I Tried YouTube Premium Lite, and I’m Sold!

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More than any other subscription service, YouTube Premium has left me torn. The platform’s ad experience is overwhelming; with non-skippable, pre-roll, and mid-roll ads, getting through even a brief video can feel excessive. Given this, opting for YouTube Premium to eliminate those ads seems like an obvious choice.

I’ve dabbled with YouTube Premium for short stints, but committing long-term has been challenging. Since the basic YouTube service is free, and I don’t utilize the YouTube Music Premium feature, justifying $14 a month for limited benefits has been difficult.

So when Google introduced YouTube Premium Lite last month, I was intrigued. This variant costs nearly half of the regular Premium price, eliminating ads but lacking extras such as YouTube Music Premium, video downloads, and other features. Priced at just $8 a month, it’s an attractive option.

After testing YouTube Premium Lite for several weeks, it’s clear that this is the YouTube subscription I have been seeking.

Choosing Between YouTube Premium and Premium Lite

As many as 4,645 votes have been cast in the ongoing debate over which subscription to choose:

YouTube Premium: 40%

YouTube Premium Lite: 49%

Neither one: 11%

A Long-Awaited Ad-Free Experience

While YouTube Premium Lite seems tailored for users like myself, the language on the YouTube website had me slightly anxious. Google states that “most videos” will be ad-free, though ads may still appear in music content, YouTube Shorts, or during browsing. Fortunately, despite these caveats, I’ve encountered very few ads, adhering to the standard I expected.

As promised, both pre-roll and mid-video ads are non-existent in most non-music videos. My viewing habits include gaming, tech, movie reviews, and finance content, and I haven’t seen an ad interrupting any of these genres. This aligns perfectly with my expectations from Premium Lite.

The only instance of encountering ads was while attempting to watch a music video from Twenty One Pilots. However, given the rarity of my music video viewings, this isolated incident among over 100 ad-free videos is manageable. I have also noticed sponsored content in search results, but these hardly detract from my experience.

YouTube Premium Lite isn’t a feature-packed offering, and that’s precisely what I wanted. It provides the ad-free experience I’ve sought, and at $8 a month, it feels far more reasonable than shelling out $14 for the full YouTube Premium.

Understanding YouTube Premium Lite Limitations

While my experience has been positive, it’s essential to recognize that YouTube Premium Lite may not suit everyone. Although the ad-free experience is enjoyable, there are significant limitations compared to the full YouTube Premium subscription.

The absence of YouTube Music Premium is a significant point to consider. For those who enjoy or are indifferent to YouTube Music, the regular subscription offers excellent value at $14 a month. However, if you’re not a fan, this feature becomes less relevant.

Moreover, the lack of offline downloads and background playback could be a dealbreaker. The ability to download videos is a convenient feature, and while I don’t particularly use it, some may find it essential. The absence of background playback is more noticeable; I appreciated being able to listen to videos while my phone was locked—a feature I occasionally miss, but not enough to justify the price difference.

For users like me, who don’t rely on YouTube Music or the additional features, Premium Lite meets their needs flawlessly. However, those who engage with these functionalities may find Premium Lite lacking.

The Ideal YouTube Subscription?

Ultimately, YouTube Premium Lite stands as my top recommendation for a YouTube subscription. It offers the ad-free experience I desire without unnecessary frills for the low price of $8 a month.

But is it the right option for you? It depends entirely on how you engage with the platform. Regular music video viewers, YouTube Music listeners, and those needing to download videos would be better suited to the $14 monthly fee for full Premium.

Additionally, for those interested in sharing their subscription with family, Premium Lite currently lacks a family plan. Six individual subscriptions would total $48 a month, while a family plan for YouTube Premium is only $23 for up to six users.

There are many factors to weigh when choosing between YouTube Premium and Premium Lite. If the regular subscription aligns better with your usage, that’s perfectly fine. However, if your habits mirror mine, Premium Lite is undoubtedly the better choice.

I see YouTube Premium Lite as the solution I’ve long hoped for, and I plan to continue my subscription for the foreseeable future.

Source
www.androidauthority.com