YouTube Premium: Features, Benefits, and Pricing Options Explained
As the world’s leading video-sharing platform, YouTube has revolutionized how we consume and create content. Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has grown to be a massive platform with over 2 billion monthly active users, with over one billion hours of video viewed daily. In response to the needs of its users, YouTube developed YouTube Premium to provide a more comprehensive and personalized video experience. In this article, we will explore the features, benefits, and pricing options of YouTube Premium to help you decide whether it is the right option for you.
Features of YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium offers a unique and personalized viewing experience for its subscribers. Below are some of the features that users can expect from this premium service:
Ad-free viewing experience
One of the primary benefits of subscribing to YouTube Premium is that you can watch videos ad-free. You can say goodbye to irritating and repetitive ad interruptions while watching your favourite content on YouTube. Watching ad-free content can significantly enhance your viewing experience and create a more enjoyable and streamlined video experience.
Background play
Another exciting feature of YouTube Premium is background play, which allows users to listen to videos while using other apps or when the screen is off. This functionality enables you to listen to your favourite music on YouTube while browsing the web, working on a project, or even reading a book.
Offline playback
With YouTube Premium, you can download your favourite videos and watch them offline. This feature is ideal for users who are commuting or travelling to areas with limited internet access and want to keep watching their favourite content on the go.
Access to YouTube Music
YouTube Premium also provides users with access to YouTube Music, a music-streaming service that offers over 50 million songs. YouTube Music has a personalized recommendation algorithm that suggests music based on the user’s listening history and behaviour. Additionally, YouTube Music gives users the ability to create and save their playlists.
Distraction-free listening with YouTube Music
While using YouTube Music, you can simultaneously listen to music and videos ad-free. Additionally, YouTube Music offers users the option to choose between audio-only or video settings, depending on their preference.
Picture-in-picture mode
Another valuable feature of YouTube Premium is the picture-in-picture mode, which allows users to play videos in a smaller window while multitasking on their mobile devices. With this feature, you can watch your favourite videos while checking emails, using social media, or performing any other task simultaneously.
Benefits of YouTube Premium
Subscribing to YouTube Premium comes with many benefits. Some of the advantages that users can expect include:
No interruptions from ads
YouTube Premium enables users to watch videos without any ad interruptions. This feature saves a significant amount of time and creates a more streamlined viewing experience for users, especially when watching longer videos or multiple videos back-to-back.
Ability to download videos and watch offline
With YouTube Premium, you can download videos and watch them offline, making it an excellent option for users who prefer to travel, watch videos on-the-go, or have limited access to the internet. Downloading videos also prevents buffering interruptions while watching videos.
High-quality sound from YouTube Music
YouTube Music offers high-quality sound tailored to your internet connection. YouTube Music uses AI that adapts the streaming quality to your connection speed, creating an immersive listening experience for the user. The sound quality is one of the significant advantages that YouTube Music has over other music-streaming services.
Offline playback for YouTube Music
Another benefit of subscribing to YouTube Premium is that users can download YouTube Music playlists and listen to them offline. The offline playback feature also allows users to save on mobile data usage and streaming costs.
Exclusive access to YouTube Originals
Subscribing to YouTube Premium gives users exclusive access to YouTube Originals, a series of original programming produced by YouTube. These shows are not available on the free service and include both scripted and unscripted content, such as documentaries, reality shows, and movies.
YouTube Kids access
YouTube Kids is a child-friendly version of YouTube that features videos, channels, and playlists suitable for children. YouTube Premium subscribers can access YouTube Kids-appropriate videos without any ad interruptions.
Google Play Music subscription included
As a subscriber to YouTube Premium, you also get a subscription to Google Play Music, another music-streaming service that offers over 35 million songs. This service provides access to ad-free music and access to a library of podcasts.
Pricing Options for YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium offers three pricing options for potential subscribers:
Individual Plan
The individual plan costs $11.99 per month and includes access to all the benefits mentioned above for one user.
Family Plan
The family plan costs $17.99 per month and includes up to six users with access to the same benefits as the individual plan.
Student Plan
The student plan costs $6.99 per month and includes access to the same benefits as the individual plan but is only available to eligible college and university students enrolled in higher learning institutions.
Comparison with Other Streaming Services
Comparison with Spotify
One of the critical differences between YouTube Music and Spotify is that YouTube Music provides access to an extensive library of music videos and audio, while Spotify relies on audio alone. Additionally, YouTube Music has a more personalized recommendation system that uses algorithms to suggest new music based on the user’s continuously evolving taste. However, Spotify offers a more extensive music catalogue and has more advanced social sharing features.
Comparison with Apple Music
YouTube Music and Apple Music share a similar user interface and functionality. However, Apple Music offers more exclusive content, including exclusive releases, artist interviews, and behind-the-scenes content. Additionally, Apple Music has integration with Apple’s digital assistant, Siri, making it easier to voice command interactions.
How to Subscribe to YouTube Premium
Subscribing to YouTube Premium is relatively simple and can be done in a few steps:
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
- Click on your profile picture, located on the top right corner of the screen.
- Select “Get YouTube Premium” or “Try it free.”
- Choose the pricing option you prefer, whether it is individual, family, or student.
- Click on “Buy,” enter your payment details, and enjoy uninterrupted viewing.
Conclusion
YouTube Premium offers a unique and personalized viewing experience for avid YouTube users. This premium service has many exciting features, such as an ad-free viewing experience, background playback, offline playback, and exclusive access to YouTube Originals. Moreover, the high-quality sound that YouTube Music provides makes it a more interesting and unique streaming service to explore. Subscription to YouTube Premium is effortless and affordable, with various pricing options available to potential subscribers. If you are an avid YouTube user, we highly recommend trying out YouTube Premium to elevate your viewing experience to something extraordinary.
