YouTube Premium price increases have hit each of its tiers after the video streaming platform announced its first hikes since 2023.
YouTube emailed subscribers about the changes today. New subscribers will see the adjusted prices take effect immediately, with current subscribers told to expect updated prices on their end in June.
Individual subscribers will now pay $2 more per month at $15.99, while the Music and Premium Lite plans have both been hit with $1 increases each, bringing them to $11.99 and $8.99, respectively. Those interested in the Family Plan are facing a slightly steeper increase of $4 a month, bringing its total to $26.99 a month.
“To continue delivering great service and features, we’re increasing your price to $20.99/month,” one email shared on Reddit earlier today says. “We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.”
“We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.”“
YouTube further clarified the reasoning for the price increases in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter. The message says the company is updating its price in the US for the first time in three years to “continue delivering a high-quality experience that supports creators and artists on YouTube.”
“This change allows us to maintain the features our members value most: ad-free viewing, background play, and a massive library of 300M+ tracks on YouTube Music,” the statement continues. “We continue to offer several plans, ensuring subscribers can choose the option that works best for them.”
YouTube Premium features a number of offerings for members, including ad-free experiences, video downloads for offline viewing, and background play. Recent additions include a jump-ahead tool, high-quality audio, faster video speeds, and picture-in-picture for Shorts. The Music tier is geared toward users who gravitate to the platform for songs and podcasts, while the Premium Lite tier has similar-but-limited versions of the base tier benefits at a lower price point.
As streaming companies continue to raise prices, you can check out IGN’s list of the best streaming discounts for students in 2026. You can also check out some of the best bundles here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
