Cheaper Alternatives to YouTube Premium in 2026 (Prices Compared)
YouTube Premium is about $13.99 a month for two things at once: ad-free YouTube with background play, and YouTube Music Premium. Most people want one of the two. If you want the music, YouTube Music alone or Spotify and Apple Music cost less. If you want ad-free video, YouTube Premium Lite, where it exists, is the cheapest plan. And if a household shares one Google family, the Family plan for up to six people is the single biggest saving on this page.
YouTube Premium and its alternatives, side by side
| Service | Starting price | Billed | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Premium | $13.99 | monthly | $168 |
| YouTube Music | $10.99 | monthly | $132 |
| Apple Music | $10.99 | monthly | $132 |
| Spotify | $11.99 | monthly | $144 |
Default plan prices in US dollars, checked on September 9, 2026. Local prices and plans vary; the links go to each service's current pricing.
Which half of Premium do you actually use?
YouTube Premium bundles two products. Deciding which one you would miss is the whole decision.
You want ad-free video and background play
YouTube Premium Lite removes ads from most videos for a lower price, without background play, downloads or YouTube Music. It is available in a growing list of countries; check youtube.com/premium in yours. If Lite is not offered where you live, the standard plan is the only ad-free option, and the saving has to come from the Family or annual plan instead.
You want the music
YouTube Music Premium on its own is a few dollars cheaper than full Premium and keeps everything the music app does: background play, downloads, no ads. If the only YouTube you watch is on a TV or a computer where ads bother you less, this is the plan. Spotify and Apple Music cost about the same as YouTube Music alone; the case for them is their apps and recommendations, not price. See Spotify alternatives for that comparison.
The plans that cut the price
- Family: up to five other members of your Google family group, each with their own account, for well under double the individual price. A couple sharing one Family plan pays far less than two individual plans.
- Annual: twelve months for less than twelve monthly payments, in the countries where it is offered. Only worth it if you are sure you will keep it.
- Student: about half price with annual verification.
- Not the iPhone app: subscribing inside the iOS app has historically cost more than subscribing on the web, because of Apple's commission. Subscribe at youtube.com/premium in a browser and the same subscription works in the app.
Living without Premium
YouTube without Premium means ads and no background play, and that is the honest trade. Two things soften it. First, on a computer, ads are shorter and the experience is closer to what Premium offers on a phone. Second, YouTube Music's free tier plays any song on demand with ads, so the music library is still there; only background play and downloads are gone.
What we do not recommend: ad-blocking tools and modified apps. YouTube actively detects and blocks them, they break every few weeks, and they violate the terms of the account you have spent years building. If ads on a phone are the problem, Lite or Family is the answer.
Pause instead of cancel
YouTube is one of the few services with a real pause button: 1 to 6 months, billing stops, the plan restarts automatically. It suits a summer of less screen time. For anything longer, cancel; resubscribing later takes seconds and nothing about your account is lost. How to cancel YouTube Premium, with the pause option explained.
Before you switch: three checks
- Where do you pay? Premium bought in the iPhone app is billed by Apple and cancelled in iPhone Settings, not on YouTube.
- Who is on your family plan? Members lose Premium on the same date the manager cancels.
- Downloads. Offline videos and music are removed when Premium ends. Anything you want to keep has to be bought or re-downloaded on the new service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest alternative to YouTube Premium?
For ad-free video, YouTube Premium Lite where it is available. For music only, YouTube Music Premium on its own, or Spotify and Apple Music at a similar price. For a household, the Family plan for up to six people is the biggest saving.
What is YouTube Premium Lite?
A cheaper plan that removes ads from most videos but does not include background play, downloads or YouTube Music. It is offered in a limited set of countries; check youtube.com/premium in yours.
Is YouTube Music included in YouTube Premium?
Yes. YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium. If you also pay for Spotify or Apple Music, you are paying for two music services.
Is YouTube Premium cheaper on the web than in the iPhone app?
Usually yes. Subscribing in the iOS app has historically cost more because of Apple's commission. Subscribe at youtube.com/premium in a browser; the subscription then works in the app.
Can I pause YouTube Premium instead of cancelling?
Yes, for 1 to 6 months. Billing stops and the plan restarts automatically at the end of the pause. If you are not sure you want it back, cancel instead; resubscribing later is quick.
Related guides
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Steps checked on September 9, 2026. Menus change from time to time; if something looks different, the official page linked above is always current.
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