YouTube Premium vs YouTube Music Premium: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium and adds ad-free YouTube, downloads and background play for all videos. YouTube Music Premium covers music only — it doesn’t remove ads on YouTube. Both have Individual (monthly or prepaid 12 months), Family and Student plans, a free month for eligible members and pausing for 1–6 months.
Option A
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | YouTube Premium | YouTube Music |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-free YouTube | Yes | No |
| Ad-free music | Yes | Yes |
| Downloads | Videos and music | Music |
| Plans | Individual, Annual, Family, Student, Lite | Individual, Annual, Family, Student |
| Pause | 1–6 months | 1–6 months |
The two are often confused. One is a superset of the other: the question is whether you want ad-free YouTube as well as ad-free music.
If you don’t want to read further
You watch YouTube regularly — YouTube Premium, which includes the music. You only want music — YouTube Music Premium. Mostly ad-free videos without music — look at Premium Lite.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Ads on YouTube?
YouTube Premium
Removed.
YouTube Music
Not removed — only YouTube Music is ad-free.
If YouTube ads bother you, only Premium fixes it.
Is YouTube Music included?
YouTube Premium
Yes, YouTube Music Premium is included.
YouTube Music
It is the product.
Paying for both separately makes no sense.
Downloads and background play?
YouTube Premium
For all YouTube videos and music.
YouTube Music
For music in the YouTube Music app.
For podcasts and videos offline, Premium.
A cheaper variant?
YouTube Premium
Premium Lite — most videos ad-free, no YouTube Music, some ads remain on music, Shorts and search.
YouTube Music
The free YouTube Music tier.
Lite is for video, not music.
Ask Music?
YouTube Premium
Included on mobile.
YouTube Music
Included on mobile.
Same AI feature on both.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
Same plan types
Individual, prepaid 12 months, Family, Student.
Family rules
You plus up to 5 members aged 13+ in your household.
Pause and trial
Monthly plans pause for 1–6 months; a free month for eligible members.
Prepaid year
Individual only, no refund, no pause, no auto-renewal.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You watch YouTube daily | YouTube Premium | Music included. |
| You only stream music | YouTube Music Premium | YouTube itself keeps its ads. |
| You want ad-free videos but not music | Premium Lite | Some ads remain. |
| A family under one roof | Family plan of either | Same household required. |
- YouTube Music Premium doesn’t remove ads on YouTube.
- Premium Lite doesn’t include YouTube Music.
- The 12-month plans can’t be refunded or paused.
- Family members must live in your household.
- If you already have YouTube Premium, don’t buy Music Premium separately.
Where the facts come from
Sources: YouTube’s US help and plan pages for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: YouTube Premium or YouTube Music
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Streaming services” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — simultaneous streams: YouTube Music Individual
YouTube Premium Individual: 1 screen at the same time (2,0/5) · YouTube Music Individual: 1 at the same time (3,0/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: