YouTube Premium is not included with YouTube TV
YouTube TV and YouTube Premium are two separate services with different costs and different features. When you pay for YouTube TV, you get live television channels and on-demand shows — but you do not automatically get YouTube Premium. If you want both services, you need to pay for both subscriptions.
This is a common point of confusion because both services have "YouTube" in the name and both come from Google. But they serve different purposes. YouTube TV is a cable replacement that streams live channels like ESPN, CNN, and HGTV. YouTube Premium is a subscription to the YouTube video platform itself that removes ads and adds offline viewing.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV and YouTube Premium are billed separately, and paying for one does not reduce the cost of the other.
- YouTube Premium removes ads from the YouTube app and website, while YouTube TV gives you access to live television channels.
- You can have a YouTube TV account without Premium, or Premium without YouTube TV — they do not depend on each other.
- If you want both services, you will pay the full monthly price for each one.
What YouTube TV includes
YouTube TV gives you access to over 100 live television channels, including major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, plus cable channels like ESPN, HGTV, and CNN. You also get cloud storage for recordings — up to 9 months of shows you record yourself — and the ability to watch on multiple devices at once depending on your plan.
YouTube TV does not include YouTube Premium features. You will still see ads on the YouTube website and app when you are not watching YouTube TV content. The service is focused on live and recorded television, not on the broader YouTube video platform.
What YouTube Premium includes
YouTube Premium removes ads from videos on YouTube.com, the YouTube app, and YouTube Music. It also lets you read videos to watch offline, play videos in the background on mobile (so you can listen to music while your phone is locked), and get access to YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost.
YouTube Premium does not give you any YouTube TV channels or live television. It is only for the YouTube video platform — the place where people upload and watch individual videos, not where you watch cable channels.
How much each service costs
YouTube TV costs between $73 and $86 per month depending on which channel package you choose. YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for individuals. If you want both services, you would pay the full price of each one — there is no bundle discount or combined rate.
YouTube also offers YouTube Premium Family, which costs $22.99 per month and covers up to six family members on one account. This still does not include YouTube TV. Some people bundle YouTube TV with other services like YouTube Music or YouTube Premium, but Google does not offer a single subscription that includes both YouTube TV and YouTube Premium at a reduced rate.
Why the services are separate
YouTube TV and YouTube Premium target different audiences and solve different problems. YouTube TV is for people who want to cut the cord and replace cable with streaming television. YouTube Premium is for people who watch a lot of videos on YouTube and want to remove ads and get background play.
Many YouTube TV subscribers do not care about YouTube Premium because they use YouTube TV for live channels and cable shows, not for watching individual creator videos. Many YouTube Premium subscribers do not want YouTube TV because they do not watch live television. Keeping them separate lets each person pay only for what they actually use.
How to check what you have
If you are not sure whether you have YouTube Premium, open the YouTube app or go to YouTube.com and look at the top right corner. If you see your profile picture, click it and look for "Get YouTube Premium" or "Upgrade to Premium" in the menu. If you see "YouTube Premium" with a checkmark instead, you already have it.
To check your YouTube TV subscription, open the YouTube TV app or go to tv.youtube.com and sign in. If you can see live channels and your library of recordings, you have YouTube TV. If you see a message asking you to sign up, you do not have it yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I cancel YouTube TV, do I lose YouTube Premium?
No. The two services are completely separate. Canceling YouTube TV does not affect YouTube Premium, and canceling YouTube Premium does not affect YouTube TV. You can have one, both, or neither without any impact on the other.
Can I use the same Google account for both services?
Yes. Both YouTube TV and YouTube Premium use your Google account, so you can manage both subscriptions from the same account. You will see both charges on your Google Play billing page or your credit card statement.
Does YouTube Premium work on YouTube TV?
YouTube Premium removes ads from the YouTube website and app, but YouTube TV is a separate app with its own ad structure. YouTube Premium does not change how ads work in YouTube TV. Some YouTube TV plans include fewer ads than others, but that is a YouTube TV feature, not a YouTube Premium feature.
Is there a way to get both services cheaper?
Google does not offer a bundle that combines YouTube TV and YouTube Premium at a discount. You pay the full price for each service separately. Some people save money by choosing a YouTube TV plan with fewer channels if they do not watch all of them, but that is the only way to reduce the total cost.