YouTube Premium Price Hike

YouTube has raised U.S. Premium prices again, with existing subscribers set to pay more starting in June. (youtube.com) For new U.S. subscribers, the standard YouTube Premium plan now shows at $15.99 a month, up from $13.99, and the family plan now shows at $26.99 a month, up from $22.99. (youtube.com) Other tiers moved too: the student plan is now $8.99 a month, the annual Premium plan is $159.99 a year, YouTube Music Premium is $11.99 a month, and Music Premium Family is $18.99 a month. (zdnet.com) Several outlets reported that current subscribers were told the higher rates would begin with billing cycles in June 2026, while new sign-ups are already seeing the updated prices. (techcrunch.com) This is YouTube’s first U.S. Premium price increase since 2023, when the company moved the individual plan to $13.99 a month and the annual plan to $139.99 a year. (zdnet.com) YouTube said the higher prices will help it “continue delivering a high-quality experience” and support creators and artists on the platform. (bostonherald.com) The math is different by plan. The individual tier is rising by $2 a month, or $24 a year, while the family tier is rising by $4 a month, or $48 a year. (usatoday.com) Some subscribers can cut that increase by switching billing options. ZDNET reported that moving from monthly individual billing at $15.99 to the $159.99 annual plan saves about $32 over 12 months. (zdnet.com) The price change lands as large streaming services keep pushing subscription rates higher after years of discount-heavy growth. ZDNET noted that video streaming prices have climbed broadly over the past year. (zdnet.com) For YouTube users who pay to remove ads, download videos, and keep playback running in the background, the next billing notice in June will show whether those features are still worth the higher monthly bill. (youtube.com)