YouTube is testing an upgrade to the Premium Lite subscription level. User made the rounds on social media this week, and a Google representative later today confirmed that the plan is being tested in Australia, Germany and Thailand for many other outlets. This new version would have “limited ads,” with the fine print describing most videos as ad-free, “but you may see video ads and interstitials in music content and Short Films when you search and browse.”
Original Premium Lite subscription launched in Europe in 2021, but only lasted a few years with the video platform Option in October 2023. The only benefit of the plan was to remove all ads; it did not offer the offline or background browsing options of the regular Premium offering.
We have been able to confirm that the pricing model in Australia is $9 per month for Premium Lite and $17 per month for full Premium access. That’s in line with the cost of the original Lite, which is roughly half the rate of the regular plan. With the current costs of a YouTube subscription — individual or for a family option – having a mid-range option can certainly be attractive.
