YouTube TV and YouTube Premium are two different subscriptions
YouTube TV does not come with YouTube Premium. They are separate services with different purposes, different costs, and different features. YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that gives you access to cable channels, sports, and news. YouTube Premium is a subscription that removes ads from regular YouTube videos and unlocks offline viewing and background play.
If you want both services, you pay for both. Some people do subscribe to both because they solve different problems—one replaces cable, the other changes how you watch YouTube itself. But signing up for YouTube TV alone will not give you Premium features, and vice versa.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV is a live TV service with cable channels; YouTube Premium removes ads from YouTube videos—they are completely separate subscriptions.
- YouTube TV costs around $72.99 per month and includes live channels, cloud DVR, and simultaneous streams on multiple devices.
- YouTube Premium costs around $13.99 per month and removes ads, allows offline downloads, and enables background play on the YouTube app.
- You can subscribe to YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, both, or neither—there is no bundle that includes both at a discount.
- If you cancel YouTube TV, you keep any YouTube Premium subscription you have, and the reverse is also true.
What YouTube TV includes
YouTube TV gives you live television. When you subscribe, you get access to over 100 channels including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, CNN, HGTV, and others depending on your location. You can watch live broadcasts as they happen, or use the cloud DVR to record programs and watch them later. The DVR storage is unlimited, so you can save as much as you want.
YouTube TV also lets you stream on multiple devices at once. You can watch on your phone, tablet, TV, or computer simultaneously, and you can create up to six separate accounts under one subscription so different household members have their own watchlist and recommendations.
YouTube TV does not include YouTube Premium. When you watch YouTube videos through the YouTube TV app or through YouTube itself, you will still see ads unless you separately pay for YouTube Premium.
What YouTube Premium includes
YouTube Premium removes ads from YouTube videos. When you watch videos on YouTube.com, the YouTube app, or YouTube Music, ads do not play before, during, or after the content. This applies to the regular YouTube service only—it does not affect YouTube TV, which has its own ad structure tied to the live channels you are watching.
YouTube Premium also lets you read videos to watch offline on your phone or tablet, and it allows background play, which means you can close the YouTube app or lock your phone and the video or music keeps playing. Without Premium, closing the app stops playback.
YouTube Premium does not include YouTube TV. If you have Premium, you still need a separate YouTube TV subscription to watch live cable channels.
The cost of each service
YouTube TV costs approximately $72.99 per month. The exact price varies slightly by location and changes periodically, so check the YouTube TV website for your current rate. This covers one household and includes the ability to create multiple accounts.
YouTube Premium costs approximately $13.99 per month for an individual account. There is also a family plan for around $22.99 per month that covers up to six family members. YouTube also offers a student plan at a lower rate if you have a valid student email address.
There is no bundle discount that combines YouTube TV and YouTube Premium at a lower total price. You pay the full amount for each service separately.
What happens if you have both subscriptions
If you subscribe to both YouTube TV and YouTube Premium, the services work together in a useful way. You will have no ads on YouTube videos, you can read videos, and you can use background play. At the same time, you have access to live TV channels through YouTube TV. The two subscriptions do not conflict—they straightforward give you more features across Google's video platforms.
Your YouTube Premium features explore everywhere: on YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, and YouTube Gaming. Your YouTube TV subscription applies only to the YouTube TV app and website, where you watch live channels.
Canceling one subscription does not affect the other
If you cancel YouTube TV, your YouTube Premium subscription continues unchanged. You will keep the ability to watch ad-free YouTube videos, read content, and use background play. You straightforward lose access to live TV channels.
The reverse is also true: if you cancel YouTube Premium, your YouTube TV subscription continues. You will still have access to live channels, but you will see ads on YouTube videos again.
Each subscription is billed separately and managed separately in your Google account, so you can change or cancel either one without affecting the other.
How to check what you currently have
To see whether you have YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, or both, go to myaccount.google.com and sign in with your Google account. Click "Subscriptions and services" on the left side. You will see a list of all active subscriptions tied to that account. YouTube TV and YouTube Premium will appear as separate line items if you have them.
You can also check by opening the YouTube app and tapping your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Purchases and memberships" to see what is currently active on your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I subscribe to YouTube TV, can I watch YouTube videos without ads?
No. YouTube TV gives you live cable channels, but it does not remove ads from regular YouTube videos. You would need to pay for YouTube Premium separately to remove ads from YouTube.com and the YouTube app.
Does YouTube Premium give me access to live TV channels?
No. YouTube Premium removes ads and unlocks offline viewing and background play, but it does not include YouTube TV. To watch live cable channels, you need a separate YouTube TV subscription.
Is there a way to get both services for less money?
There is no official bundle that combines YouTube TV and YouTube Premium at a discount. You pay the full price for each service separately. However, YouTube occasionally runs promotional offers on YouTube TV for new subscribers, so it is worth checking the YouTube TV website for current deals.
Can I share a YouTube Premium subscription with my family?
YouTube Premium offers a family plan that covers up to six family members for around $22.99 per month. YouTube TV also allows multiple accounts under one subscription, so both services support household sharing, though the family plan structure is slightly different for each.
What if I only want to remove ads from YouTube—do I have to get YouTube TV too?
No. You can subscribe to YouTube Premium alone without YouTube TV. YouTube Premium costs around $13.99 per month and works on its own. You do not need YouTube TV unless you specifically want to watch live cable channels.