YouTube Premium does not come with YouTube TV, and YouTube TV does not include Premium — they are separate subscriptions
YouTube Premium and YouTube TV are two different services with different costs and different features. If you subscribe to YouTube TV, you still see ads on YouTube.com and the YouTube app unless you also pay for YouTube Premium. If you have YouTube Premium, you can watch YouTube videos ad-free, but you do not get YouTube TV's live channels or cloud DVR.
The confusion happens because both services use the word "YouTube" and both cost money monthly. But they do not overlap. You can buy one, the other, both, or neither — the choice is yours, and the services work independently.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium removes ads from YouTube videos and the YouTube app, but does not include live TV channels or YouTube TV's features.
- YouTube TV gives you live broadcast and cable channels with cloud DVR, but does not remove ads from YouTube.com or the YouTube app.
- You can subscribe to YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, both, or neither — neither one comes bundled with the other.
- If you want both services, you pay for both subscriptions separately each month.
What YouTube Premium includes
YouTube Premium is a subscription to the YouTube video platform itself. It removes ads from videos you watch on YouTube.com, the YouTube app, and YouTube Music. You can also read videos to watch offline and play videos in the background on your phone (so the video keeps playing when you lock your screen or switch apps).
YouTube Premium does not give you access to live TV channels. It does not include YouTube TV's cloud DVR, its channel guide, or its ability to record shows. It is only about the on-demand video experience on YouTube — no ads, offline viewing, and background play.
What YouTube TV includes
YouTube TV is a live television service. It gives you access to broadcast channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox), cable news channels (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News), sports channels, and regional sports networks depending on where you live. It includes a cloud DVR so you can record shows and watch them later.
YouTube TV does not remove ads from YouTube.com or the YouTube app. When you watch YouTube videos on those platforms, you see the same ads as anyone else. YouTube TV is only for live and recorded television — it does not change your YouTube video experience.
Why they are separate and what it costs
Google owns both services but keeps them separate because they serve different purposes. YouTube Premium is for people who want to watch on-demand videos without ads. YouTube TV is for people who want live television. Some people want one, some want the other, and some want both.
If you want both, you pay for both. YouTube Premium costs one amount per month, and YouTube TV costs a different amount per month. There is no bundle that gives you both for a single price, and neither subscription includes the other.
How to know which one you need
Choose YouTube Premium if you watch a lot of YouTube videos (music videos, tutorials, creators, clips) and want to remove ads from that experience. Choose YouTube TV if you want to watch live television — sports, news, shows as they air — and record them to your DVR.
If you do both — you watch YouTube videos regularly and you also want live TV — then you need both subscriptions. If you only do one of those things, you only need one subscription.
What happens if you have only YouTube TV
If you subscribe to YouTube TV but not YouTube Premium, you can watch all the live channels and use the cloud DVR normally. But when you go to YouTube.com or open the YouTube app to watch a video, you see ads just like a free user does. YouTube TV does not change your YouTube video experience at all.
This is a common point of confusion because people assume a YouTube subscription would cover the whole YouTube ecosystem. It does not. YouTube TV is a television service that happens to be owned by Google and accessed through YouTube-branded apps. It does not touch your YouTube video experience.
What happens if you have only YouTube Premium
If you subscribe to YouTube Premium but not YouTube TV, you can watch YouTube videos ad-free, read them, and play them in the background. But you do not have access to live TV channels. If you try to open YouTube TV, you will see a prompt to subscribe to it separately.
YouTube Premium is purely about the on-demand video side of YouTube. It does not give you any live television features, any channel guide, or any DVR. If you want those things, you need YouTube TV as a separate subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I pay for YouTube TV, do I get YouTube Premium for free?
No. YouTube TV and YouTube Premium are separate subscriptions. Paying for YouTube TV does not include YouTube Premium, and you will still see ads on YouTube videos unless you also subscribe to YouTube Premium.
Can I watch YouTube TV without ads?
YouTube TV itself does not have ads during the live channels or recorded shows. But if you watch YouTube videos on YouTube.com or the YouTube app, you will see ads unless you also have YouTube Premium. The two services are separate.
Is there a bundle that includes both YouTube Premium and YouTube TV?
No. Google does not offer a bundle that includes both services at a discounted price. You must pay for each subscription separately if you want both.
What if I only want to remove ads from YouTube — do I need YouTube TV?
No. YouTube Premium removes ads from YouTube videos. You do not need YouTube TV for that. YouTube TV is only if you want live television channels and a DVR.
Can I cancel YouTube TV and keep YouTube Premium?
Yes. The two subscriptions are completely independent. You can have one, the other, both, or neither. Canceling one does not affect the other.