On March 6, 2025, YouTube announced the introduction of Premium Lite, a more affordable version of its subscription service. Following in the footsteps of streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon, YouTube is offering a lower-cost tier that still includes some advertising.
Premium Lite allows users to reduce the number of ads they see, rather than removing them entirely. This move appears to be part of YouTube’s ongoing battle with ad blockers—offering a middle ground for users who want fewer interruptions without paying full price for YouTube Premium.
However, there’s a catch. While most standard videos are ad-free under Premium Lite, users may still encounter ads on YouTube Shorts, music content, and even in search results or while browsing. These limitations may be disappointing for viewers expecting a nearly ad-free experience.
One potential upside is that this model could help creators earn revenue from users who previously couldn’t justify the higher cost of full YouTube Premium. This could lead to increased support for creators from a broader audience.
Still, the value proposition is questionable. Premium Lite does not include Ad-free access to YouTube Music, Offline downloads and Background play.
While the plan comes at almost 50% off the price of full YouTube Premium, these missing features may make it hard for many users to justify the cost—especially when free ad blockers (despite YouTube’s efforts to stop them) still offer a more complete solution for some.