YouTube Premium Price Increase 2026: New Prices and Cheaper Ways to Listen

Quick answer

YouTube Premium prices went up across more countries in August 2026, following a US increase in April. The US individual plan is now $15.99/month (family $26.99); Singapore's individual plan is S$15.98/month (family S$31.98). Existing subscribers are notified by email and see the higher rate from their next billing cycle.

The new YouTube Premium prices

The latest round began in the US in April 2026, when the individual plan went from $13.99 to $15.99/month and the family plan rose $4 to $26.99/month. In August, the increase reached more countries:

Singapore: individual S$13.98 → S$15.98/month; family S$27.98 → S$31.98/month (from August 21, 2026 for new subscribers)
Europe and other regions: similar increases in the 10–15% range are rolling out

YouTube said the change lets it “continue improving the service and support creators and artists,” and noted more than 125 million people subscribe to Premium worldwide.

When the higher price takes effect

New subscribers pay the new rate immediately.
Existing subscribers get an email notification, and the higher rate applies from the first billing cycle at least 30 days after that notice — for many, that lands in late September.
In some regions, you may be asked to confirm the new price before it takes effect.

If you mostly listen, you may not need the price increase

A price increase is a good moment to ask what you actually pay Premium for. Most subscribers lean on two features: no ads and audio that keeps playing when the screen turns off. If that's your use case — interviews, podcasts, news, commentary — you're paying for a whole bundle to get the listening half.

YouCaster turns any YouTube channel into a podcast feed: background play, lock screen controls, and automatic new episodes, without a Premium subscription. For occasional one-off videos, opening YouTube in a mobile browser and resuming playback from the lock screen works too. Compare the options in our full YouTube Premium alternatives comparison.

YouCaster — background play, screen-off listening, and auto-updating episodes from the channels you follow.
Browser workaround — free for the occasional single video, but clunky with no feed or episode tracking.

FAQ

Why did YouTube Premium prices go up in 2026?

YouTube said the increase lets it keep improving Premium and supporting creators and artists on the platform. It's the second price increase in about two years, and it's part of a global repricing wave that started in the US in April 2026 and is rolling out across Europe and Asia.

How much does YouTube Premium cost now?

Prices vary by country. In the US, the individual plan is $15.99/month and the family plan is $26.99/month. In Singapore, the individual plan is S$15.98/month and the family plan is S$31.98/month.

Will my existing YouTube Premium subscription increase automatically?

Existing subscribers are notified by email, and the higher rate applies from the first billing cycle at least 30 days after the notification. In some regions you may be asked to confirm the new price before it takes effect.

How can I listen to YouTube in the background without paying for Premium?

For talk-heavy channels, an audio-first app like YouCaster turns YouTube channels into podcast feeds with background play and screen-off listening. For occasional one-off videos, a browser workaround can work without paying.

YouTube Premium Price Increase 2026: What You'll Pay Now