Introduction

YouTube has always been a platform in which you could easily get lost among hours of content: makeup, gaming, cooking, etc., not to mention the unbearable cat videos. Still, there is always that one thing that can offset the nonstop streaming ads and bring the magic to a halt. It might seem that only the regular YouTube Premium answers this question, but YouTube actually offers a budget-conscious version of the service called Premium Lite.

What is YouTube Premium Lite?

YouTube Premium Lite is more like a toned-down version of the regular YouTube Premium, where users can get relatively interruption-free access to videos but also will not have all the capabilities of a full YouTube Premium. YouTube initially launched this service in some European countries in 2021, but later withdrew it, leaving users uncertain about its return. But now it appears to be making a low-key but significant come back.

Credit: Gizmodo

The Evolution of YouTube Premium Lite

The evolution of YouTube Premium Lite is a story of innovation and evolution. First experimented with, YouTube has since stopped the experiment, but now the company is testing the new feature in selected countries including Australia, Germany, and Thailand. The new Lite version isn’t as barebones as before; YouTube now labels it as offering only ‘limited ads’ and nothing more. YouTube is clearly shifting to find a middle ground between customer costs and the profit it aims to make.

Key Features

Ad-Free Viewing (Almost)

The primary advantage of YouTube Premium Lite is that, it cuts down the adverts which the viewers encounter significantly. However, it is crucial to mention that compared to Lite version of the past, the new one has ‘less ads’ – which means you could still encounter advertisement banners on some music content or Shorts. It is not the absolute purity of ad-elimination, but it is a far cry from the standard disgusting invasion of YouTube.

What’s Missing Compared to YouTube Premium

If you’re used to YouTube Premium, you might notice that Lite lacks several perks: No background play, no option to download content for offline use, and most importantly, no YouTube music at all if you are not a YouTube Music premium subscriber. In other words, it only wants to get rid of ads and while it could be enough for the casual viewers, it is not enough for power viewers.

Pricing and Availability

Current Pricing Structure

Even though, the general YouTube Premium is a little costly, the Lite version will cost roughly half of it, which, in return makes it a good plan for many people. For example, in Australia, it costs $8.99 AUD per month for Premium Lite but $16.99 AUD per month for the full Premium.

Credit: Engadget

Countries Involved in the Testing

As of now, YouTube Premium Lite trials are running in three targeted countries: Australia, Germany, and Thailand. Right now, there’s nothing official regarding the expanding of the app to other countries or even the US; still, the testing shows YouTube’s interest in knowing whether this product is going to be interesting to the broader audience.

How YouTube Premium Lite Compares to YouTube Premium

Features Comparison

YouTube Premium Lite provides few ads while on the other hand, the YouTube Premium gets rid of all the ads. But for $9.99/month, Premium lets you listen in the background, listen offline, and use YouTube Music, all things the Lite version doesn’t offer.

Who Should Choose Which Plan?

If you cannot stand ads at all but do not require extra options as offline download and music listening, Premium Lite might suit you best. But for those willing to pay for added convenience features like, say, muting videos with the screen turned off or dowloading videos for playback at another time, YouTube Premium is the only way to go.

Why YouTube Is Bringing Back Premium Lite

A Response to Adblockers?

Some suggested that the return of Premium Lite is a part of the company’s long-term plan to tackle the adblocker problem, which has gained much popularity lately. This could even mean that by providing an almost interruption free solution at low cost by removing ads, YouTube wants the users to seek a more legitimate and legal way to avoid interruptions.

Exploring User Preferences

The evidence unequivocally suggests that YouTube and is still unsure about what its users actually want. It helps the company achieve what is in between, which is being able to offer the basic functionality of Premium service, without going fully premium and putting a high price tag on it.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• Affordable: Half the cost of YouTube Premium.
• Fewer Ads: Minimizes ad interjections which may be unideal when people are watching multiple episodes in one sitting.

Drawbacks

• Limited Features: No offline downloads, no downloads, no background play, and restricted music.
• Not Completely Ad-Free: Ads still appear,  but at a diminished rate.

Conclusion

Is YouTube Premium Lite Worth It?

For audiences who are sick and tired of having ads thrown at them repeatedly but are not willing to pay upwards of $10 a month for YouTube Premium, then Premium Lite is an ideal compromise. But if you have to download music for offline use or listen to YouTube music often, then you should remain with YouTube Premium.

YouTube Premium Lite is a very interesting return — an ad-free app for those who do not want to spend money on YouTube Premium, but are tired of annoying ads that disrupt their watching rate. It remains to be seen whether this version will be released more widely, but it might just be suitable for countless users in the world.