YouTube Premium Lite vs Premium: Which Should You Get?
YouTube Premium Lite costs $8.99 a month and full YouTube Premium costs $15.99. Lite removes ads from most videos, but it leaves out background play, offline downloads and YouTube Music — the three features most people actually notice when they downgrade.
Here is exactly what the $7 gap buys, and who should pay it.
YouTube Premium Lite vs Premium
| Premium Lite | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $8.99 | $15.99 |
| Price per year | $107.88 | $191.88 ($159.99 annual plan) |
| Ad-free videos | Most videos | All videos |
| Background play | No | Yes |
| Offline downloads | No | Yes |
| YouTube Music | No | Included |
US prices as of September 2026. Both tiers went up $1 to $2 this year.
What you give up on Lite
Background play is the big one. On Lite, YouTube stops the moment you lock your phone or switch apps, which rules out podcasts, lectures and music on a commute.
Downloads go too, so nothing plays offline on a flight or the Underground. And YouTube Music is not included, which matters if YouTube is where you listen.
Lite also removes ads from most rather than all videos, with some formats such as music content and Shorts still able to show ads.
Which one to buy
Lite is enough
You watch YouTube on a TV or laptop, never with the screen off, and already pay for Spotify. $84 a year saved with nothing you would miss.
Get full Premium
You listen to YouTube with the screen off, download for travel, or use YouTube Music. Lite breaks all three.
Use a family plan
Premium Family at $26.99 across six people is about $4.50 each — less than Lite. See YouTube Premium prices for 2026.
If music is the deciding factor
Already on Spotify? Lite plus Spotify avoids paying twice for music. Compare the two in Spotify vs YouTube Premium.
Use YouTube for music? Full Premium includes YouTube Music, which makes it two subscriptions in one for $15.99.
Paying yearly? The $159.99 annual plan brings full Premium to about $13.33 a month.
Buy a discounted subscription. THEOTTDEALS lists YouTube Premium below the direct rate. Live pricing is on the product page below.
Frequently asked questions
How much is YouTube Premium Lite?
YouTube Premium Lite costs $8.99 a month in the US, up from $7.99 before the 2026 increase.
Does YouTube Premium Lite have background play?
No. Background play, offline downloads and YouTube Music are only included in full YouTube Premium.
Is YouTube Premium Lite completely ad-free?
No. Lite removes ads from most videos, but some content such as music and Shorts can still show ads.
What is the difference between YouTube Premium and Lite?
Premium at $15.99 adds background play, downloads, YouTube Music and ad-free viewing on all videos. Lite at $8.99 only removes ads from most videos.
Is YouTube Premium Lite worth it?
If you watch on a TV or laptop and never need background play or downloads, yes — it saves $84 a year. If you listen with the screen off, full Premium is worth the extra.
Is there a cheaper way to get full YouTube Premium?
Yes. Premium Family at $26.99 split across six people is about $4.50 each, and the annual plan brings individual Premium to about $13.33 a month.
Related THEOTTDEALS guides
Get YouTube Premium for less
View live pricing for full YouTube Premium on its product page.