How to Get YouTube Premium for Free

▶️💰

YouTube.com • Google Support • SheerID Verified

A plain-language guide to every official free trial, discount, partner promotion, and ad-free alternative available right now — with honest answers about what works, who qualifies, and what to avoid. Free for anyone to use. Always in your corner.

💡 10 Key Things to Know Before You Try to Get YouTube Premium Free

YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month in the United States as of early 2026 — a price that has risen steadily over the years. For many households, especially those on fixed incomes, that monthly fee adds up fast. The good news is that YouTube itself and several major retailers offer legitimate ways to try or reduce the cost of Premium, ranging from a standard one-month free trial to six months free through select phone plans. There are also free alternatives that give you the core benefit most people want — watching without ads — without paying anything. This guide covers every honest option, so you can make the best choice for your situation.

1
Does YouTube offer a free trial of Premium? Yes — YouTube officially offers a one-month free trial to new members who have never subscribed before.
The standard trial is 30 days and gives you the full YouTube Premium experience: ad-free videos, background play, offline downloads, and YouTube Music Premium included. You must provide a payment method to start, but you will not be charged during the trial period. Set a calendar reminder to cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends if you do not want to continue paying. After the trial, the plan automatically renews at $13.99 per month unless cancelled. If you cancelled a past subscription more than six months ago, you may qualify again. Visit youtube.com/premium to check your eligibility.
2
Can I get three months of YouTube Premium free? Yes — My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members can get three months of YouTube Premium free with a qualifying purchase as low as $10.
Best Buy’s membership programs (My Best Buy Plus at $49.99/year and My Best Buy Total at $179.99/year) currently offer new YouTube Premium subscribers three free months when they add a qualifying item to their cart. A free 3-month trial is also sometimes available through Samsung Galaxy devices (check the Samsung Members app after setup) and through occasional Google-partner promotions. These offers are exclusively for users who have never had YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, or YouTube Red. Terms and availability change, so confirm at bestbuy.com or youtube.com/premium before purchasing.
3
Is there a way to get six months of YouTube Premium free? Yes — Google Fi Unlimited Plus phone plan subscribers receive six months of YouTube Premium at no additional cost.
Google Fi is Google’s own wireless carrier. Subscribers to the Unlimited Plus plan ($65/month for one line) receive six months of YouTube Premium free as an included benefit. After six months, the subscription renews at the standard monthly rate unless cancelled. This is the longest official free trial period available in the United States. New Google Pixel phone buyers have also occasionally received 3-month trials bundled with device activation, though specific device eligibility changes by model year. Always verify current promotions directly at fi.google.com or in the YouTube app on your device.
4
How do students get YouTube Premium cheaper or free? Verified college students pay $7.99 per month — nearly half the regular price — with a one-month free trial included. GitHub’s Student Developer Pack may offer extended trials.
YouTube’s student plan requires annual verification through SheerID using a school-issued email address or student ID. It is limited to enrolled students at qualifying colleges and universities, and the discount lasts up to four years total. As of January 2026, existing student memberships automatically convert to full-price individual plans after graduation or after the four-year cap, so keep track of your renewal date. The student plan includes a one-month free trial for first-time subscribers. GitHub’s Student Developer Pack, available free to students at education.github.com, has periodically included extended YouTube Premium trial offers — check the current pack contents for availability.
5
Is there a YouTube Premium military discount? Not for YouTube Premium specifically. However, YouTube TV (a separate live TV service) offers military, veteran, and first-responder discounts through ID.me.
As of March 2026, YouTube Premium (the ad-free subscription service) does not have an official military or veteran discount program. This is a commonly searched question, and the honest answer is no dedicated program exists for Premium. However, YouTube TV — which is a different product offering live television channels starting at $82.99/month — does offer a verified discount of $15 off per month for 12 months to active military, veterans, first responders, teachers, and medical providers through ID.me at shop.id.me. This discount is redeemable through June 30, 2026. If you are looking to reduce costs on YouTube Premium specifically, the family plan and the standard free trial are the best available options for military households.
6
Can I get YouTube Premium on Samsung phones for free? Yes — many new Samsung Galaxy device buyers receive a free 3–4 month YouTube Premium trial through the Samsung Members app.
Samsung has partnered with YouTube to offer new Galaxy device owners a complimentary YouTube Premium trial, typically 3 to 4 months in length. After purchasing and setting up a new Samsung Galaxy phone, open the Samsung Members app and look for the YouTube Premium offer in the Benefits tab. The offer is available to new YouTube Premium subscribers who have never previously held a Premium, YouTube Music Premium, or YouTube Red subscription. Trial length and eligibility vary by device model and region. You do not need a credit card if the trial is offered as a code redeemable directly through the Samsung Members app.
7
Can I share YouTube Premium with family members to reduce the cost? Yes — a YouTube Premium Family Plan covers up to six people living in the same household for $22.99 per month, making the per-person cost under $4.
The YouTube Premium Family Plan allows the primary account holder to invite up to five additional family members aged 13 or older, all of whom must share the same household address. Each member receives their own full Premium access including ad-free videos, offline downloads, background play, and YouTube Music Premium on their personal Google account. At $22.99 per month divided among six people, the cost drops to approximately $3.83 per person — a significant saving compared to six separate individual plans. The family plan also comes with a one-month free trial for new subscribers. All members must accept the household address requirement, and YouTube uses location signals to enforce the same-address rule.
8
What is YouTube Premium Lite and how is it cheaper? YouTube Premium Lite costs $7.99/month and removes ads from most videos, but does not include YouTube Music, offline downloads, or background play.
As of early 2026, YouTube Premium Lite is available in the United States and 22 or more other countries. At $7.99/month, it is half the price of the full Premium plan. It removes pre-roll and mid-roll video ads from most content, but creator-placed promotions within videos may still appear. It does not include access to YouTube Music Premium, the ability to download videos for offline viewing, or background play (keeping audio going when your screen is off or when you switch apps). For viewers who primarily watch on a desktop computer and just want fewer interruptions, Lite is a practical, lower-cost option. If you use YouTube for music or podcasts on your phone while doing other things, the full plan is the better value.
9
Is there a free alternative to YouTube Premium that removes ads without paying? Yes — on desktop computers, browser-based ad blockers like uBlock Origin on Firefox can remove YouTube ads for free. Mobile blocking is much harder.
The most effective free ad-blocking option for YouTube on a desktop or laptop computer is uBlock Origin installed in Firefox. Note that Google Chrome’s switch to its Manifest V3 extension standard has significantly weakened ad blockers on Chrome — uBlock Origin no longer works on Chrome in its full form. On Firefox, it continues to block YouTube video ads reliably. On mobile devices (phones and tablets), ad blockers do not work inside the YouTube app, making Premium the most practical ad-free solution on mobile. On smart TVs and streaming devices, browser-based blockers do not apply at all. Using an ad blocker violates YouTube’s Terms of Service and means creators do not receive revenue from your views — something worth considering if you have favorite channels you want to support.
10
Can I get YouTube Premium without a credit card? It depends on the offer. Some partner promotions (like Samsung Members codes) may not require payment info. The standard trial and most other methods do require a payment method on file, even though it will not be charged during the free period.
YouTube’s own free trial requires a payment method to be saved to your Google account, even if nothing is charged immediately. This is standard practice for most subscription free trials. If you are concerned about being charged by mistake, you can add a reloadable prepaid Visa or Mastercard with a zero balance — widely available at pharmacies and grocery stores — which satisfies the payment requirement while making accidental charges impossible. Always cancel through your Google account at myaccount.google.com before the trial period ends if you do not want to continue. You should receive an email reminder from Google before billing begins. Google Opinion Rewards, a free survey app, also lets you earn Play Store credit that can be applied toward a YouTube Premium subscription without a traditional card.

Sources: YouTube Premium official page youtube.com/premium (trial terms; plan pricing; eligibility rules; family household requirement); YouTube Help Center support.google.com/youtube (trial eligibility; 6-month re-qualification rule; auto-renewal; cancellation rules); NerdWallet YouTube Premium pricing Feb 2026 ($13.99 individual; $22.99 family; $7.99 student; $7.99 Lite); ScreenApp YouTube Premium global pricing Feb 2026 (student plan cap 4 years; Jan 2026 student plan conversion to full price); Best Buy My Best Buy Plus/Total 3-month promo (bestbuy.com; $49.99/$179.99 membership; $10 min purchase); Google Fi Unlimited Plus ($65/month; 6 months free; fi.google.com); SheerID student verification (sheerID.com); GitHub Student Developer Pack (education.github.com); Samsung Members app promotion (Samsung Galaxy 3-4 months; varies by model and region); ID.me YouTube TV military discount (shop.id.me; $15 off/month 12 months; verified through June 30 2026; military, veterans, first responders, teachers, medical)

🏆 10 Ways to Get YouTube Premium Free or Cheaper — Verified Methods

⚠️ Availability Changes Frequently — Always Check Official Sources

Partner promotions expire, device offers rotate, and trial eligibility rules change. Every method below is verified as available or recently active as of March 2026. Before acting on any partner offer, confirm current availability directly at youtube.com/premium or the partner’s official website. Methods are ranked from most accessible to most specialized.

Best for First-Timers

YouTube’s Official One-Month Free Trial

💻 youtube.com/premium — Available Directly From YouTube

⏳ Free for: 30 days • Who qualifies: New subscribers only • No charge during trial

✅ Full Premium features during trial

✅ Includes YouTube Music Premium

✅ Ad-free videos, background play, downloads

✅ Available for individual, family, and student plans

⚠️ Payment method required (not charged during trial)

⚠️ First-time subscribers only (or 6+ months after cancellation)

The simplest and most universally available option. Go to youtube.com/premium, sign in with your Google account, and click “Try It Free.” The trial delivers every Premium feature for 30 days at no cost. You will be asked to enter a payment method, which is standard for all free subscription trials — it simply stays on file in case you continue. YouTube sends an email reminder before the trial ends. To cancel, go to youtube.com/paid_memberships at any time and select “Cancel Membership.” Cancellation takes effect at the end of your billing period, so you will retain full access through the final day of your trial even after cancelling.

🌐 Start trial: youtube.com/premium
🌐 Manage / cancel: youtube.com/paid_memberships or myaccount.google.com/payments
📞 YouTube Support: support.google.com/youtube

30 Days Free No Charge During Trial Full Features Included Cancel Anytime

Best for Households & Families

YouTube Premium Family Plan — Up to 6 Members at $3.83/Person

👨‍👩‍👧 Share With Household Members — Dramatic Per-Person Savings

💰 Plan cost: $22.99/month • Up to 6 members • Effective cost: ~$3.83/person/month

✅ Each member gets their own Google account access

✅ All members aged 13 or older qualify

✅ Includes YouTube Music for every member

✅ One-month free trial for new family plan subscribers

⚠️ All members must live at the same address

⚠️ Primary account holder manages billing

If you share a home with adult children, a spouse, or other household members who all use YouTube, splitting the Family Plan is the most cost-effective paid option available. The family plan manager creates a family group at families.google.com and invites up to five other members by email. Each invited member must confirm they live at the same address — YouTube uses location data and other signals to enforce this requirement. Each person gets their own fully independent Premium experience on their own Google account. The plan saves as much as $60 per month compared to six separate individual subscriptions. A one-month free trial is included for family plans where the primary account holder is a new subscriber.

🌐 Set up family group: families.google.com
🌐 Start plan: youtube.com/premium → Family Plan
🌐 Help: support.google.com/youtube/answer/6304833

~$3.83/Person/Month 6 Members Included Each Gets Own Account 1-Month Free Trial

Best Retail Promotion

My Best Buy Plus or Total — Three Months Free with Any Purchase

🏬 Best Buy Membership Program — bestbuy.com

✅ Free YouTube Premium trial: 3 months • Requires: My Best Buy Plus ($49.99/yr) or Total ($179.99/yr) membership

✅ 3 months of full YouTube Premium free

✅ Qualifying purchase starts at just $10

✅ New YouTube Premium subscribers only

✅ Code added automatically at Best Buy checkout

⚠️ Best Buy membership has its own annual fee

⚠️ Confirm offer is still active at bestbuy.com

My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total are Best Buy’s retail membership programs. Active members who make a qualifying purchase (starting as low as $10) receive a free 3-month YouTube Premium subscription automatically added to their cart. This offer is available only to users who have never previously subscribed to YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, YouTube Red, or Google Play Music. The 3-month code is emailed or shown at checkout and is redeemed directly at youtube.com/redeem. After three months, the subscription auto-renews at the standard monthly rate unless cancelled. Keep in mind that My Best Buy Plus costs $49.99 per year, so the overall financial sense depends on whether you shop at Best Buy regularly for other reasons.

🌐 Check current offer: bestbuy.com
🌐 Redeem codes: youtube.com/redeem
🌐 Best Buy memberships: bestbuy.com/site/misc/best-buy-membership

3 Months Free $10 Min Purchase Code Emailed at Checkout New Subscribers Only

Longest Free Period Available

Google Fi Unlimited Plus — Six Months of YouTube Premium Free

📱 Google Fi Wireless Carrier — fi.google.com

⏳ Free for: 6 months • Requires: Google Fi Unlimited Plus plan ($65/mo for 1 line)

✅ Longest free period of any U.S. promotion — 6 months

✅ Also includes Google One cloud storage

✅ Full YouTube Premium and YouTube Music included

✅ Activate through fi.google.com/account#plan

⚠️ Must switch your phone plan to Google Fi

⚠️ Unlimited Plus costs $65/month for one line

Google Fi Unlimited Plus is the only way to get six continuous free months of YouTube Premium in the United States through an official channel. The plan includes 5G wireless service, unlimited data, international data, and a handful of Google subscription perks including YouTube Premium and Google One cloud storage. Activating YouTube Premium through this plan counts as a regular Premium subscription — meaning if you were previously a subscriber, eligibility depends on your account history. After the six-month complimentary period, Premium continues at the standard monthly rate unless you cancel. This option makes most financial sense if you were already considering switching wireless carriers and comparing Google Fi’s overall plan value against your current provider.

🌐 Sign up: fi.google.com
🌐 Activate Premium: fi.google.com/account#plan
🌐 Details: support.google.com/fi/answer/12999259

6 Months Free Full Plan Included Includes Google One Storage Requires Fi Phone Plan

Best for College Students

YouTube Premium Student Plan — $7.99/Month with Verification

🎓 SheerID Verified — College & University Students Only

🎓 Cost: $7.99/month (vs. $13.99 standard) • Includes: 1-month free trial • Duration: Up to 4 years

✅ Nearly half the price of the individual plan

✅ Includes full YouTube Music Premium

✅ One-month free trial included for new subscribers

✅ Available for up to 4 years of enrollment

⚠️ Annual re-verification of student status required

⚠️ Converts to $13.99/month at graduation or after 4 years

The YouTube Premium student discount is one of the best ongoing discounts available from YouTube itself. Verification is handled by SheerID, a third-party service that confirms enrollment using your school email address or student ID documents. You do not share sensitive financial information with SheerID — it simply verifies your enrollment status. Verification is required once per year. As of January 2026, YouTube automatically converts existing student subscriptions to full-price individual plans upon the expiration of the four-year maximum or the end of verified enrollment. Students approaching graduation should be aware of this automatic conversion and set a reminder to review their billing. The one-month free trial is available to new subscribers only.

🌐 Enroll: youtube.com/premium → Student Plan
🌐 Verification: via SheerID during enrollment
🌐 GitHub Student Pack: education.github.com/pack

$7.99/Month 1-Month Free Trial Up to 4 Years Annual Verification Required

Best for New Samsung Galaxy Owners

Samsung Members App — Free Trial with New Galaxy Devices

📱 Samsung Electronics — Samsung Members App on Galaxy Phones

✅ Free for: 3–4 months • Requires: New Samsung Galaxy device • Check Samsung Members app for eligibility

✅ No separate purchase required beyond the phone

✅ Typically 3–4 months of full Premium access

✅ Available for new YouTube Premium subscribers

✅ Code found in Samsung Members app → Benefits tab

⚠️ Offer varies by device model and region

⚠️ Must be a new YouTube Premium subscriber to qualify

Samsung bundles a YouTube Premium trial with many of its newer Galaxy smartphone models as a purchase incentive. After activating your new Galaxy device, open the pre-installed Samsung Members app and navigate to the Benefits section. If your device is eligible, a YouTube Premium offer will appear there with a redemption code or direct link. Trial lengths typically range from 3 to 4 months and vary by model, region, and whether the offer is currently active. This offer is generally available only to users who have not previously subscribed to YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium. If you already owned a YouTube Premium subscription when you bought your phone, you will not be eligible. Check samsung.com for current Galaxy device promotions before purchasing if this benefit is important to you.

🌐 Find offer: Samsung Members app → Benefits tab (on device)
🌐 Confirm eligible devices: samsung.com/us
🌐 Redeem codes: youtube.com/redeem

3–4 Months Free Samsung Galaxy Devices No Extra Purchase Needed New Subscribers Only

Best Budget Paid Option

YouTube Premium Lite — Ad-Free Viewing at Half the Price

📺 Official YouTube Plan — $7.99/Month • No Music or Downloads

💰 Cost: $7.99/month • Removes ads on most videos • Does NOT include YouTube Music or offline downloads

✅ Removes pre-roll and mid-roll video ads

✅ Available in the US and 22+ countries

✅ $6/month cheaper than full Premium

✅ Works on desktop, phone, tablet, and TV

❌ No YouTube Music Premium included

❌ No offline video downloads

❌ No background play (screen-off listening)

⚠️ Creator promotions within videos still appear

YouTube Premium Lite is the right choice for viewers who primarily watch content on a screen and are not interested in using YouTube as a music streaming service or listening to videos with the screen off. At $7.99 per month — the same price as the student plan — it delivers the single most requested benefit: fewer interruptions. It does not include YouTube Music Premium access, so if you want music streaming you would still need a separate service like Spotify. Lite also does not support downloading videos for offline viewing (useful for travel or areas with poor signal) or background play. YouTube does not currently advertise a free trial for the Lite plan, though eligibility may depend on your account history. Confirm at youtube.com/premium before signing up.

🌐 Sign up: youtube.com/premium → Premium Lite
🌐 Compare plans: youtube.com/premium (scroll to plan comparison table)

$7.99/Month Ad-Free Viewing No Music or Downloads 22+ Countries Available

Best No-Credit-Card Option

Google Opinion Rewards — Earn Play Store Credit for YouTube Premium

📊 Google Survey App — Free App • Android & iOS

✅ Cost: Free app • Earn: Google Play Store credit • Apply credit toward YouTube Premium subscription

✅ Completely free to use — no payment method needed

✅ Surveys are short (usually 1–3 questions)

✅ Earn $0.10–$1.00 per survey

✅ Play Store credit applies to YouTube Premium billing

⚠️ Survey frequency is unpredictable

⚠️ Earnings alone rarely cover full monthly cost

Google Opinion Rewards is a free app from Google available in the Play Store (Android) and App Store (iOS) that sends you short surveys and rewards you with Google Play Store credit for completing them. Surveys typically ask about recent purchases, travel plans, or opinions on products — they take under a minute to complete. The credit you earn is stored in your Google account and can be applied directly to your YouTube Premium subscription at checkout, reducing or eliminating the monthly charge. Most users earn a few dollars per month, which can meaningfully offset but rarely fully cover the $13.99 monthly cost. However, combined with other saving strategies, this is a legitimate, zero-risk way to lower your effective Premium cost without a traditional payment card. Credits expire after one year if unused.

🌐 Download: Google Play Store or Apple App Store → search “Google Opinion Rewards”
🌐 Apply credit: automatically available at youtube.com/premium checkout

No Payment Card Needed Short 1–3 Question Surveys Play Store Credit Earned Offsets Monthly Cost

Best for Committed Subscribers

Annual YouTube Premium Plan — Save $28/Year by Paying Upfront

📅 Yearly Billing Option — youtube.com/premium

💰 Annual cost: $139.99/year • Monthly equivalent: ~$11.67/month • Saves: ~$28 vs. monthly billing

✅ Saves approximately $28 per year over monthly billing

✅ All full Premium features included

✅ Single annual charge — no monthly billing management

⚠️ Full year billed upfront — refund policy varies

⚠️ No partial refund if you cancel early in many cases

⚠️ Only worth it if you plan to subscribe for at least 12 months

YouTube Premium’s annual plan costs $139.99 paid once per year, compared to $167.88 if billed monthly ($13.99 × 12). That is a savings of approximately $28 per year, or the equivalent of two free months. While this is not “free,” it reduces the effective monthly cost to about $11.67 and eliminates the need to manage monthly billing. The annual plan makes the most sense for subscribers who are confident they will use YouTube Premium consistently throughout the year. The major caveat: if you cancel before the year ends, YouTube may not offer a prorated refund depending on how much time remains. Review YouTube’s refund policy at support.google.com/youtube before choosing annual billing if there is any chance you will cancel early.

🌐 Sign up: youtube.com/premium → select Annual billing option
🌐 Review refund policy: support.google.com/youtube

$139.99/Year ~$11.67/Month Effective Saves ~$28 vs Monthly No Partial Refund Risk

Best Truly-Free Alternative (Desktop Only)

Free Ad Blockers on Desktop — uBlock Origin on Firefox

🖥️ Browser Extension — Desktop & Laptop Computers Only • Free & Open-Source

✅ Cost: Free • Works on: Firefox, Brave, Edge desktop • Does NOT work on: Chrome, mobile apps, Smart TVs

✅ Blocks YouTube pre-roll and mid-roll ads on desktop

✅ Free and open-source — no subscription required

✅ Works reliably on Firefox with the full MV2 extension

❌ Does not work on the YouTube mobile app

❌ Does not work on Smart TVs or streaming devices

❌ No longer available in full form on Google Chrome

⚠️ Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service

⚠️ Means creators receive no ad revenue from your views

uBlock Origin is a free, open-source browser extension widely regarded as the most effective desktop ad blocker available. As of 2026, it works best on Firefox, which still supports the full MV2 extension standard. Google Chrome’s transition to Manifest V3 has removed the deep request-filtering capability uBlock Origin depended on, so the Chrome version no longer blocks YouTube ads reliably. Brave browser, which has aggressive built-in shields, is another free option that requires no extension at all. Important limitations to know: no ad blocker works inside the YouTube smartphone app, so your phone experience will still show ads unless you pay for Premium. Ad blockers also do not function on Smart TVs. Using an ad blocker violates YouTube’s Terms of Service and removes ad revenue from creators. If you have favorite channels, consider supporting them directly through YouTube memberships or channel donations even if you block ads.

🌐 Download Firefox: firefox.com (free browser)
🌐 Install uBlock Origin: addons.mozilla.org → search “uBlock Origin”
🌐 Alternative: Brave browser at brave.com (free; built-in ad blocking)

100% Free Firefox + Brave Work Best Desktop Only Not on Mobile or Smart TV Chrome Version Limited

Sources: YouTube Help Center support.google.com/youtube (trial terms; cancellation; redeem codes at youtube.com/redeem; family group at families.google.com); Digital Trends YouTube Premium trial guide May 2025 (1-month trial; family/student trial terms); NerdWallet YouTube Premium pricing (individual $13.99; family $22.99; student $7.99; annual $139.99); ScreenApp YouTube Premium pricing Feb 2026 (student plan Jan 2026 conversion; 4-year cap; Lite in 22+ countries); Best Buy My Best Buy Plus/Total promotion (3-month free trial; $10 min purchase; new subscribers only); Google Fi Unlimited Plus 6-month promo (fi.google.com; $65/month; fi.google.com/account#plan; support.google.com/fi/answer/12999259); Samsung Members app YouTube Premium offer (3–4 months; Galaxy devices; Benefits tab; varies by model/region); SheerID student verification (sheerID.com; annual re-verification; school email or student ID); GitHub Student Developer Pack education.github.com/pack; AllAboutCookies ad blocker guides March 2026 (uBlock Origin MV2 on Firefox; Chrome Manifest V3 impact; Brave Shields); AdBlock Tester YouTube ad blockers Jan 2026 (uBlock Origin Firefox best; mobile YouTube app not blockable); ID.me YouTube TV military discount shop.id.me ($15 off/month 12 months; military, veterans, first responders, teachers, medical; valid through June 30 2026); Google Opinion Rewards (Google Play/App Store; $0.10–$1.00 per survey; credits expire 1 year)

📋 YouTube Premium Plans at a Glance — All Prices Verified

All prices are for the United States in U.S. dollars. Prices are confirmed from official YouTube and third-party sources as of early 2026. Prices vary by country — always verify at youtube.com/premium before subscribing.

Plan	Monthly Cost	Free Trial	Key Benefit	Music Included?
Individual	$13.99/mo	1 month	Full Premium features	Yes
Individual Annual	~$11.67/mo	1 month	Saves ~$28/year	Yes
Family (up to 6)	~$3.83/person	1 month	Best per-person value	Yes
Student	$7.99/mo	1 month	50% discount; up to 4 years	Yes
Premium Lite	$7.99/mo	Check at signup	Ad-free video; no music/downloads	No
Google Fi Promo	$0 for 6 mos.	6 months	Longest free trial available	Yes
Best Buy Promo	$0 for 3 mos.	3 months	Requires Best Buy membership	Yes
Samsung Members	$0 for 3–4 mos.	3–4 months	New Galaxy devices only	Yes
YouTube Music Only	$10.99/mo	1 month	Music only; no video Premium	Yes
YouTube Music Student	$5.49/mo	1 month	Music only; student discount	Yes

Sources: NerdWallet YouTube Premium pricing (individual $13.99; family $22.99; student $7.99; annual $139.99/$11.67 effective; Lite $7.99; Music $10.99; Music student $5.49); ScreenApp Feb 2026 (family plan 6 members; student 4-year cap; Lite in 22+ countries); Google Fi Unlimited Plus promotion (6 months free; fi.google.com); Best Buy membership promo (3 months; bestbuy.com); Samsung Members (3–4 months; new Galaxy devices). All prices USD; verify at youtube.com/premium before subscribing.

💸 YouTube Premium — Key Numbers to Know

💳 Standard Monthly Price

$13.99/mo

The current U.S. price for an individual YouTube Premium subscription as of 2026. The annual plan reduces this to approximately $11.67/month when paid upfront at $139.99/year.

⏳ Longest Free Trial Available

6 Months

Available to Google Fi Unlimited Plus subscribers. The standard free trial is one month. Best Buy and Samsung promotions offer three months. All require you to have never previously subscribed.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Plan Members

Up to 6

The YouTube Premium Family Plan covers up to six people living at the same address for $22.99/month — about $3.83 per person. Each person gets their own independent Google account access.

🎓 Student Discount Price

$7.99/mo

Full-time college students pay $7.99/month after verifying enrollment through SheerID. This is nearly half the standard individual price. The discount is renewable annually for up to four years.

⚠️ Three Mistakes People Make Trying to Get YouTube Premium Free

Using unofficial “generator” websites or social media offers claiming to give free Premium codes. These are scams. There is no legitimate third-party source for free YouTube Premium codes other than official partner promotions from Best Buy, Google Fi, or Samsung. Any site claiming to “generate” a Premium code for free is either a phishing attempt to steal your Google account credentials or a fake reward that never arrives. Only use youtube.com/redeem with codes received from verified partners.
Signing up for a trial and forgetting to cancel — then getting charged. YouTube does not send a same-day warning. They send an email reminder a few days before your trial ends. The safest practice is to cancel immediately after signing up: your full trial access continues until the last day of the free period even if you cancel on day one. Cancel through myaccount.google.com → Payments & subscriptions.
Expecting ad blockers to work on phones, tablets, and Smart TVs. Browser-based ad blockers like uBlock Origin only work inside a web browser on a desktop or laptop computer. They do not block ads inside the YouTube smartphone app, the YouTube app on a Smart TV, or on streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV Stick. On mobile and TV, YouTube Premium is the only reliable ad-free option.

❓ YouTube Premium Questions Answered Plainly

💡 I Had YouTube Premium Before. Can I Still Get a Free Trial?

Possibly. YouTube’s policy is that introductory trials are available to first-time members. However, if you previously cancelled a YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, or Premium Lite membership and it has been at least six months since your cancellation, you may qualify for a new trial. YouTube does not guarantee this, and eligibility is determined at the time of signup based on your Google account history. When you go to youtube.com/premium, if a “Try It Free” button appears, you are eligible. If you see only a “Subscribe” or a price shown, the trial is not available for your account. Each payment method you use can only qualify for one introductory trial, so using a different card does not reset eligibility if your account is already ineligible.

💡 What Is the Difference Between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV?

These are two completely separate products that are frequently confused. YouTube Premium ($13.99/month) removes ads from YouTube videos, adds background play and offline downloads, and includes YouTube Music. It is about making your regular YouTube video-watching experience better. YouTube TV ($82.99/month) is a live television service that replaces cable or satellite TV, offering 100 or more live channels including ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, CNN, and others. It does not remove ads from regular YouTube videos. Military and first-responder discounts exist for YouTube TV through ID.me (through June 30, 2026), but not for YouTube Premium. If someone tells you there is a military discount on “YouTube,” ask whether they mean YouTube TV or YouTube Premium — these are different products at very different price points.

💡 Is YouTube Premium Worth Paying For If I Only Watch Occasionally?

For casual viewers, probably not. YouTube’s free version remains fully functional with ads, and the basic ad experience has not fundamentally changed for occasional viewers who watch a few videos per week. YouTube Premium delivers the most value for viewers who: watch multiple hours of YouTube per day and find ad interruptions disruptive; use YouTube as their primary music streaming service and want background play; frequently watch on a mobile device in situations where they cannot watch a screen (such as while exercising or commuting); or travel and want to download videos for offline viewing on planes or in areas with no signal. If any of these describe you, the free trial is a practical way to test whether the experience change is worth $13.99 per month to you personally. For occasional viewers, a free ad blocker on a desktop browser delivers the core benefit at no cost.

💡 Can I Try YouTube Premium Without Giving a Credit Card?

The standard YouTube Premium free trial requires a payment method on file, but it does not have to be a traditional credit card. Accepted options include major debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), PayPal, and Google Play Store balance — including balance earned through Google Opinion Rewards surveys. If you are concerned about accidental charges, the most straightforward approach is to purchase a small-denomination prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift card (available at most grocery and drug stores for around $3–$5 in fees) and add it as your payment method. The card will satisfy YouTube’s payment verification requirement, but if you forget to cancel, the charge will simply fail once the card balance runs out. Always cancel proactively through myaccount.google.com regardless of payment method. Some Samsung Members app promotions deliver trial access through a code rather than a billing account, which may not require a payment method at all — check the specific offer terms in the Samsung Members app.

💡 What Happens to My Offline Downloads and YouTube Music Songs When My Trial Ends?

Your access to offline downloads and ad-free YouTube Music ends immediately when your trial or subscription expires. Downloaded videos stored on your device become unplayable within the YouTube app — they remain in your app’s storage but are locked behind a paywall. Any playlists or songs you saved in YouTube Music remain accessible to view and play with ads on the free tier, but offline access is removed. If you have been using the free trial specifically to download videos for an upcoming trip or event, make sure your travel window falls entirely within your trial period. This is also why it is a good idea to use the trial actively during the free month rather than letting it sit unused. If you later re-subscribe, your previously downloaded content becomes accessible again once Premium is reactivated on your account.

💡 I Watch YouTube on My TV. Will an Ad Blocker Work for Me?

Unfortunately, no. Browser-based ad blockers are extensions that run inside a web browser (like Firefox or Chrome) on a computer. Smart TVs, streaming sticks (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast), and gaming consoles run the YouTube app directly without a traditional browser — meaning there is no extension layer where an ad blocker can operate. YouTube Premium is the only reliable way to remove ads from your YouTube experience on a Smart TV or streaming device. If the cost is a concern, the most practical options for TV viewers are the one-month free trial to evaluate whether it is worth it, the Family Plan to split the cost with others in your household, or the annual billing option to reduce the effective monthly cost. If you primarily watch on a computer, a free ad blocker on Firefox or Brave delivers the core ad-free benefit at no cost for desktop viewing while you consider whether to pay for the full Premium experience on other devices.

Sources: YouTube Help Center support.google.com/youtube (trial eligibility; 6-month re-qualification window; cancellation; payment methods accepted; download expiration at end of subscription; family group terms; family ages 13+); AllAboutCookies ad blocker guides March 2026 (ad blockers do not work on YouTube app or Smart TVs; uBlock Origin not on Chrome); AdBlock Tester YouTube ad blockers Jan 2026 (mobile app not blockable; TV streaming devices not blockable); ID.me YouTube TV military discount (shop.id.me; valid through June 30 2026; separate from YouTube Premium); NerdWallet YouTube Premium overview (prepaid cards accepted; Google Play balance accepted; PayPal); Google Opinion Rewards (Google Play/App Store; credits apply toward YouTube Premium)

✅ Five Steps to Get YouTube Premium for the Lowest Possible Cost

Step 1: Check if you are eligible for the standard one-month free trial first. Go to youtube.com/premium and look for a “Try It Free” button. If you see it, you qualify. Start there before doing anything else — it costs nothing and lets you experience every Premium feature. Set an immediate calendar reminder to cancel before day 30 if you do not intend to continue paying.
Step 2: If you are a student, use the student plan — it is nearly half the price every month. At $7.99/month with a one-month free trial, it is the best ongoing discount YouTube offers directly. Verify your enrollment through SheerID when prompted. Remember to re-verify each year and watch for the conversion to full price at graduation or after four years.
Step 3: If you share a home with family members, move everyone to the Family Plan. At $22.99/month for up to six people, the per-person cost drops to under $4. Each person gets their own account. This is the most practical ongoing money-saver for households where multiple people use YouTube regularly.
Step 4: If you are buying a new Samsung Galaxy phone or a Best Buy membership, check for a bundled trial before subscribing separately. Samsung’s 3–4 month trial through the Samsung Members app and Best Buy’s 3-month trial with a $10 qualifying purchase are the easiest ways to extend your free period without committing to an ongoing subscription.
Step 5: If you primarily watch on a desktop computer and want a genuinely free option, install uBlock Origin on Firefox. It is free, open-source, and reliably blocks YouTube ads on desktop. Understand that it does not work on phones, Smart TVs, or in the YouTube app — and that using it means creators earn no ad revenue from your views. If YouTube is a major part of your entertainment, paying for Premium or tipping your favorite creators directly is the fairer long-term approach.

🚨 Avoid These Three Common YouTube Premium Scams

“Free YouTube Premium code generator” websites. These do not exist as legitimate services. Any site offering to generate Premium codes is collecting your Google account information or sending you through ad-click loops with no actual reward. Official codes only come from verified YouTube partners like Best Buy, Samsung, or Google Fi — and only through those companies’ own channels.
Social media posts claiming to share “unused” Premium codes or account logins. Sharing or receiving a YouTube account login violates YouTube’s Terms of Service and exposes both parties to account theft risk. YouTube Premium is tied to your personal Google account and cannot be legitimately shared through login credentials.
Third-party “group buy” services claiming to add you to a Family Plan for $1–$3/month with strangers. YouTube’s Family Plan requires all members to live at the same household address. Joining a plan with strangers violates the Terms of Service and risks your Google account being suspended. The only safe way to share a Family Plan is with people who genuinely share your home.

© BudgetSeniors.com — This guide is independently researched and written. We are not affiliated with, compensated by, or endorsed by YouTube, Google, Best Buy, Samsung, or any other company mentioned. All prices, plan features, and promotional details are verified from official sources as of March 2026. YouTube Premium pricing, plan availability, and promotional offers change frequently — always confirm current details at youtube.com/premium before subscribing. For technical support with your YouTube account, visit support.google.com/youtube. BudgetSeniors.com does not receive referral fees for any product or service mentioned in this guide.

Primary sources: YouTube official premium page youtube.com/premium (plan pricing; trial terms; eligibility; cancellation; family plan terms; redeem codes); YouTube Help Center support.google.com/youtube (trial re-eligibility 6-month rule; payment methods; download expiration; auto-renewal notice; cancellation instructions); NerdWallet YouTube Premium pricing guide (individual $13.99; family $22.99; student $7.99; annual $139.99; Lite $7.99; Music $10.99; Music student $5.49); ScreenApp YouTube Premium pricing guide Feb 2026 (student plan Jan 2026 auto-conversion; 4-year student cap; Lite in 22+ countries; 100M+ global subscribers); Digital Trends YouTube Premium trial guide May 2025 (trial terms; family trial; student trial; third-party promotions); Best Buy My Best Buy Plus™ and My Best Buy Total™ promotion (bestbuy.com; 3 months free; $10 qualifying purchase; new subscribers only); Google Fi Unlimited Plus 6-month promotion (fi.google.com; $65/month; support.google.com/fi/answer/12999259); Samsung Members app promotion (Samsung Galaxy devices; 3–4 months; Benefits tab; new subscribers; varies by model/region); SheerID student verification system (sheerID.com; school email; annual re-verification); GitHub Student Developer Pack (education.github.com/pack); ID.me YouTube TV military discount (shop.id.me; $15/month off 12 months; military, veterans, first responders, teachers, medical community; verified through ID.me; redeemable through June 30 2026; YouTube TV only — not YouTube Premium); AllAboutCookies YouTube ad blocker guide March 2026 (uBlock Origin MV2 on Firefox works; Chrome Manifest V3 broke full uBlock Origin; Brave Shields built-in; ad blockers do not work on mobile YouTube app or Smart TVs); AdBlock Tester YouTube ad blocker guide Jan 2026 (uBlock Origin Firefox best free option; mobile app blocking unreliable; Terms of Service implications); Google Opinion Rewards (free app; $0.10–$1.00 per survey; Play Store credit applies to YouTube Premium billing; credits expire 1 year)

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