YouTube is testing a revamp of its Premium Lite subscription tier. User screenshots circulated on social media this week, and today a Google representative later confirmed to multiple other media outlets that the plan is being tested in Australia, Germany, and Thailand. The new version is said to have “limited advertising,” with the fine print explaining that most videos do not contain ads, but “with the exception of music content and short videos with video ads.” , and may display uninterrupted advertising when searching or browsing.”
The original Premium Lite subscription began testing in Europe in 2021, but only lasted a few years, with the video platform retiring the option in October 2023. The only benefit of this plan was that it removed all ads. The usual premium service offline or background viewing options were not offered.
We’ve confirmed that the Australian pricing model is $9 per month for Premium Lite versus $17 per month for full Premium Access. This matches the cost of the original Lite, which was about half the regular plan. Given the current cost of YouTube subscriptions ($14/month for individuals and $23/month for family options), having a mid-tier option could certainly be appealing.
