If you’re a regular YouTube Premium user, you may be in for some bad news. Subscribers around the world are seeing price increases for both the family and individual plans. In some regions, viewers can expect a price increase of up to 50%. Ouch.
These came in the form of email notifications delivered to YouTube Premium customers over the weekend. Frustrated users protested on the YouTube subreddit, with user PastaStregata pointing out: “I’m sorry, but none of the small changes this multi-billion dollar company has made make me believe that a 50% price increase in the space of a year is justified.”
Currently, the price increase only applies to regions outside the US and will take effect in November. For MrBeast fans in countries like Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, the cost of a family subscription will rise from €18 to €26, while the cost of an individual subscription will rise from €12 to €14.
YouTube last raised its prices in the US in July 2023, with international markets following suit in November. Now, less than a year later, those international subscribers are seeing another price increase. It’s hard to say whether or not another price jump in the US is likely – but we can’t rule it out.
YouTube Premium currently costs $13.99 per month for a single plan. Subscribers in the UK, Canada and Australia can expect to pay £11.99 / CAD$11.99 / AU$14.99. However, there’s no telling if these prices could also change if US prices change. Although the reports on Reddit mostly come from European countries, YouTube has also increased prices in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and India. Not a good sign for those on a budget.
The problem is that many people want to subscribe to YouTube Music Premium (which recently announced two new AI features) as an alternative to Apple Music or Spotify, but this latest round of price increases—at least for international customers—tells them that YouTube’s paid package is now the most expensive streaming service around.
If you’re thinking about signing up for YouTube Premium, the benefits include ad-free watching, offline viewing and background playback, and the aforementioned access to music. And if you’re based in the US, it might be worth signing up sooner rather than later when these international price increases become a national decision in the coming months.
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