YouTube Premium to become more expensive for some subscribers

Google has announced an increase in the subscription cost for YouTube Premium for users who transitioned from Google Play Music and YouTube Red. The prices will go up in January 2024.

In July of this year, the corporation already raised the premium subscription cost in the U.S. by $2 to $13.99 for both existing and new customers. However, users from Google Play Music and YouTube Red were granted an additional three months at the previous price. Google promised not to raise the subscription cost until December as a show of appreciation to loyal customers.

This grace period is coming to an end, and starting from January next year, old users will pay $13.99 per month for YouTube Premium instead of $9.99 and $7.99. Google emphasized that the decision to increase prices was not taken lightly. The company claims that the updated pricing will enable the continuous improvement of Premium and support creators and performers on the YouTube platform.

In early November, Google also announced a price hike for YouTube Premium subscriptions outside the U.S., including Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and South America. As of November 1st, the cost of YouTube Premium increased in several countries, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, Germany, Poland, and Turkey.

The price hike affected individual, family, and student plans for both YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium. Interestingly, YouTube Red was introduced in 2014 under the name Music Key, underwent rebranding with the relaunch of YouTube Music in 2018. Google Play Music was launched in 2011 but was discontinued in 2020 in favor of YouTube Music.