's game offerings](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-netflix-games) or [Google Play Games](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-play-games) than Google's ambitious (and now shuttered) [Stadia](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-stadia). Gaming is so interwoven into YouTube culture that these Playables have appeal. YouTube Premium subscribers also gain early access to experimental YouTube Studio features before they roll out to all users, including higher-quality audio and a redesigned watch page. You can even be among the first creators to try out new and upcoming [AI](https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-artificial-intelligence-ai) tools like a video conversation assistant, comment summaries, music recommendations, intelligently jumping ahead to key moments in a video, and image generation. ![Newsletter Icon](https://www.pcmag.com/images/newsletter-envelope.svg) ![Newsletter Icon](https://www.pcmag.com/images/newsletter-envelope.svg) Get Our Best Stories\! ### All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts ![Lab Report Newsletter Image](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/newsletters/17709142-contextual.fit_lpad.size_250x140.v1752614027.png) Thanks for signing up\! Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox\! YouTube Premium isn't an app unto itself; it's just an upgrade to the existing YouTube app. Subscribers see the word "Premium" next to the red YouTube logo upon signing up for the service. As a result, YouTube and YouTube Premium have essentially the same interface on mobile or the web. This isn't a bad thing, as YouTube is a premier platform for a reason. I experienced smooth video playback over my home Wi-Fi connection (60Mbps download), even with [4K](https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-4k-ultra-hd) videos. You can easily share videos, like them, clip them, and save them for later. If nothing else, the YouTube commenter community is very passionate and large, but many Premium videos turn comments off. ![YouTube Playables](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%20432'%3E%3Crect%20fill='%23f7f7f7'%20/%3E%3C/svg%3E) (Credit: YouTube/PCMag) YouTube Premium adds useful features that make watching YouTube more convenient. For example, Premium removes YouTube's commercials. Many YouTubers incorporate ads as part of their content, so you must skip those manually. But now you can watch videos without being randomly interrupted by entirely separate commercials. No more dealing with self-aware ads that talk about the fact there's a skip button before shaming you into not clicking it. On mobile, YouTube Premium lets you keep listening to a video in the background even when you turn your screen off. This is great for listening to music, but it has potentially even more uses. I watch many YouTube videos that are more about the discussion than anything happening on screen—[podcasts](https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-best-podcasts), essentially. Now, I can listen to those videos while doing other things and not waste my phone's battery life by leaving the screen on. On mobile, you can now watch YouTube Shorts while browsing elsewhere thanks to picture-in-picture. With an individual plan, you can simultaneously stream YouTube Premium on two devices; the Family plan bumps that limit to four per account. YouTube Premium also lets you download videos for offline viewing on mobile, with the Smart Downloads feature automatically adding recommended videos to your library. Smart Downloads supports regular YouTube videos as well as YouTube Shorts. Offline downloading works on up to 10 devices regardless of plan. This is a cool feature, something we like to see in premium video subscriptions, but with clever workarounds, there are already ways to [download YouTube videos](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-download-video-from-your-favorite-streaming-service) without paying. Other features make the YouTube Premium viewing experience even more convenient. For example, queuing tools empower mobile viewers to decide which videos play next and to watch videos together via FaceTime or [Google Meet](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-meet). In addition, you can easily switch from one device to another for uninterrupted viewing and watch 1080p videos with an enhanced bitrate. Although these are nice perks, they feel like the extra features a premium service includes to pump up its overall appeal. They're not strong enough to be major selling points in their own right, which is the case here. YouTube has a ridiculous amount of content, so check out our list of [the best YouTube channels](https://www.pcmag.com/news/best-youtube-channels) for recommendations. YouTube Premium features the same accessibility options on regular YouTube, such as customizable subtitles (where applicable) and adjustable playback speed. Premium videos typically have multiple language options for closed captioning. For parental controls, YouTube has a separate app for children, YouTube Kids, where young ones can only watch select content (even if that algorithmically served content can get pretty freaky). With YouTube Premium, parents can rest easy knowing their kids won't be exposed to commercials. Offline downloads ensure children can watch their favorite shows when a wireless signal isn't available. Depending on what rabbit holes you stumble down, YouTube is arguably one of the most dangerous online places. The least you can do is keep yourself safe and secure with a [VPN](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-vpn-services). Typically, VPNs don't work with most video streaming services because the geographic location spoofing interferes with regional licensing deals. Still, I suspected YouTube Premium would be a special case, since it is just YouTube. I tested YouTube Premium with a Windows PC connected to [Proton VPN](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/protonvpn) servers and encountered zero issues streaming premium shows from around the globe. This may change in the future, though. [Video streaming services](https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-vpns-for-video-streaming) have been known to block VPN traffic after the fact. ![Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know](https://cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/ab776fe7-0140-466a-a052-a13fcb907c6a/thumbnail-720.webp) ![PCMag Logo](https://www.pcmag.com/images/pcmag.svg) Video Streaming Services: What You Should Know If you watch a lot of YouTube, YouTube Premium improves your viewing experience thanks to offline downloads and zero ads. You might even find a YouTube Premium show you enjoy, a fun YouTube Playables game, or use the subscription as a gateway to the excellent YouTube Music. However, casual YouTube watchers are better off sticking with the free service as you don't miss out on much by upgrading (besides the time spent watching ads). The cheaper but even more limited YouTube Premium Lite doesn't change that. If you're looking for a traditional premium streaming subscription, check out our Editors' Choice winners: Netflix for original shows, Hulu for live and on-demand content, and Tubi for free TV programs and movies. YouTube Premium Best for Hard-Core YouTube Viewers 3\.0 Pros Cons The Bottom Line YouTube Premium is a paid upgrade from the base streaming video service that removes ads and includes YouTube Music and background playback—but not much else. ## About Our Expert ![Jordan Minor](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/authors/02LlFeCNCCJg1CPvWM9eoU0.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1722457854.jpg) Jordan Minor Senior Writer, Software *** Experience My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book [Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977](https://www.pcmag.com/news/first-look-video-game-of-the-year-paints-a-vibrant-picture-of-gaming-history), and the reason everything you know about [Street Sharks](https://medium.com/pcmag-access/how-i-used-lies-about-a-cartoon-to-prove-history-is-meaningless-on-the-internet-6c88bcbc62d7) is a lie. Latest By Jordan Minor [Read Full Bio](https://www.pcmag.com/authors/jordan-minor)
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