YouTube TV vs. YouTube Premium: Which Service Is Right for You? At first glance, YouTube TV vs. YouTube Premium might seem like a comparison of two similar services, but in reality, they serve very different purposes. While both share the “YouTube” brand, the differences between YouTube TV vs. YouTube Premium become clear once you dive into the details. These services are designed for distinct audiences, with YouTube TV catering to those looking for a full TV streaming experience and YouTube TV vs. YouTube Premium offering an enhanced, ad-free YouTube experience. In this article, we’ll break down the features of both services, highlighting the strengths of each, so you can decide which one best suits your needs.
What Does YouTube TV Offer?
What is YouTube TV?
As its name suggests, YouTube TV is a TV streaming service designed for “cord-cutters” in the United States. It offers a robust selection of live TV channels across various genres like news, sports, and entertainment, all available without the need for a traditional cable subscription.
Available Channels
YouTube TV includes more than 85 channels, which cover a wide range of interests. Here are some of the popular channels available:
- ABC
- CBS
- NBC
- Fox
- CNBC
- CNN
- Comedy Central
- Disney and Disney Junior
- ESPN
- FX
- HGTV
- Food Network
- MTV
- Nickelodeon
- SyFy
- TBS
- TLC
- TNT
- Travel Channel
- USA
- TruTV
- VH1
Premium Add-Ons
In addition to the standard channels, YouTube TV offers premium network add-ons, which allow you to enhance your channel lineup. These include:
Sports packages like NFL RedZone, Fox Soccer Plus, and more
HBO
Showtime
EPIX
What Does YouTube Premium Offer?
YouTube Premium is a more streamlined service compared to YouTube TV, focusing primarily on providing an ad-free experience across the entire YouTube platform. Here’s what YouTube Premium brings to the table:
Ad-Free Experience
With YouTube Premium, you can enjoy ad-free access to all videos on YouTube. This means you won’t have to deal with pre-roll or mid-roll ads, allowing for an uninterrupted viewing experience. With millions of videos available, this benefit alone is a game-changer for frequent YouTube users.
Background Play and Picture-in-Picture Mode
YouTube Premium offers background play for videos, meaning you can continue listening to videos while using other apps on your phone. This is especially useful for music videos or podcasts. Additionally, the Picture-in-Picture mode allows you to keep watching videos while browsing other apps or checking notifications on your mobile device.
For more details about YouTube Premium features, check out the official YouTube Premium page.
If you’re considering (or are already subscribed to) Spotify Premium or Apple Music, then you should also consider YouTube Premium. In addition to ad-free video streaming, YouTube Premium also offers access to YouTube’s Music Premium service, which is a direct competitor to Spotify (which can sometimes be problematic) and Apple Music.
How Much Is YouTube TV?
As of September 2021, YouTube TV is currently priced at $64.99/month ($54.99 for the first three months) for one membership (three total streams) that allows up to six different accounts. That includes unlimited cloud DVR storage, more than 85 channels (some listed above), and no hidden fees, equipment rentals, or installation. On top of that, there is no annual contract, so cancel at any time.
For the sports fan, NFL, NBA and MLB networks are included, so that’s a big bonus for YouTube TV. The only available add-in is “4K Plus,” which adds $10/month for the first year (then $19.99/month after that) and 4K quality video, offline DVR recordings and unlimited streams per household.
Also read: Is a 4K TV Worth Buying in 2021?
How Much Is YouTube Premium?
In the case of YouTube Premium, you pay $11.99/month for the ad-free and background listening experience. That also includes the ability to download videos for offline viewing.
Spotify Premium and Apple Music both cost $9.99, so for an extra $2 per month, YouTube Premium subscribers receive a similarly-sized music catalog plus the YouTube benefits themselves.
Who Should Sign Up for YouTube TV?
At the end of the day, “cord-cutters” is still something of a buzzword, but they are the intended audience for YouTube TV. This service and others like it are for people who are tired of traditional cable costs (Xfinity, AT&T, Spectrum, etc.) and want something less expensive. As mentioned, if you’re currently thinking of Hulu TV or Sling TV, then perhaps YouTube TV may be right for you.
YouTube TV is best-in-class right now for anyone who wants one of the more complete streaming TV lineups, strong DVR capabilities like unlimited storage, unlimited streams (with 4K Plus) and premium add-ons like HBO and Showtime. As long as you have a solid broadband connection, YouTube TV is an ideal choice for anyone looking to move into what is hopefully the future of streaming television.
Who Should Sign Up for YouTube Premium?
The intended audience for YouTube Premium is pretty much anyone who enjoys YouTube, loathes the pre-roll and mid-roll ad experience or just wants a bountiful music subscription service. Are you someone who spends hours a day on YouTube or likes to spend time listening to music throughout the day? Then YouTube Premium may be for you.
Does YouTube Premium offer enough over Spotify or Apple Music as a standalone music service? Probably not enough to make people switch en masse, but when you throw in the ad-free experience, it’s enough to get anyone’s attention.
YouTube Premium Student Discount
At this time, YouTube TV does not offer any student discount options or promo codes.
However, YouTube Premium does offer a student plan at $6.99/month and includes all of the same features as the regularly-priced option. That means ad-free and background play, offline downloads, etc. Students actually receive a two-month free trial as well, with a seven-day cancellation period. Students do have to verify their identity through SheerID, which validates that they are a current student at a higher education institution. Upon verification, the student plan is good for up to four years of membership with verification required every year.
Does YouTube TV or YouTube Premium Offer Family Sharing?
When it comes to family sharing, YouTube TV is actually built with families in mind right from the start. The default plan at $64.99 already includes three streams and six different accounts per household. The 4K Plus plan bumps that to unlimited streams per household. That should be good for most families, allowing multiple people to watch at once without any interruption.
YouTube Premium offers its own family plan membership for $17.99 per month. That’s good for up to five total family members ages 13 and up. The family membership includes the same benefits as individual accounts, meaning ad-free and background viewing for YouTube and the full music library. Each person has their own private account, so everyone makes their own playlists, separate offline downloads and more.
YouTube TV Free Trial
As it stands today, YouTube TV offers a 7-day free trial where you can try pretty much everything as if you were paying for it – that means the entirety of its channel lineup, unlimited DVR storage, etc. Seven days should be more than enough to figure out if YouTube TV is right for you. Note that you are required to provide a payment method during your trial, as you are automatically billed if you do not cancel.
YouTube Premium Free Trial
When it comes to free trial periods, YouTube Premium is a little more direct with its one-month free trial. There is a reminder seven days before the trial period ends.
YouTube TV Customer Service
YouTube TV has a dedicated help page for subscribers. The page includes a number of quick FAQs around billing, managing your account, fixing a problem, customizing what you watch, etc. Should you need more help, there is a “Contact Us” button where you can email, chat and call during limited business hours. The “Contact Us” step requires you to tell Google what type of support you are looking for, confirming the issue via pre-selected options based on your keywords, then confirming which contact option you would like to proceed with.
YouTube Premium Customer Service
YouTube Premium Customer Support
Unfortunately, YouTube Premium doesn’t offer a dedicated support page, making it harder to quickly resolve issues. While there are FAQs to address common concerns like managing your plan, billing issues, and membership troubleshooting, direct assistance requires navigating through a “Contact Us” page. Here, you’ll be asked to specify the issue before reaching out through chat, email, or phone. This multi-step process may not be ideal if you need immediate help.
For more detailed information or support, visit the official YouTube Premium Help Center.
When to Sign Up for YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a great choice if:
- You live in the United States and are looking to cut the cord due to rising cable prices or minimal usage.
- You want unlimited DVR storage with capabilities like fast-forward, rewind, and pause.
- You want access to premium sports networks like the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
- You’re after a large selection of channels across various genres.
- You value a fixed monthly price with no hidden fees.
If you want flexibility in streaming across devices and a large variety of channels, YouTube TV is the right choice.
When to Pay for YouTube Premium
Opt for YouTube Premium if:
- You want an ad-free experience across all YouTube videos.
- You enjoy background play or Picture-in-Picture mode on mobile.
- You want to download videos for offline viewing.
- You want an affordable way to combine your music subscription and video service.
- You want extra features on YouTube Music like live performances and remixes.
- You want access to 60+ million songs through YouTube Music.
YouTube Premium is perfect for those who want a seamless, ad-free experience while watching YouTube and listening to music.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is YouTube Premium Lite?
Currently being tested in Europe, YouTube Premium Lite is a more affordable option. It includes ad-free viewing but excludes YouTube Music and background playback. It’s perfect for users who just want to remove ads from their experience. There’s no set timeline for its availability outside Europe. Learn more about YouTube Premium Lite here.
2. How does YouTube TV compare to other streaming services?
YouTube TV is a live TV service, whereas services like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney+ offer on-demand programming. While YouTube TV provides live content, the others focus on watching shows and movies at your convenience. Many people combine both YouTube TV and other streaming services for a comprehensive entertainment package.
3. Is YouTube TV always cheaper than traditional cable?
Not necessarily. While YouTube TV is often more affordable than traditional cable for many users, some people may still find cable packages more cost-effective, especially if they don’t require live TV. YouTube TV can be more flexible, allowing multiple people to watch on different devices simultaneously.
4. Should I wait for a promotion before signing up?
Both YouTube TV and YouTube Premium have relatively stable pricing. Currently, YouTube TV offers a $10 discount for the first three months. However, YouTube TV has been increasing its cost year-over-year, so signing up sooner might be the best option. For YouTube Premium, there are rarely promotions, so you can subscribe whenever it suits you.
For more about promotions and deals, visit the official YouTube TV page and the YouTube Premium page.