Joe Maring / Android Authority
Plenty of streaming services have recently raised their prices, and YouTube Premium has finally joined the pack. Premium prices now start at $15.99 for individual monthly plans, a far cry from the $9.99 pricing of YouTube Red (2015) and the $11.99 launch pricing of Premium (2018). Upward changes are reflected across all YouTube Premium plans.
| YouTube Premium prices (Old price, July 2023 – March 2026) | YouTube Premium prices (New prices, March 2026 onwards) | |
|---|---|---|
Individual (Monthly) | YouTube Premium prices (Old price, July 2023 – March 2026) $13.99 | YouTube Premium prices (New prices, March 2026 onwards) $15.99 |
Individual (Annual) | YouTube Premium prices (Old price, July 2023 – March 2026) $139.99 | YouTube Premium prices (New prices, March 2026 onwards) $159.99 |
Family (Monthly) – Up to six members | YouTube Premium prices (Old price, July 2023 – March 2026) $22.99 | YouTube Premium prices (New prices, March 2026 onwards) $26.99 |
Lite (Monthly, individual) | YouTube Premium prices (Old price, July 2023 – March 2026) $7.99 | YouTube Premium prices (New prices, March 2026 onwards) $8.99 |
Student (Monthly, individual) | YouTube Premium prices (Old price, July 2023 – March 2026) $7.99 | YouTube Premium prices (New prices, March 2026 onwards) $8.99 |
To YouTube’s credit, this is the first major adjustment since July 2023. However, because this increase arrived without a formal press release or public warning, the “sticker shock” in the community is palpable.
On platforms like Reddit, the conversation has quickly shifted from surprise to calculation. While many users swear by the convenience of ad-free viewing and YouTube Music, others are finding that the cumulative cost of streaming services is finally hitting a breaking point. For some, the $1 to $4 increase is a minor annoyance, but for others, it’s the catalyst to finally hit the “cancel” button.
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The big question: Stay or go?
We want to know where our readers stand. For most of you on Android and the web, the choice comes down to the value of your time spent watching ads versus the cost of the subscription. Is the removal of ads and the addition of background play still worth the premium price tag, or are you looking for the exit?
How will you react to the YouTube Premium price hike?
24 votes
Are you sticking around for the long haul, or was this the final straw? If you’re staying, what feature makes YouTube Premium indispensable for you? If you’re leaving, will you quit YouTube completely, make peace with ads, or live the “cat and mouse” ad-blocker life?
Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts on YouTube’s latest pricing strategy.
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More on will you pay up or finally
Stay tuned for updates on will you pay up or finally as the story develops. Related: I Love the Blink Outdoor 4 Even More With Its New Prime Day Discount.
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Frequently Asked Questions
After the March 2026 price hike: Individual monthly is $15.99 (was $13.99), Individual annual is $159.99 (was $139.99), Family monthly for up to six members is $26.99 (was $22.99), and Lite and Student plans are $8.99 each (were $7.99).
This is the first major adjustment since July 2023. The increase arrived without a formal press release or public warning, which made the sticker shock palpable in the community. For reference, YouTube Red launched at $9.99 in 2015 and Premium launched at $11.99 in 2018.
Mixed. In a poll of 24 votes, 46 percent are keeping it because the value (no ads, YouTube Music) is still worth it, 25 percent are canceling as it is now outside their budget, 4 percent are switching plans like dropping to Lite or leaving a Family plan, and 25 percent don't subscribe and don't plan to.
On platforms like Reddit the conversation shifted from surprise to calculation: ad-free viewing and YouTube Music versus the cumulative cost of streaming services hitting a breaking point. For some the $1 to $4 increase is minor, for others it is the catalyst to finally hit cancel.
