(Graphic: Shutterstock / masmas, YouTube)
YouTube is synonymous with today's internet experience and accounts for a truly massive amount of web traffic. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with YouTube, let alone who doesn’t regularly use the website.
However, the purposes of and differences between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV are not common knowledge. We explore those differences below and offer advice on who should subscribe to each service. Basically, YouTube Premium (formerly called YouTube Red) is a paid subscription that improves the regular YouTube experience and bundles YouTube Music Premium, while YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service.
What Does YouTube Premium Include?
A subscription to YouTube Premium unlocks useful streaming features on YouTube. For example, you get to watch YouTube without any ads on its website and apps, play YouTube videos in the background while your device is locked, and download YouTube videos for offline viewing on mobile devices. YouTube is testing a cheaper version of YouTube Premium, called YouTube Premium Lite, that simply lets you stream YouTube without ads on every platform. Note, however, that neither YouTube Premium nor the new cheaper version will save you from ads, commercials, or sponsored content embedded within videos and live channels; both only get rid of the ads that YouTube itself distributes.
In terms of streaming content, a YouTube Premium membership gives you access to YouTube Originals. The complete list of YouTube Originals is a grab-bag of movies, features, and shows across the animation, comedy, drama, documentary, kids, and unscripted genres, some of which feature YouTube personalities. Some series that started under the YouTube Premium label have since moved to mainstream video streaming services, including Cobra Kai (Netflix) and Step Up: High Water (Starz). Don’t expect YouTube Originals to be nearly as high-quality as the original shows on Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, or Prime Video.
YouTube offers some on-demand movies and live content, such as the occasional live MLB game, but you don't need a YouTube Premium account to stream that content.
YouTube Premium also bundles a YouTube Music Premium subscription. YouTube Music is a capable music streaming service and the Premium tier lets you listen without ads, download music for offline streaming, and play back media while your device is locked.
What Does YouTube TV Include?
YouTube TV lets you watch numerous cable channels and networks over an internet connection. It’s a top-notch option for cord cutters who still want to watch live TV.
YouTube TV’s lineup includes about 90 channels across the entertainment, lifestyle, local, news, and sports categories. With the service, you can stream live broadcasts from the major networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, plus local PBS channels. As for news channels, you get BBC America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC. For sports fans, YouTube TV features CBS Sports, ESPN, ESPN 2, NFL Network, NBC Sports, MLB Network, and NBA TV. It’s not great for watching regional sports networks (RSNs), however, a topic you can read more about in our roundup of the best sports streaming services.
Channels from popular entertainment and lifestyle networks, such as Disney (Disney Channel, FX, and National Geographic), Discovery (Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel), ViacomCBS (BET, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon), and WarnerMedia (Cartoon Network, TBS, and TNT) round out YouTube TV’s lineup.
A subscription to YouTube TV also lets you watch YouTube Originals; this is the one area where it and YouTube Premium overlap. As mentioned, the library of YouTube Originals is underwhelming.
How Much Does YouTube Premium Cost?
YouTube Premium is $11.99 per month, but it offers a free, one-month trial for new subscribers. The aforementioned YouTube Premium Lite is currently available in European countries for €6.99, but it’s not clear what that price would translate to for potential US subscribers (though $6.99 per month is a good guess).
No other video streaming service we’ve reviewed currently bundles a music streaming service. A full Amazon Prime subscription does let you access both Prime Video and Amazon Music Prime, but the latter does not feature Amazon’s full streaming music library. However, individual video streaming and music streaming services cost less than YouTube Premium.
In fact, if you want to watch the best original shows, catch up on network TV series, or enjoy movies, many of the best video streaming services cost under $10 per month. The best free video streaming services also offer more and better on-demand content. You can get several of our Editors’ Choice picks for the music streaming service category for less than YouTube Premium too, including LiveXLive, Spotify, and Tidal.
You can access YouTube Premium’s content on the web or any of the YouTube apps (including for game consoles, media streaming devices, mobile platforms, and smart TVs). Some features, such as the ability to download videos for offline viewing and to stream while your device is locked, are limited to YouTube’s mobile apps, though the features do carry over to the YouTube Kids apps.
How Much Does YouTube TV Cost?
YouTube TV starts at $64.99 per month, but first-time subscribers can try out the service for up to seven days at no cost. Although YouTube TV’s price has increased over the years, the subscription rate is still competitive with other live TV streaming services, whose prices have also increased over time. For comparison, both Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV start at $64.99 per month, too.
YouTube TV offers add-ons that expand your streaming library and unlock more technical capabilities. For instance, you can subscribe to premium channels such as Acorn TV ($6 per month), AMC Premiere ($5 per month), and CuriosityStream ($2.99 per month). The Entertainment Plus add-on bundles HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz for $29.99 per month. Sports fans can get the $10.99-per-month Sports Plus package, which includes NFL RedZone, FOX College Sports, FOX Soccer Plus, GOLTV, and Stadium, among other channels. The $19.99-per-month 4K Plus add-on lets you stream live channels in 4K, download DVR recordings for offline viewing, and stream from an unlimited number of devices on your home network.
YouTube TV is available on the web, mobile platforms (Android and iOS), media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, and Fire TV), and select smart TVs (such as those from LG, Samsung, and Sony). You can download the YouTube TV app for the latest game consoles, including the Xbox One Series X|S and the PlayStation 5, too. However, the YouTube TV app is no longer available on the Roku Channel Store because the two companies failed to renew a distribution contract. That said, Roku users who already have the YouTube TV app installed can continue to use it and YouTube TV’s live channels are accessible from the main YouTube app.
Should You Pay for YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium is a difficult sell. To start, YouTube Originals don’t add much to the bundle. YouTube Music Premium is a better-than-average music streaming service, but several higher-rated services cost less than $11.99 per month. If you prefer YouTube Music Premium over other music streaming options, you can just subscribe to YouTube Music Premium on its own for $9.99 per month.
The other perks of YouTube Premium are worthy conveniences for sure. However, several free YouTube apps for Android list the same features. We have a comprehensive guide on how to download YouTube videos (and not just for offline playback), too. If you access YouTube via a mobile or desktop browser, several ad-blockers also let you watch YouTube videos without ads.
Casual YouTube uses shouldn’t pay for a YouTube Premium subscription, because none of the individual features are groundbreaking. But if you or your kids spend several hours a day watching videos, the extra capabilities could make an appreciable difference. While you can accomplish some of the same feats with third-party software and extensions, YouTube Premium’s integrated features are more seamless. And if you were planning on getting YouTube Music Premium anyway, then consider spending the extra $2 per month to improve your YouTube viewing experience.
Should You Pay for YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is an excellent live TV service for anyone who has ditched (or is thinking about ditching) cable. The service has one of the most complete channel lineups, is no more expensive than its competitors, and has excellent DVR capabilities. The 4K Plus add-on pushes its feature set beyond those of competing services, too.
Specific audiences may want to consider other live TV services, however. For instance, if you only care about watching local channels, Locast ($5 per month) is a great value. Fans of entertainment and lifestyle content can save a lot of money by choosing Philo ($25 per month). For watching network TV shows on-demand, Hulu + Live TV ($64.99 per month) is a better option because a subscription includes access to that service’s extensive on-demand library. Finally, if YouTube TV doesn’t carry the RSN that you need to watch local teams, there’s a good chance that AT&T TV’s Choice Plan ($84.99 per month) does.
How to Download YouTube Videos
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