Is YouTube Premium worth it?

Whether YouTube Premium is worth it mostly depends on how often you watch YouTube and whether you’d use YouTube Music.

In the U.S., the standard Individual plan is about $13.99/month (or about $139.99/year), the Family plan is about $22.99/month for up to 5 members, and the Student plan is about $7.99/month. Pricing can vary by region and can change over time, so it’s worth checking YouTube’s official pricing page for the latest details.

Usually worth it if you:

• Watch a lot on mobile, TVs, or consoles: Premium removes ads in the YouTube experience on signed-in devices, which is especially convenient where ad blockers aren’t practical.
• Use YouTube Music: Premium includes YouTube Music Premium, so it can replace a separate music subscription for some people.
• Want offline and background playback: You can download videos and keep audio playing with the screen off, which is great for commuting, travel, or long listening sessions.

Usually not worth it if you:

• Mostly watch on desktop: A browser ad blocker may already make YouTube feel close to ad-free, though YouTube does frequently update its platform to combat ad blockers.
• Barely use YouTube: If you only watch occasionally, the monthly fee is harder to justify.
• Already love another music service: If you’d keep paying for Spotify or Apple Music anyway, Premium is mainly an ad-removal and convenience upgrade.

Bottom line:

If you watch YouTube every day, use it on mobile or TV, or would genuinely use YouTube Music, it’s often worth it. If you mostly watch on a computer and don’t care about offline/background playback, it’s usually not.