Is YouTube Premium's Price Worth It? (Yes!)

In this article:

• YouTube “Basic”: What You Get for Free
• YouTube Premium: What You Get With a Membership

What's YouTube Premium, and is it worth its price tag? Simply put, it's the best version of your favorite online video-sharing platform. While the basic version remains free, the appeal of an ad-free and more versatile viewing experience can lead you to wonder if you should spring for YouTube Premium's price. Continue reading to discover more about this upgrade, its key membership benefits, and how much subscriptions cost.

YouTube is a free-for-all streaming platform that people with enough internet bandwidth can access. Everyone, even those without an account, can watch videos and listen to music to their hearts' content.

Like other free services, YouTube runs ads with their content. Typically, videos less than eight minutes long have two ads bookending them. But recently, some have reported that videos can feature as many as five to 10 non-skippable pre-roll ads in a row. The endless stream of ads can frustrate regular users as they continuously interrupt the viewing or listening experience.

One of the most notable YouTube Premium benefits is ad-free videos. Premium members don't have to deal with ads before, during, or after a video, nor will they see banner or search ads. However, creators may still mention sponsors in their uploads.

The feature extends to YouTube Music, which is automatically ad-free when you sign up for Premium. For many, being able to access YouTube without ads is enough of a reason to spring for a membership. But there are numerous other game-changing perks, including background play and downloadable videos.

With background play, you can continue playing videos on mobile with your screen off or while browsing other apps. You can also easily download videos and songs and access them when you’re offline, provided your phone has enough storage space.

Surprising Hidden Features

But wait, there’s more. The key benefits above are only the tip of the Premium iceberg. Here are some not-so-known yet amazing features that are exclusive to members.

• Picture-in-picture: This lets you watch videos on mobile while using other apps. When activated, the YouTube app reappears as a mini version of itself and sits in one corner of your screen. It's every multi-tasker's dream.
  
  
• Continue watching: Never restart a video again! With this feature, YouTube saves your spot when you need to pause or switch devices, so you can quickly resume watching.
  
  

• Queue videos: You can easily binge-watch multi-part uploads, music videos, and creator playlists by setting up a watch queue. You can even arrange the videos in order of preference. Then, they'll auto-play one after the other.
  
  

• Smart downloads: When you turn this on, YouTube automatically downloads recommended videos to your library. This ensures you always have something new and fun to watch, even offline. And don't worry about it eating into your limited data allocation! Smart downloads only activate with a WiFi connection.
  
  

• Afterparties: Do you want to interact with your favorite YouTube creators? Now you can. Premium afterparties offer live chat capacities during livestreams and video premieres. Not only do you get to talk to creators in real time, but you can also bond with fellow subscribers.
  
  

• Early access to experimental features: The YouTube team is constantly working on ways to improve your experience. If you're curious about yet-to-launch features, you can participate in "experiments" where you test them and, optionally, share your feedback.

YouTube Premium Cost

So, how much is YouTube Premium? Individual plans are available for ₱159/month, while Family plans cost ₱239/month for up to five members. There’s also the discounted Student plan at only ₱95/month. The last option is only for eligible students and requires annual verification.

If you're still unsure about getting it, you can sign up for a free one-month Premium trial. When the trial period ends, standard rates apply. You can also cancel your subscription anytime. But would you want to? YouTube Premium’s price is clearly worth it for all the unique benefits that come with the membership. Once you’ve experienced ad-free YouTube, you’ll wonder how you went so long without it.

Even paying for a YouTube Premium subscription is easy. The platform has several accepted payment methods in Asia-Pacific, including GCash and Globe Telecom. With the latter, you can charge your purchase directly to your Prepaid load or Postpaid bill.