According to Bloomberg, YouTube is preparing to roll out a more affordable version of its subscription service, called “Premium Lite,” in the US, Australia, Germany, and Thailand.
This new plan is aimed at users who primarily watch non-music content, though the publication didn’t disclose the expected pricing.
Previously, YouTube tested a similar ad-free tier in select European countries in 2021 but discontinued it in 2023. However, in October, the company confirmed to The Verge that it was experimenting with a “different version” of Premium Lite, and at least one user reported seeing limited ads. That user noted a price of $8.99 AUD per month—considerably lower than the standard YouTube Premium at $16.99 AUD.
In a statement to The Verge, YouTube spokesperson Paul Pennington confirmed the ongoing tests, stating that the company is working on a Premium option that offers “most videos ad-free.” He also hinted at a potential expansion, though there’s no official confirmation yet on pricing or a US launch timeline.
