YouTube Set to Launch ‘Premium Lite’ Subscription Tier in Multiple Countries
YouTube is preparing to officially introduce a new subscription tier called “Premium Lite” in the United States, Australia, Germany, and Thailand. This new offering is designed to cater to viewers who primarily consume content other than music videos on the platform.
The video-sharing giant initially tested a no-ads version of Premium Lite in select European countries beginning in 2021. However, that original plan was discontinued in 2023. In October, YouTube confirmed it was testing a “different version” of the Premium Lite service.
According to reports, the new iteration of Premium Lite will include limited advertisements, unlike its predecessor which was entirely ad-free. While official pricing details have not been disclosed, a user in Australia reported the cost of Premium Lite at AUD 8.99 per month, compared to AUD 16.99 for the standard YouTube Premium subscription.
YouTube spokesperson Paul Pennington stated that the company is “testing a new offering” that would make most videos ad-free. He added that YouTube aims to expand this offering with support from their partners. However, specific details about the U.S. launch or pricing structure were not provided.
As the platform moves forward with this new subscription tier, viewers in the selected countries may soon have a more affordable option to enhance their YouTube experience with reduced advertisements. The official launch date and complete feature set of Premium Lite remain to be announced.
