YouTube Premium Lite Launches in the US for $7.99 a Month
As expected, YouTube has officially launched its Premium Lite subscription in the United States for $7.99 per month, after discontinuing the cheaper tier in 2023. But the new plan lacks many features compared to the more expensive Premium plan.
Subscribers should temper their expectations, as Premium Lite does not support offline downloads and background playback. The experience is not completely ad-free either. While traditional ads will largely be removed, users will still encounter sponsored content integrated directly into videos created by individual content producers. Google says that this approach helps YouTube to create additional revenue opportunities for creators and partners, while providing an affordable subscription for viewers.
Critics argue that this approach feels disingenuous, as YouTube's claim of supporting creators through increased revenue seems overshadowed by the perception that the platform is primarily seeking to extract more money from users. The frustration among potential subscribers is understandable; many feel dissatisfied with the prospect of paying for a service that still includes disruptive ad content. After all, how appealing is a "mostly ad-free" option if it allows for ads baked into the very fabric of the content?
YouTube's struggle against ad-blocking tools has been going on for a couple of years. Unsurprisingly, many users who disillusioned by hybrid models like Premium Lite, are choosing to rely on ad blockers instead. Until YouTube finds a way to eliminate in-video ads altogether, many current and prospective subscribers are likely to remain skeptical of the value proposition offered by Premium Lite.
The announcement says that YouTube Premium Lite will soon be launched in other Countries, as a reminder the subscription is being tested in Thailand, Germany, and Australia.
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uBlock Origin, FreeTube & NewPipe = YouTube Lite
OuterTune & RiMusic = YouTube Music Lite
Just a few examples of a truly light experience while using Googles product. I’m no coder nor do I understand the inner workings of YouTube, but it seems to me very weird that all these free apps have access to all the content on YouTube. Where did Google make a massive rookie mistake so that all the content can’t be locked down? Now all they can do is to alter some bits of code now and then to temporarily cripple these free apps, and Google lose that battle time and time again. I dunno, just seems odd to me. Kinda like a bunch of people have sets of extra keys for your car and you keep trying to park it elsewhere so they can’t find it and drive around for free.
“Most videos ad-free” so, you’ll continue to see ads on some videos and no background playback? Even mainstream web browsers like Samsung Internet and Brave let you play YT videos on background and also have adblockers. Just open YouTube on desktop mode on your browser and install as an app or even better use Tubular or Revanced.
@ JOHN:
“The only reason I would pay for Youtube would be to avoid the ads completely.”
uBlockOrigin is free and easy to use. Enable all of the filter lists (except languages) and you’re good to go!
I’d never pay for YouTube.
“Premium” … “Lite”
I’m sensing a contradiction (“tastes great” , “less filling”).
Semantics, or the way marketing twists them to the point of nonsense.
Like if you had on jetliners, Premium = 1st Class, Premium-Lite = Business Class, Premium-XtraLite = Economy Class. All have that Premium flavor… in the denomination only.
The’re making a shit load of money on advertising. Go check how much revenue the content creators are making, with all the ads in ther’re content. They control how much ads they want in the’re YT-videos. Some have a lot, while some have none. Easy money
Just watch it in Brave browser, instead of your app
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Here Google, I will solve this for you once and for all: YouTube Premium $0.99 per month. You’d be surprised of the effect this would have. Right now everybody hates you.
Your move.
This just reeks of not being a good value to users. The only reason I would pay for Youtube would be to avoid the ads completely. I don’t think Youtube learned anything from the failure of their last inexpensive tier.