YouTube Premium Lite is coming back in select regions, including Australia, Germany, and Thailand, as part of a pilot program, according to a statement by Google to Android Authority. This plan offers fewer ads while watching videos, making it a more affordable option than the full YouTube Premium subscription.
This follows YouTube’s decision to discontinue Premium Lite in October 2023 after two years of testing. The original plan provided ad-free viewing without the additional benefits of YouTube Music, background playback, or offline downloads. The reintroduction of Premium Lite suggests that YouTube is slowly reintroducing this option.
In a post on the social media platform X, a user shared that the plan is priced at 8.99 Australian dollars per month. Another user reported a price difference between the desktop and mobile versions of the plan, with the mobile version being about half the cost of the Premium plan, which is priced at 11.99 AUD per month.
AllTechNerd contacted YouTube for information on whether Premium Lite will be available in India but had not received a response by publication. The article will be updated if more information becomes available.
Limited ads and no YouTube Music
The revamped YouTube Premium Lite plan has seen some changes compared to its previous version. Instead of providing an entirely ad-free experience, the new version offers a limited ad option, reducing the number of ads shown rather than eliminating them. As with the original version, the plan does not include features like YouTube Music, offline downloads, or background playback, making it a more basic and affordable alternative to the entire Premium subscription.
This shift marks a significant change from last year’s offering, where the main appeal was complete ad removal at a lower price.
