YouTube Premium Lite is a cheaper plan that removes ads on most videos, while Premium also includes background play, downloads, and YouTube Music.
YouTube Premium Lite
Cheaper plan that removes ads on most videos. Doesn’t include YouTube Music.
YouTube Premium
Removes ads on all videos, includes YouTube Music Premium, background play and downloads.
Price
Lite is roughly $8 a month and Premium about $14 a month in the US. Prices change.
Check
Features of the Lite plan have changed, so see YouTube’s current plan page.
Free trial
Premium often offers a trial.
Plan differences
YouTube Premium Lite is a cheaper subscription that removes ads from most videos, while the full Premium also includes background play, downloads and YouTube Music Premium. Lite was introduced in the US in 2025 at around 7.99 USD per month, while Premium costs about 13.99 USD per month for individuals, though prices change by region and over time.
- Lite does not include YouTube Music, and ads can still appear on music content and Shorts in some cases.
- Premium Lite offers ad-free viewing on most content but not all, according to YouTube’s help page.
- Premium includes offline downloads and background play on mobile.
Choosing
Pick Lite if you only want fewer ads on videos. Choose Premium if you listen to music, watch on mobile with the screen off or download videos. A free trial may be offered for new subscribers. Check the YouTube Premium page for features and prices in your country. Family and student plans cost less per person.
Plan differences
YouTube Premium (about 13.99 USD per month in the US) removes ads on nearly all videos, adds background play, downloads and YouTube Music Premium. Premium Lite (about 7.99 USD) removes ads on most videos but excludes music and some features. Prices change by region.
Choosing
Choose Lite for ad free watching only and Premium for music and offline use. Check the YouTube site for current pricing.
Features compared
YouTube Premium removes ads on nearly all videos, allows background play and downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium. YouTube Premium Lite, launched in some markets, is a cheaper tier that removes ads on most videos but does not include background play or downloads in the original version, and excludes music. Music content and some videos, such as music videos and Shorts, may still show ads in Lite.
Pricing and availability
In the United States, Premium is about 13.99 USD a month, with family and student plans, while Lite was priced around 7.99 USD a month. Prices and features vary by country and change over time, so check the YouTube pricing page. Premium also supports picture in picture on mobile and offline downloads. If you mainly want fewer ads and no music, Lite may be enough, and heavy mobile users usually prefer Premium.
Based on data from YouTube Help and Google announcements
