YouTube Premium Discount: Cheaper Ways to Get YouTube Premium in 2026

Summary: YouTube Premium costs $15.99 a month in the US after the April 2026 price increase, but there are cheaper ways to get it. The $159.99 annual plan, the $8.99 Student plan, a Family plan shared with your household, or Premium Lite at $8.99 all lower the cost. Subscribing on the web rather than in the iPhone app also avoids a higher price.

• YouTube Premium Individual is $15.99 a month in the US, or $159.99 a year.
• Student and Premium Lite are both $8.99 a month.
• The Family plan is $26.99 a month for up to six people in one household.
• Prepaid YouTube Premium codes give you a fixed period with no card on file.

How Much YouTube Premium Costs Now

YouTube raised US prices in April 2026, the first increase since 2023. Current US prices:

• Individual: $15.99 a month.
• Individual annual: $159.99 a year, about $13.33 a month.
• Family: $26.99 a month for up to six people.
• Student: $8.99 a month.
• Premium Lite: $8.99 a month.
• YouTube Music Premium on its own: $11.99 a month.

Prices outside the US differ, and some plans are not available in every country.

1. Switch to the Annual Plan

If you know you will keep Premium for a year, the prepaid annual Individual plan saves roughly $32 compared with paying monthly. It is only offered on the Individual tier. Family and Student plans bill monthly.

2. Use the Student Plan

Students at eligible higher-education institutions can get full Premium for $8.99 a month. Eligibility is verified through SheerID, not just a .edu email address, and has to be renewed every year. Student memberships are limited to four years, after which they switch to the full Individual price.

3. Share a Family Plan

The Family plan covers up to six people, as long as everyone lives in the same household as the family manager. Shared by a full household, it works out to about $4.50 per person, the cheapest way to get full Premium. It only saves money once three or more people actually use it. If the household watches together, a projector from Luckview turns YouTube into movie night.

4. Drop Down to Premium Lite

Premium Lite removes ads from most videos for $8.99 a month, but it does not include YouTube Music Premium, background play or downloads, and music content still shows ads. If ad-free viewing is all you want, Lite halves the cost.

5. Subscribe on the Web, Not in the iPhone App

Subscribing inside the YouTube app on an iPhone or iPad goes through Apple's billing, which has historically cost several dollars more a month. Signing up in a browser at youtube.com gets the standard price. If you already pay through the App Store, you can cancel there and resubscribe on the web when your current period ends.

6. Pay With a Prepaid Code

Prepaid YouTube Premium codes cover a fixed period without a card on your account and without auto-renewal. They suit anyone who does not want to link a bank card, or who wants to give Premium as a gift. Check that the code matches your Google account's country before you buy. For more ideas, see our roundup of subscriptions and gift cards to give.

A Note on Cheaper Countries

Premium is much cheaper in some countries, which tempts people to sign up through a VPN. YouTube ties memberships to your country, and using a different region breaks its terms. You also risk the membership being canceled with no refund. The legitimate options above are safer.

Which Route Saves You the Most

Students should start with the Student plan. Households with three or more viewers save most on Family. Solo viewers who plan to stay a year should pay annually, and anyone who only minds the ads can drop to Lite. Whichever you choose, subscribe on the web. The YouTube VR app on Meta Quest headsets signs in with the same account.

To pay without a card on file, browse YouTube Premium codes.