YouTube Premium Lite is now formally available. Here's everything you need to know about it
YouTube Premium has established itself as one of the most popular video streaming services. However, not everyone is willing to pay the price Google is asking for its features. Last month, rumors surfaced about a stripped-down version of the service, and now it’s hitting the market under the name YouTube Premium Lite. This new plan promises an ad-free experience at a lower cost, but unsurprisingly, it has its limitations.
- Who is YouTube Premium Lite for?
This new subscription is aimed at a specific audience: those users who primarily consume video content and are not interested in the additional features offered by the full YouTube Premium plan. For example, if you are someone who spends hours watching videos, tutorials, reviews, or any other type of audiovisual content, but you do not care much about music or advanced features like video downloading, YouTube Premium Lite might be the perfect choice for you.
However, there is one important caveat: YouTube Premium Lite does not include ad-free music. This means that if you’re someone who enjoys listening to music on YouTube, you’ll have to continue to endure watching ads—or consider other options. Additionally, this plan does not allow downloading or background playback of videos, two features that are available in the YouTube Premium plan. So if these features are essential to you, the Lite plan may not be the best option (in which case, the Music Premium plan is still a better alternative).
In short, each subscription is designed to meet specific needs, and the choice will depend on your preferences and consumption habits.
- Why does YouTube exclude music from the YouTube Premium Lite subscription?
One question many have is why YouTube decided to exclude ad-free music from the YouTube Premium Lite plan. The answer probably lies in user behavior. It’s likely that many subscribers to services like Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music don’t use YouTube as their primary music listening platform. This could explain why YouTube didn’t include this feature in the YouTube Premium Lite plan and instead focused on users who primarily consume video content.
YouTube Premium Lite is currently available in the US, but the company has announced that it will be rolling out to other countries in the coming weeks, including Thailand, Germany, and Australia (with other regions being added gradually). This expansion reflects YouTube’s desire to reach a broader audience by offering more accessible options for those who aren’t willing to pay the full price of a YouTube Premium subscription.
YouTube Premium Lite is an interesting option for those looking for an ad-free video experience at a more reasonable price. While it doesn’t include all the features of the full Premium plan, it’s a viable alternative for those who primarily consume audiovisual content. As it expands into new markets, this plan is likely to attract a significant number of users who hadn’t considered it before.