YouTube without advertising is currently only available from Google as YouTube Premium for 11.99 euros per month. The package includes YouTube Music, downloads and background playback – things that not every user needs. That's why Google is now testing YouTube Premium Lite for 6.99 euros, which only comes without advertising.
The largest video platform in the world is also one of the largest advertising platforms in the world. Google's advertising business, which also includes YouTube, was $ 50.444 billion in Alphabet's last financial quarter alone. YouTube's numerous ad formats, depending on the reach of the channel, not only cause a rain of money for the authors, but also quite often frustration among the viewers – because a lot of advertising is shown and the video is repeatedly interrupted.
YouTube Premium for a regular EUR 11.99 per month removes advertising and activates additional features. This primarily includes YouTube Music without ads, which competes as a full-fledged music streaming service with apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal and others. Videos can only be downloaded with YouTube Premium so that they can be viewed offline later, and videos can only be played in the background with audio only while another app is being used or the smartphone screen is completely switched off.
Subscription only without advertising for 6.99 euros
However, these bonuses are not relevant for everyone, be it due to existing music streaming services or simply because the main focus is actually on the ad-free YouTube. For those interested in this kind of thing, Google is now offering YouTube Premium Lite in selected regions. For 6.99 euros per month, subscribers can only get YouTube without advertising, but none of the other extras. With this subscription, there will still be advertising in YouTube Music.
In a statement to The Verge, it said that YouTube Premium Lite is being tested in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The new subscription is already being offered to customers, as screenshots from the ResetEra forum show. The adapted subscription format is offered with YouTube on the web, the native apps for Android, iOS, smart TVs and game consoles as well as with YouTube Kids for all platforms of the previous subscriptions. YouTube has not yet commented on whether Premium Lite should be expanded to include additional regions.
Students also pay 6.99 euros
6.99 euros is also the price that students are currently paying for the full-fledged YouTube Premium, which can be used with an account. The student status must be proven to Google anew every year. Apart from that, YouTube also offers a family subscription for 17.99 euros, which can be used by a total of six people. YouTube Premium Lite can only be used as a single user account.