YouTube Premium keeps getting more expensive. But the cheaper option, Premium Lite, recently got a major upgrade that makes it worth a second look.
What’s the actual difference?
Full YouTube Premium removes ads everywhere. Premium Lite removes most ads. YouTube’s own description is “fewer interruptions” and “most of YouTube ad-free.”
So what does that actually mean? I put Premium Lite to the test to find out.
Creator videos: Works exactly like full Premium
I built a playlist of 10 creator videos and confirmed every one had ads on a free account. On Premium Lite, I didn’t get a single YouTube ad across all 10 videos. No pre-roll, no mid-roll, nothing at the end.
Important distinction: Premium Lite removes YouTube’s ads. It doesn’t remove what creators put directly into their videos. I still saw creator sponsorships, merch promos, and YouTube Shopping overlays.
You’re not getting an ad-free experience in the purest sense. But you are removing the ads YouTube itself serves, which I find to be the most disruptive.
And by paying for Premium or Premium Lite, creators are still getting paid for your views.
Movies and TV
It’s not just creator content. I also spent some time in YouTube’s Movies and TV section. On regular YouTube, a lot of this content is labeled “Free with ads.”
On Premium Lite, those same movies were just labeled “Free” and during my testing, I didn’t get ads on them.
Music: The dealbreaker for a lot of people
YouTube is upfront that ads still run on music content with Lite, and that’s exactly what I experienced.
I tested 10 songs from the Billboard Hot 100. Before every song, I got between one and three ads, usually two. Some skippable, some not. I tested through both the YouTube app and the YouTube Music app separately. There were lots of ads in both places.
If YouTube is your primary music source, Lite is a non-starter. If you already pay for Spotify or Apple Music, this matters a lot less.
Shorts: Cleaner than expected
YouTube says ads may appear on Shorts with Lite, but I was surprised with what I found.
I started by watching 100 Shorts and never saw a single YouTube ad. Then, I kept scrolling through hundreds more waiting for an ad but it never happened.
Similar to the creator videos, I did still see affiliate overlays and YouTube Shopping links on Shorts.
Browsing and search
Sponsored placements on the YouTube home screen were gone during my testing on Lite.
However, sponsored search results were still there on both mobile and desktop. They felt more like display ads on a website, so they were noticeable but easy to ignore.
Background play and downloads: now included (with a catch)
This is the biggest change from when Lite first launched.
Background play and offline downloads are now included for creator content. And based on comments on my video, background play was the feature holding a lot of people back from switching to Lite.
The catch: both are blocked for music content. If you’re listening to creator videos while doing something else, it works. If you’re using YouTube Music, it doesn’t.
Premium Lite also doesn’t include access to YouTube’s experimental features. Those are reserved for full Premium subscribers.
Pricing and how not to overpay
YouTube Premium Lite is built for someone who watches a lot of creators on YouTube but doesn’t need ad-free music.
Ultimately, the decision to sign up or switch to Lite may come down to pricing.
- Premium Lite: $8.99/month
- Full YouTube Premium: $15.99/month
Always sign up through YouTube’s website on a browser. Do not subscribe through your Apple devices or you’ll pay more for the exact same service.
If you see pricing of $11.99/month for Premium Lite or $20.99/month for Premium, that’s the “Apple Tax.”
For anyone who wants to downgrade from full Premium to Premium Lite, YouTube doesn’t make it easy. You have to cancel your existing subscription and let it expire before signing up again.
If you prefer full YouTube Premium, other ways to save include the family plan, student pricing, and an annual individual plan that saves about $2.50/month. The annual option is only offered to new subscribers signing up directly through YouTube’s site.
If you haven’t had Premium or Lite in a while, you may also be offered a free trial.