YouTube Premium Raises US Prices Again
YouTube Premium just got more expensive in the US again.
According to The Verge, the individual plan now costs $15.99 per month, up from $13.99. The family plan is now $26.99, up from $22.99. Premium Lite, the ad-free plan without YouTube Music, goes from $7.99 to $8.99.
This latest hike appears to apply to the US only, while many international users already saw YouTube Premium price increases in late 2024.
That is the headline. The bigger story is how often YouTube has changed the price and the product around it.
From Music Key to YouTube Red to YouTube Premium, the paid offering has been moving in one direction for years.
The 2026 Price Hike
The new monthly US prices are:
- YouTube Premium Individual: $15.99, up from $13.99
- YouTube Premium Family: $26.99, up from $22.99
- Premium Lite: $8.99, up from $7.99
The increase applies immediately for new subscribers, while existing users are being notified ahead of their next billing cycle.
The standard individual plan is now $4 higher than it was at launch under the YouTube Premium name in 2018.
Where It Started
YouTube’s paid subscription history is a little messy because the service has gone through three main eras.
1. YouTube Music Key, 2014
The earliest version was YouTube Music Key, introduced in November 2014.
Music Key beta launched at a promotional price of $7.99 per month, discounted from a stated regular price of $9.99 per month. It focused on music features such as ad-free listening, background play, and offline viewing.
2. YouTube Red, 2015
In October 2015, YouTube expanded the idea and launched YouTube Red in the US.
This was the first version of the broader ad-free YouTube subscription, covering videos across the platform, offline viewing, and background playback. Official launch pricing was $9.99 per month.
3. YouTube Premium, 2018
In May 2018, YouTube rebranded YouTube Red as YouTube Premium.
At launch, the new Premium plan cost $11.99 per month in the US, while YouTube Music Premium by itself cost $9.99 per month.
Every Major US Price Step So Far
| Date | Product stage | US monthly price | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2014 | YouTube Music Key beta | $7.99 promo ($9.99 regular) | First paid YouTube music subscription |
| Oct 2015 | YouTube Red | $9.99 | Broader ad-free YouTube subscription launches |
| May 2018 | YouTube Premium | $11.99 | Rebrand from Red to Premium |
| Jul 2023 | YouTube Premium Individual | $13.99 | First major US Premium price increase after rebrand |
| Jul 2023 | YouTube Premium Family | $22.99 | US family plan increase |
| Mar 2025 | Premium Lite | $7.99 | US expansion of lower-cost Lite tier |
| Apr 2026 | YouTube Premium Individual | $15.99 | Latest US price hike |
| Apr 2026 | YouTube Premium Family | $26.99 | Latest US family plan hike |
| Apr 2026 | Premium Lite | $8.99 | Lite price rises by $1 |
How Much More Expensive Is YouTube Premium Now?
If you use YouTube Red in 2015 as the starting point for the full service, the standard monthly price has gone from $9.99 to $15.99.
That is a 60% increase over roughly ten and a half years.
If you use the YouTube Premium launch in 2018 as the baseline, the standard plan has gone from $11.99 to $15.99.
That is about a 33% increase in eight years.