According to the statistics from Backlinko, YouTube is the most streamed video platform. I mean, 1/3rd of the World’s population opens YouTube on their device actively, while 47% of the people on this planet use YouTube at least once a month. That is a really big feat for YouTube.
Why You Should Get the Premium?
Listen to Your Favorite Podcasts in the Background
Why You Should Avoid the Premium?
Even though it’s the World’s most favorite video streaming app, it doesn’t mean it’s flawless. The most annoying thing about this app is the advertisements it bombards at the start, middle, and end of a video. That might ruin the experience for some, and YouTube knows that.
This is why it offers an enticing subscription with the name of YouTube Premium (previously YouTube Red).
What is YouTube Premium?
A paid subscription service for YouTube that offers perks like ad-free streaming, downloads, background play, and more. The cost of the service might vary, depending upon the location you are at, but since I am writing this article for the US audience, here’s the latest YouTube Premium pricing breakdown:
- For an individual plan, it will cost $13.99 a month
- With the family plan, where you can add up to 5 family members, it costs $22.99 a month
- Students can avail the same subscription for a relatively low price of $7.99 a month
Pro tip: If you are in the Apple Ecosystem, do not subscribe to YouTube Premium through the iOS or desktop app on your Mac as it will cost you more. Instead, just open your browser, and get the Premium through YouTube URL. Apple charges you extra for subscribing to other services than Apple’s.
Why You Should Get the Premium?
Getting a YouTube Premium will level up your streaming experience on that free streaming platform. But are the perks worth spending $13.99, $22.99, or $7.99? Let’s talk about that.
No More Annoying Ads
One of the first things that comes to mind when we hear the word YouTube Premium is ad-free videos.
I have experienced that to boost the sales of the Premium, Google has been throwing literally tons of ads on YouTube videos. Maybe it worked or it didn’t but I am pretty sure that I was pissed at this. So, I eventually subscribed to YouTube Premium.
My experience so far has been great and I am happy paying some bucks to remove those ads that ruin my experience. But is it enough to pay for just removing the ads?
Free YouTube Music
With YouTube Premium, you get unlimited access to YouTube Music as long as you are a Premium subscriber. So, it’s not just content streaming, but you also get the taste of your favorite artists.
I used to be a Spotify subscriber, but now that too has been replaced by the Premium, and with YouTube, I can listen to the latest albums from Weekend without breaking the bank.
You can download songs and playlists for offline streaming, just like Spotify. There might be some issues with the availability of the tracks because the YouTube Music library isn’t as big as that of Spotify.
The quality of the audio is great too, but, of course, that depends upon the speed of the internet. I have Xfinity internet installed at my place, so my internet and music run seamlessly. There is also much variety with Xfinity internet plans, they have something for every type of customer. So, I would recommend getting it for yourself, and running the YouTube Music library or other streaming services will feel like a breeze.
Listen to Your Favorite Podcasts in the Background
This is my second favorite feature of the Premium after the ad-free streaming.
I love to learn new things, and for me, it’s the podcasts that help me learn more. But the problem with the podcasts is that they are pretty long and can get boring at some point, so you can’t really arrange a sitting just to watch the podcasts.
This is what I do: whether I am hitting the gym, driving, or walking Hulk (my dog), I always have one earphone in my ear, and I keep listening to podcasts. In this way, I learn while not having to spend extra dedicated time for that.
You can do the same with the YouTube Premium.
Why You Should Avoid the Premium?
Consider this the bottom line of my article. If you have a decided entertainment budget and the pricing of the YouTube Premium falls under that, then I would suggest you go for it. Otherwise, just be tolerant of the ads, and you will be good to go.
