YouTube Music versus YouTube Premium – are they the same thing?
Image Credit: YouTube
What’s the difference between YouTube Music and YouTube Premium?
YouTube is the world’s favourite video platform for everything from vlogs to memes to educational videos to films. YouTube launched YouTube Music, a dedicated music streaming service including music content on YouTube, in 2015. Since then YouTube Music has gained over 100 million users.
YouTube and YouTube Music are available for free, with adverts that interrupt the experience. But YouTube also offers paid subscriptions for ad-free YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium – which is where it gets a little confusing. Let’s run through exactly what’s on offer.
Does YouTube Music Premium come with YouTube Premium?
YouTube Music Premium only allows access to YouTube Music with premium benefits such as ad-free listening and offline listening. YouTube Premium subscriptions provide users with access to YouTube Music Premium as well.
YouTube Premium subscribers can enjoy all the benefits of YouTube Music Premium without additional cost. The subscription to YouTube Premium includes access to the YouTube Music app without advertisements, offline streaming, background play, and audio-only mode.
Subscribers simply need to log in to YouTube Music with the same Google account with which they subscribed to YouTube Premium to gain access to Music Premium features.
But there are some key differences between the two subscriptions:
- YouTube Music Premium gives you ad-free music, offline downloads, and background play, but only within the YouTube Music app. This means you can stream your favorite playlists or albums without interruption, and even listen with your phone screen off—but these perks don’t extend to regular YouTube videos.
- YouTube Premium, on the other hand, unlocks the full suite of premium features across all of YouTube. This means:
- Ad-free video content: Watch anything on YouTube—whether it’s a cooking tutorial, vlog, or movie—without ads.
- Offline downloads: Download videos and entire playlists to your device and watch them anywhere, even without an internet connection.
- Background play: Continue listening to videos or music while you use other apps or when your screen is off.
- YouTube Music Premium access: All the benefits listed above for YouTube Music Premium are folded into your YouTube Premiumsubscription.
- Extended to YouTube Kids: These features are also available in theYouTube Kids app.
In short, while YouTube Music Premium is perfect if you only care about music, YouTube Premium is the more comprehensive package for those who want an ad-free experience across all of YouTube’s content.
What can you do with YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium?
YouTube Music is YouTube’s music streaming platform, which gives you access to a catalogue of music with some restrictions. YouTube Music Premium is the ad-free option, offering unlimited streaming at a cost of $10.99 a month.
YouTube Music Premium offers several benefits, including access to the YouTube Music app without advertisements, the ability to stream music and videos offline by downloading them to your mobile device, background play to keep your music playing while using other apps, and the option to activate audio-only mode to listen to music without loading videos.
With YouTube Premium you can watch videos on YouTube without being interrupted by adverts and you can stream music on YouTube Music ad-free. You also get YouTube Kids, which offers a restricted browsing experience with parental controls. YouTube Premium costs $13.99 a month.
On both subscriptions you also get background play, which lets you leave the YouTube app to browse elsewhere whilst the video or music continues to play on your device. The monthly cost also buys you offline listening, allowing you to download videos and music to access later.
Which is better: YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium?
So, should you choose YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium? It depends where you plan on spending most of your time, how much you want to spend – and where adverts annoy you the most.
Say you stream a lot of music but don’t watch enough YouTube videos for the adverts to get on your nerves. YouTube Music Premium might be the best fit for you.
But if you watch a lot of YouTube and can afford the $2 extra a month, YouTube Premium is the cost-effective choice – you get a Music Premium subscription for a fraction of the normal cost and access all the benefits of YouTube Premium.
Essentially, YouTube Premium gives you ad-free support across both the main YouTube platform and YouTube Music, plus access to YouTube Kids, all bundled together for just a bit more each month. That small price jump gets you ad-free video streaming, background play, and the ability to download both videos and music to enjoy offline—making it an excellent bargain for anyone who splits their time between watching videos and listening to music, or for families who want kid-friendly access as well.
The only real reason to stick with YouTube Music Premium alone is if you truly use YouTube exclusively for music and never find yourself watching videos. Otherwise, it’s simple to upgrade later if your habits change or if you get tired of video ads.
So, for a couple of dollars more, you’re getting two subscriptions rolled into one—making YouTube Premium the smarter pick for most people.
Can you try YouTube Premium for free?
You can get YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium for free before you commit to a subscription. Both services offer a month for free on trial.
If you get a YouTube Premium trial then you can experience background play, offline listening and ad-free playback on both YouTube and YouTube Music – and see which you’re enjoying the most.
What happens if I forget to cancel my YouTube Premium free trial?
If you happen to forget to cancel your YouTube Premium free trial before it ends, it’s essential to be aware that you will be charged the regular individual rate of $13.99 per month. To avoid any unwelcome charges, it is highly recommended to set a reminder and mark your calendars accordingly.
How has the price of YouTube Premium changed recently?
The price of YouTube Premium has experienced a recent increase due to the introduction of new pricing by almost all streaming services in 2023. Last July both of YouTube’s Premium services increased their prices as follows:
- YouTube Music
- $9.99/month – $10.99/month
- $99.99/year – $109.99/year
- YouTube Premium
- $11.99/month – $13.99/month
- $119.99/year – $139.99/year
In addition to these individual plans, there are a few other options worth knowing about:
- YouTube Premium Family Plan: $22.99/month, allowing up to six people (including you) to share a subscription—handy for households or groups looking to save.
- YouTube Music Premium Family Plan: $14.99/month for up to six users.
- Student Discounts: Both services offer discounted student plans—YouTube Premium at $7.99/month, and YouTube Music Premium at $5.49/month.
It’s also worth noting that if you pay for YouTube Premium, you automatically get all the benefits of YouTube Music Premium included. For those who just want an ad-free music experience, YouTube Music Premium can still be purchased on its own—putting it in direct competition with the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, and TIDAL.
With these options, you can pick the plan that best fits your viewing or listening habits, whether you’re looking for solo access, family sharing, or a student discount.
Can I experience new features before free users with YouTube Premium?
Yes, as a YouTube Premium user, you have the advantage of experiencing new features before free users. These features are easily accessible on the YouTube website, as well as within the Android and iOS apps.
Whenever new features become available, you will receive a notification informing you of their availability. This gives you the option to try them out and make the most of your YouTube Premium subscription.
Are there family or student plans for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium?
Absolutely—both YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium offer special plans tailored for families and students, making it easier (and more affordable) to share your subscription or save a bit if you’re studying.
For families, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium each provide a family plan option. This allows you to share your subscription benefits with up to five additional family members (a total of six people) under one account. Everyone gets their own recommendations, libraries, and playlists, so you won’t have to worry about your cousin’s obscure jazz phase affecting your Discover Mix.
Students aren’t left out either. There are discounted student plans for both services, perfect for keeping the tunes flowing during late-night study sessions or simply cutting down on monthly expenses. Students just need to verify their eligibility to take advantage of these savings.
Just like with individual subscriptions, family and student members enjoy all the standard perks—ad-free streaming, offline access, and background play—across both YouTube and YouTube Music, depending on the plan you select.
How does YouTube Music compare to Apple Music, Spotify, and TIDAL?
In terms of direct competition, YouTube Music Premium sits comfortably alongside popular streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and TIDAL. The individual plan for YouTube Music Premium starts at $10.99 per month, on par with the standard prices offered by its rivals. There’s also a family plan at $14.99 per month, matching what you’ll find from the competition.
What sets YouTube Music Premium apart is its integration with the broader YouTube ecosystem. Subscribers can access a vast library of official tracks, covers, remixes, and music videos—many of which aren’t available on other platforms. For those who value music videos and exclusive performances, this can be a real bonus.
At the same time, the key perks—ad-free listening, offline downloads, and background play—mirror the core features offered by Apple Music, Spotify, and TIDAL. Ultimately, the decision might hinge on whether you prefer YouTube’s unique catalogue and video content, or if you’re attached to curated playlists and experience from the likes of Spotify or Apple Music.
Are you a musician or producer? Monetize your music on YouTube with RouteNote, for free. YouTube Content ID protects your songs on YouTube and YouTube Shorts so you’re properly credited and earn money whenever your music is used in a video. We can also upload songs to YouTube Music so everyone can stream your tracks.