Google has raised the price of YouTube Premium in the US. According to 9to5google, the new cost for both new and existing customers is $13.99 per month, up from $11.99. If you subscribe through the iOS YouTube app, the price goes up to $18.99 per month.
A Closer Look at YouTube Premium’s New Pricing Structure
According to a YouTube spokesperson, the price increase is necessary to maintain the quality of service and features provided to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium subscribers. They also stated that the new price better reflects the value offered by YouTube Premium, including ad-free streaming, offline and background play, and access to over 100 million songs on the YouTube Music app.
In late 2022, the price for YouTube Premium family plans increased to $22.99 per month. The annual subscription, introduced in 2022, is now $139.99, saving subscribers $27.89 compared to monthly payments.
The cost of YouTube Music Premium will also rise from $9.99 to $10.99 per month, aligning with similar price increases by Apple and Amazon.
Existing customers will see the new pricing reflected in their next billing cycle and will receive emails explaining the changes. Subscribers who were grandfathered in from Google Play Music and/or YouTube Red will enjoy an additional three months at their current rate.
YouTube Premium offers an ad-free viewing experience on YouTube, allowing users to watch videos without interruptions. It also includes the ability to download videos and playlists for offline viewing and play videos in the background. Additionally, YouTube Premium provides access to YouTube Music, an ad-free music streaming service, with offline playback and background listening. YouTube Kids, an ad-free and offline-playable version of YouTube designed for children, is also included.
This price increase follows a trend of rising subscription costs in major streaming services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Netflix. It is expected to benefit Google’s financials, especially since YouTube Music and Premium had over 80 million paid subscribers as of September 2022.
YouTube is also exploring a new gaming feature called Playables, following the setback of Stadia. Playables will offer simple puzzle or arcade games on smartphones and desktops, incorporating ads for monetization purposes. This experimentation aims to enhance gaming experiences on the platform.
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