Should I pay for YouTube Premium?
Calculate if YouTube Premium is worth $14/month based on how much you watch, how much you hate ads, and whether you'd use YouTube Music.
By ShouldICalc Team
Updated January 2025 · See our methodology
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Trade-offs to Consider
Every decision has pros and cons. Here's what to weigh:
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Money
$14/month ($168/year) for no ads. Worth it depends entirely on how much you watch and how ads affect your experience.
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Time
Skip 5-8 minutes of ads per hour. Heavy viewers save 100+ hours/year. That's real time back in your life.
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Quality
Ad-free viewing is genuinely better. Background play changes how you can use YouTube. Downloads work for flights.
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Convenience
YouTube becomes a true first-class streaming app. But you're paying for something most people get free.
Related Products
Products that can help you save money. (Affiliate links)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Watch YouTube on the big screen
Echo Buds
Listen to YouTube Music anywhere
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Premium audio for ad-free listening
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does YouTube Premium cost?
Is YouTube Music as good as Spotify?
How many ads does YouTube show?
Can I share YouTube Premium with family?
Is YouTube Premium Worth $14/Month?
YouTube Premium feels optional—after all, the videos are free. But if you’re a heavy YouTube user, the math might surprise you.
What You Get with YouTube Premium
No Ads:
- No pre-roll ads before videos
- No mid-roll interruptions
- No banner ads
- No sponsored cards
Background Play:
- Keep audio playing when you close the app
- Lock your phone while listening
- Essential for podcasts, music, and audio content
Downloads:
- Save videos offline
- Watch during flights, commutes, no-wifi zones
- Download up to 4K resolution
YouTube Music Premium:
- Full music streaming service included
- 100M+ songs on demand
- Music videos and live performances
- Usually $10.99/month separately
The Ad Time Calculation
YouTube ads have gotten aggressive. Here’s what you’re watching:
Current YouTube Ad Load:
- 2-3 ads before many videos (some unskippable)
- Mid-roll ads every 4-8 minutes on videos over 8 minutes
- Estimated ad time: 3-5 minutes per hour of content
If you watch 7 hours/week:
- Weekly ads: 21-35 minutes
- Monthly ads: 1.5-2.5 hours
- Annual ads: 18-30 hours
If you watch 15 hours/week:
- Weekly ads: 45-75 minutes
- Monthly ads: 3-5 hours
- Annual ads: 36-60 hours
That’s days of your life watching ads each year.
The Money Math
YouTube Premium Individual: $13.99/month
If you would pay for music streaming anyway:
- YouTube Music value: $10.99/month
- Net cost for ad-free videos: $3/month ($36/year)
At $3/month for ad-free:
- That’s $0.10/day
- If you watch 1+ hour daily, easily worth it
- 30 hours of ad-free viewing per month = $0.10/hour
Family Plan: $22.99/month
- Up to 6 members
- $3.83/person/month
- Even better value if you have a household of viewers
Who Gets Maximum Value
Heavy YouTube viewers (10+ hours/week): The time savings alone justify the cost. You’re saving 2-4 hours of ads per month.
Mobile viewers: Background play transforms YouTube. Listen to videos like podcasts while doing other things. This feature alone is worth it for many people.
Current Spotify/Apple Music subscribers: If you’d switch to YouTube Music, Premium only costs $3/month more than you’re already paying.
Podcast listeners: Many podcasts are on YouTube, often with video extras. Premium makes YouTube a viable podcast app.
Families: The family plan at $22.99/month = $3.83/person for households of 6. Incredible value.
Who Should Skip It
Light YouTube viewers: Under 3 hours/week means you’re seeing maybe 20 minutes of ads monthly. Not worth $14.
Desktop users who block ads: Browser ad blockers work on desktop YouTube (for now). If you primarily watch on a computer, you might not need Premium.
Those who don’t care about ads: Some people genuinely tune out ads. If they don’t bother you, don’t pay to remove them.
Tight budgets: $14/month adds up. If you’re cutting subscriptions, this is more optional than most.
YouTube Music vs Spotify
Since Premium includes YouTube Music, this comparison matters:
YouTube Music Advantages:
- Music videos and live performances
- Uploaded songs (your own music)
- Lyric videos and fan remixes
- Integrated with YouTube recommendations
- Included with Premium (no extra cost)
Spotify Advantages:
- Better discovery algorithms
- Social features (sharing, collaborative playlists)
- Podcast integration
- Spotify-exclusive content
- Better apps and interfaces (many users think)
The bottom line: They’re roughly equal for basic music streaming. Choose based on whether you prefer YouTube ecosystem or Spotify’s features.
Family Plan Strategy
The family plan is the best deal if you can use it:
$22.99/month ÷ 6 members = $3.83/person
Requirements:
- Members must be 13+ with Google accounts
- Must share the same household address
- Each person gets their own recommendations
With 2 people: $11.50/person (still beats individual) With 3 people: $7.67/person With 6 people: $3.83/person
If you have kids who watch YouTube, family plan is almost always worth it.
The Free Alternatives
Before subscribing, consider:
Ad Blockers (Desktop Only):
- uBlock Origin works on YouTube
- No official mobile solutions
- Violates YouTube’s terms of service
- May stop working anytime
YouTube Vanced (Android - Discontinued):
- Was a popular ad-blocking app
- No longer maintained
- Successors exist but are legally risky
Brave Browser:
- Built-in ad blocking
- Works on YouTube desktop and mobile web
- Not as convenient as native apps
These work but aren’t official solutions. YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers. Premium is the legitimate, reliable option.
Making Your Decision
Calculate your personal value:
- Hours watched per week: ___
- Estimated ad time per month: ___ hours
- Would you pay for YouTube Music? ($11/month)
- Do you need background play/downloads?
If yes to #3: Net Premium cost = $3/month for ad-free. Almost certainly worth it if you watch regularly.
If no to #3: Full $14/month for ad-free. Worth it at 5+ hours/week. Questionable below that.
The Bottom Line
YouTube Premium is worth it if:
- You watch YouTube 5+ hours/week
- You’d use YouTube Music (replacing Spotify)
- You watch primarily on mobile
- You value your time and hate interruptions
YouTube Premium isn’t worth it if:
- You watch under 3 hours/week
- You primarily watch on desktop (ad blocker works)
- Ads don’t bother you much
- $14/month is significant to your budget
There’s no objectively right answer—it depends entirely on how you use YouTube and how much you value seamless viewing.