YouTube Boosts Premium and Music Subscription Prices in the U.S

YouTube has recently announced a hike in the prices of its Premium and Music subscription plans for all U.S. users. The Premium plan for individuals, which was previously priced at $11.99 per month, will now cost $13.99 per month. The increase in prices comes on the heels of a similar increase last year, which affected family plans across many countries.

The price change, first noticed by 9to5Google, is effective immediately. This means that both current and new Premium subscribers will have to pay the adjusted prices from their next billing cycle. YouTube has stated that the new prices reflect the value of the services provided by the Premium plan, which includes ad-free viewing, streaming of higher-quality content, and access to over 100 million songs via the YouTube Music app.

Interestingly, users subscribing to the Premium plan via Apple’s in-app purchase system will be charged $18.99 per month. Long-term subscribers who have been with the Premium service since its inception five years ago will continue to pay their current rate for three additional months. In addition to the standard features, subscribers also get access to experimental features such as changeable playback speed and a lock screen to prevent accidental touches.

Alongside the Premium plan, the YouTube Music plan will also witness an increase in its price from $9.99 per month to $10.99 per month. This move comes in the wake of similar price hikes by competing services such as Apple Music and Amazon Music. Spotify, however, has retained its price at $9.99 per month for individual subscriptions.

YouTube’s recent decision to increase prices is part of a broader trend in the industry, with streaming services like Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Netflix also announcing price increases. By adjusting its prices, YouTube is making strides to boost its revenue and encourage more users to opt for its premium offerings. With these changes in place, it will be interesting to see how the company’s earnings report next week will reflect the impact of the price hike.