 | Student $5.99 Plus sales tax where applicable Source · Checked | Individual 1 user $11.99 Plus sales tax where applicable Source · Checked Today you pay $0.00 Free trial: 30 days — then the price above is charged. | Family up to 6 users $18.99 Plus sales tax where applicable Source · Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose a plan | Choose a plan | Choose a plan | |
Billed monthly. | Billed monthly. | Billed monthly. |
Music streaming in the US
YouTube Music Premium: plans, price and what you get
YouTube Music Premium makes YouTube Music ad-free, adds downloads and lets music keep playing with your screen off. The catalog has over 100 million songs plus videos and live performances, and you can switch from audio to video with a tap. Individual (monthly or a prepaid 12-month plan), Family and Student plans start with a 1-month trial for eligible new members.
- Ad-free music. No ads in the YouTube Music app.
- Offline and background. Download music and keep listening with the screen off.
- Songs and videos. 100M+ songs, videos and live performances; switch audio to video.
- Family plan. You plus up to 5 members aged 13+ in your household.
- Free tier available. Mixes and playlists work in the app without a subscription.
Most important before you pay
Tomas StankevičiusUpdated 2026-10-14Facts from music.youtube.com and YouTube Help, with dates
At a glance
- Plans
- Individual, Annual, Family, Student
- Catalog
- 100M+ songs, videos, live performances
- Family
- You plus up to 5 (13+), same household
- Free trial
- 1 month, eligible new members
- Pause
- 1–6 months (monthly plans)
- Ad-free YouTube
- No — that’s YouTube Premium
Plans and offers change — check the provider’s own page before you pay.
Prices with dates
Every price has a source and the date it was checked.
From music.youtube.com and YouTube Help
Plans, family rules, pause and cancellation as YouTube publishes them for the US.
Affiliate links are labeled
If a link is an affiliate link, we say so right next to it.
Short summary
YouTube Music Premium is a solid music service with a big advantage — music videos and live performances in the same app. But compare it with YouTube Premium first: for not much more, Premium removes YouTube ads too and includes YouTube Music.
Songs and videos together
Switch from audio to video with a tap.
YouTube still has ads
Ad-free YouTube needs YouTube Premium.
- We recommend first:
- Listeners who want music videos and a familiar Google account.
- With caveats:
- Anyone who also watches a lot of YouTube — YouTube Premium covers both.
Who YouTube Music Premium is for, and who it isn’t
Music only, or music plus YouTube?
A good choice
If you want music videos
Songs, videos and live performances in one app.
For households
Family adds up to 5 members aged 13+.
If you’ll prepay a year
The 12-month plan doesn’t renew automatically.
A weaker choice
If you watch YouTube a lot
YouTube Premium removes those ads and includes YouTube Music.
If your family lives apart
Members must share your household.
If you might want a refund
Annual plans aren’t refundable.
Plans
Prices are in the block above.
| Plan | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Free | What it means in practiceMixes and playlists in the YouTube Music app, without Premium features. |
| Individual (monthly) | What it means in practiceAd-free, offline and background music; can be paused for 1–6 months. |
| Individual (12 months) | What it means in practiceThe same, prepaid for a year; no renewal, no refund, no pause. |
| Family | What it means in practiceYou plus up to 5 members aged 13+ in your household. |
| Student | What it means in practiceA discount for eligible students, verified every year. |
Music only → YouTube Music Premium; music and YouTube → YouTube Premium.
Our score and what it’s made of
This is our own assessment based on checked facts. It isn’t an average of user reviews or the provider’s claim. Below — every criterion with its weight and source.
3,7
out of 5 · average of 2 plans · 10 of 11 criteria checked
The score is calculated from the criteria you see below: each criterion shows its weight, what exactly we found and where. Where we have the provider’s page, there’s a link with a check date; where the number comes from our catalog, we say so. “Not checked” means we don’t have the data and the criterion isn’t counted. “Provider doesn’t say” means we went through the provider’s pages but the information isn’t there; that criterion isn’t counted either. If you disagree with the weights — in the methodology you’ll see all the parts and can weigh them your own way. We don’t put app store ratings into structured data: they were collected on other websites, so they stay as visible text.
Scores for individual plans: Individual 3,7 · Family 3,7
The same for all “YouTube Music” plans
| Criterion | What we found | Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised price is the final price(10 %) | sales tax is added at checkout | 3,0 | our catalog |
| Sound quality(16 %) | compressed audio only | 2,0 | source |
| Spatial audio(5 %) | no | 2,0 | source |
| Offline listening(12 %) | yes | 5,0 | source |
| What else is included(9 %) | extra content types: 2 | 4,0 | source |
| Student plan(5 %) | available | 5,0 | source |
| App rating(5 %) | 4,8 out of 5 | 4,8 | our catalog |
Depends on plan
| Criterion | Individual | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Price compared with others(10 %) | 10,00 USD/mo · when paying for 12 months5,0 | 18,99 USD/mo4,0 |
| Free way to try it(10 %) | 30 days5,0 | not checked— |
| Number of people(12 %) | 1 person3,0 | 6 people, same address required4,0 |
| Simultaneous streams(6 %) | 1 at the same time3,0 | 6 at the same time5,0 |
Availability in the US
The final price in the US is clear
You pay in dollars, and the price is the one the provider lists — sales tax, where your state charges it, is added at checkout.
- price in dollars
- tax terms are known
- shared international price list — the price depends on your account’s country
What you get for the money
What’s included in the plan, what’s available in the US, and how the paid version differs from the free one.
Sound and quality
What quality depends on, where it works, and what the rest of your setup needs to handle.
Audio quality
Quality is set separately for Wi-Fi and mobile data under Settings → Data saving.
| Where | Codec | Quality | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | CodecAAC & OPUS | QualityUp to 48 kbps | NoteUses the least data. |
| Normal | CodecAAC & OPUS | QualityUp to 128 kbps | NoteThe default. |
| High | CodecAAC & OPUS | QualityUp to 256 kbps | NoteUses extra data. |
| Always High | CodecAAC & OPUS | Quality256 kbps | NoteKeeps high quality on a poor connection. |
Features
What works now, what has only been announced, and how it connects with other services.
YouTube membership options in the US
YouTube sells different memberships in different countries. This is what applies in the United States.
YouTube Premium and Music Premium
Workspaid users onlyIndividual, annual, family and student plans.
Premium Lite
Workspaid users onlyAd-free on most videos with downloads and background play; ads can still appear on music, Shorts, search and browsing, and YouTube Music Premium isn’t included.
Two-person plan
Not availablepaid users onlyOffered only in Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Nepal and Taiwan.
Ask Music
Works with conditionspaid users onlyAI mixes, playlists and podcast picks for Premium and Music Premium members, on mobile only.
Playlists and discovery
Playlists live in both YouTube Music and the YouTube app.
Collaborative playlists
Invite people with a link; collaborators can add, sort and edit.
Taste Match
A playlist that refreshes daily from all participants’ listening history.
Transfer from other services
In settings, or with TuneMyMusic and Soundiiz; podcasts can’t be moved.
Your uploads
FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG or WMA from the web – they play ad-free, in the background and offline even without Premium.
Uploads are private
Content
What you actually get to watch: catalog, languages, sports and events.
What’s on YouTube Music
Official songs plus the videos, covers and live performances that live on YouTube.
Songs
Over 100 million.
Videos and live performances
Switch from audio to video in one tap.
Mixes and playlists
Available without a subscription.
What US App Store reviewers say
YouTube Music has 4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5 million ratings on the US App Store. We also read the 50 most recent US reviews — 25 of them gave one or two stars. Recent reviews skew toward people with a problem, so read them as a list of what can go wrong, not as a verdict.
Praised
Reviewers who switched from Spotify mention the bigger selection.
Complaints
Playback stopping at random, crashes when a song starts, and an interface people call hard to use are the most common problems.
Recommendations
Some say large playlists keep repeating the same songs and old liked songs are hard to clear.
The catalog wins praise; the app experience is where most recent complaints land.
Quality and devices
What picture and sound depend on, and where it works.
Where you can listen
| Group | Examples | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Music app and web | ExamplesPhones, tablets, computers | CaveatBenefits follow your Google Account. |
App ratings in the stores
These are ratings from store users. They rate how the app works; they say nothing about whether the subscription price is fair.
Ratings change constantly and often drop after price increases or removed features. We show the value from the check date together with the number of reviews, because 4.8 from two hundred and 4.5 from two million ratings aren’t the same thing.
Account and household
Profiles, downloads, sharing and how to cancel.
Family plan
- You plus up to 5 family members aged 13+ who live in your household.
- Members can change family groups only once every 12 months.
- Annual plans are individual only — move to Family after the annual plan ends.
Pausing affects the family
Offline and pausing
| Condition | How it works |
|---|---|
| Downloads | How it worksYes, for offline listening |
| Pause | How it works1 to 6 months |
| During a pause | How it worksDownloads are kept but can’t be played |
Canceling and pausing
Cancel, pause or resume at youtube.com/paid_memberships. Benefits continue to the end of the billing period. If Apple or Google Play bills you, cancel there.
Monthly
Renews automatically; pause for 1–6 months or cancel any time.
12-month plan
Prepaid and non-recurring; not refundable, can’t be paused.
Billed by Apple or Google Play
Premium listening features
Benefits YouTube lists only for YouTube Music Premium members.
Smart Downloads
WorksAutomatically downloads music based on your listening history.
Shuffle downloads
WorksPlay a mix of your downloaded music or podcasts offline.
Audio-only mode
WorksListen without loading video — useful on weak connections.
Cast to speakers and TVs
WorksFrom the YouTube Music web app; music keeps playing even if you close the browser.
Travel
With caveatsBenefits and library travel with you in the YouTube Music app, but not in other apps.
Podcasts on YouTube Music
Podcasts work differently from music: some features are free for everyone, and ad-free music doesn’t mean ad-free podcasts.
Ads on podcasts
YouTube says Premium members may still experience ads on podcasts.
Creator promotions
Branding, sponsorships, links and shelves added by the creator can appear for everyone, including Premium members.
Podcast downloads, audio-only mode and casting are available regardless of membership, though not for every show.
Plans and terms
Who each plan is for and what terms it requires.
The YouTube family plan
A family manager can share YouTube Music Premium with up to five other people in the same household. Each member signs in with their own Google Account and keeps their own library, subscriptions and recommendations.
- Members
- Family manager plus up to 5
- Household
- Members must live with the family manager
- Ages
- 13 and older; age restrictions apply to members under 18
- Switching groups
- Only once every 12 months
- Existing Google family group
- Only its manager can buy the YouTube family plan
- Visible to the group
- Each member’s name, photo and email address
Annual and individual plans first
Student membership
YouTube Music Premium is available at a student rate to people enrolled at a higher-education institution approved by SheerID. You get the same benefits at a discounted price.
- Who
- Students at a SheerID-approved college or university
- How long
- Up to 4 consecutive years; reverify every year
- Verification
- SheerID; if not instant, upload documents for manual review
- Already a member?
- Cancel your current paid membership first, then sign up as a student
- Check your school
- Type it into the SheerID form on the student sign-up page
Privacy, accessibility and transparency
What data you can control, how the accessibility features work, and what the provider discloses.
Your listening data
YouTube Music shares its history with the rest of YouTube.
On Repeat
Your channel page shows songs, artists and videos you replay, plus a personal mix. It’s private unless you make it public.
One history
Stats and recommendations draw on your history across YouTube services; pausing history pauses it on YouTube too.
Podcasts by RSS
Adding a show by RSS link needs an adult account, and the feed’s host can see your IP address.
What we don’t claim
Common claims about YouTube Music Premium, next to what YouTube says.
YouTube Music Premium removes ads on YouTube.
No — that’s YouTube Premium, which includes YouTube Music Premium.
You need Premium to use YouTube Music.
Mixes and playlists work in the app without a subscription.
The annual plan renews automatically.
It’s prepaid and non-recurring.
If there’s no price on the page, the service isn’t available in the US.
Not necessarily. More often it means the provider doesn’t publish a fixed price or shows it only at checkout. Availability and a published price are two different things.
An annual plan always works out cheaper.
Cheaper than the monthly plan only if you use the whole period. You pay for the whole year up front, and when you cancel you usually don’t get the unused part back — so it’s a saving for people who already know they’ll stay all year.
Deleting the app cancels the subscription.
No. Deleting the app doesn’t stop the payments — only canceling in the account where you bought the subscription does. The app disappears, the bill stays.
Every plan looks the same in every country.
No. The list of plans, the features in the same plan and the available languages can differ. That’s why we don’t carry data from another country over to the US page.
The price on the pricing page is exactly what you’ll be charged.
Not always. US providers list prices before sales tax, and whether tax is added at checkout — and how much — depends on your state. On one VPN order page we saw a 6.25% sales tax added on top of the listed monthly price.
This list isn’t an accusation against the service. If you find something on our page that doesn’t match the official source, write to us.
When YouTube Music Premium is a good choice
Music only
Individual.
Compromise: YouTube itself keeps ads.
Households
Family.
Compromise: Same household required.
Prepay a year
12-month plan.
Compromise: No refunds.
Pros and cons
Pros
Songs and videos
In one app.
Free tier
Mixes and playlists without paying.
Pause 1–6 months
On monthly plans.
Cons
YouTube ads remain
Without YouTube Premium.
Annual plan not refundable
And can’t be paused.
Household rule
For Family.
YouTube Music Premium compared with YouTube Premium and Spotify
The real choice is often between the two YouTube plans.
| Criterion | YouTube Music Premium | YouTube Premium | Spotify Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad-free music | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ad-free YouTube | No | Yes | No |
| Family plan | You plus 5 (13+) | You plus 5 (13+) | Up to 6, same address |
| Yearly plan | 12 months, no auto-renew | 12 months, no auto-renew | Not listed |
- Ad-free music
- Yes
- Ad-free YouTube
- No
- Family plan
- You plus 5 (13+)
- Yearly plan
- 12 months, no auto-renew
- Ad-free music
- Yes
- Ad-free YouTube
- Yes
- Family plan
- You plus 5 (13+)
- Yearly plan
- 12 months, no auto-renew
- Ad-free music
- Yes
- Ad-free YouTube
- No
- Family plan
- Up to 6, same address
- Yearly plan
- Not listed
If you only want music — YouTube Music Premium
Plus videos and live performances.
If you also watch YouTube — YouTube Premium
Removes YouTube ads and includes Music.
If you want audiobooks — Spotify
15 hours a month on Premium.
Final verdict
YouTube Music Premium is a good music-only plan with videos built in. If you also watch YouTube, YouTube Premium is usually the better buy because it covers both.
Choose it if
You want music and music videos, not ad-free YouTube.
Think twice if
You watch YouTube every day.
Skip it if
The free tier already covers how you listen.
YouTube Premium includes it; Spotify adds audiobooks; Apple Music fits Apple households.
YouTube Music Premium prices
Plans as music.youtube.com lists them for the US.
Compare plansMonthly plans renew until you cancel. The 12-month Individual plan is paid up front, saves 15% versus monthly according to YouTube, and ends after a year without renewing.
YouTube Music deals and discounts
We have no confirmed deals or promo codes for YouTube Music right now. When the provider publishes one and we have checked it, the dates and terms will appear here — we never list made-up promo codes.
YouTube Music free trial
How to pay less for YouTube Music
- Annual billing for “Individual”: $119.99 for 12 months instead of $143.88 if you pay monthly — you save 17%.
- “Family” for up to 6 people: $18.99/mo, or $3.17 per person.
- “Student” for students: $5.99/mo
Compare the price with alternatives: Apple Music price · Tidal price · Spotify Premium price
We only show the provider’s official options — no shared accounts and no region switching.
Customer support
FAQ
How we work
This page is a comparison, and for every claim we say where it comes from.
The provider’s sources
The facts come from music.youtube.com and YouTube Help.
We don’t write prices into the text
Prices are in the price block, in the price list’s currency, with a source and a date.
Product facts are shared, market facts aren’t
How many screens a plan allows, how many devices an account works on, how many servers a network has — that doesn’t depend on the country, and on our pages those numbers are the same in every language; a separate tool watches over that. Price, promotions, availability and app language belong to the market, and we never carry them over from another country.
The provider’s list is the same for everyone
If a service publishes a list of countries or languages, we can say whether the US is on it — that list looks the same for everyone. Checkout, however, can look different for every account, so for amounts a provider shows only at checkout we write: check before you pay.
A shorter section doesn’t mean something is missing from the product
If a section here is shorter than for another service, it’s because the provider publishes less about it. We don’t fill the gap with generic wording just to make the page look more complete.
Three different answers
We distinguish between “none”, “the provider doesn’t say” and “we didn’t find it”. They’re three different situations — mixing them up would turn our own limitation into a flaw in the product.
A price without a source isn’t shown
If an amount has no source and date, we don’t show it. An empty spot is more honest than a number that only looks right — and prices change more often than articles get updated.
Data from the US market
This page isn’t a translation of another language version. Numbers from other countries don’t end up here: markets differ, and that’s exactly why this page exists.
Affiliate links are labeled at the link
If a link is an affiliate link, we say so right next to it. The commission doesn’t affect what we write — and you know about it before you click.
We fix errors openly
If we got something wrong, we fix it and note what changed. A silent correction would mean you never find out you once relied on wrong information.
If anything on this page has gone out of date, write to us — we’ll fix it and note the date.
The order in the comparison is decided by the type of service; commission size doesn’t affect it.
Some links to providers are affiliate links: if you subscribe through them, we may earn a commission. It affects neither the price nor the placement in the comparison. Affiliate links are always labeled next to the link itself.
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Read next
Other pages that cover YouTube Music.
Comparisons with competitors
Who wins, and when the cheaper one is worth choosing.
Guides
How to save, cancel and choose — not tied to one product.