Spotify vs YouTube Premium: price, plans, and which to keep
Current US prices, price history, trial terms, and cancellation friction side by side, built from our service guides. Last reviewed September 8, 2026.
The short answer
YouTube Premium costs three dollars more than Spotify, $15.99 versus $12.99, but it includes YouTube Music and removes ads from YouTube itself, so for anyone who watches YouTube daily it replaces two subscriptions. Both raised US prices in 2026: Spotify in February, its third rise since 2023, and YouTube in April, its first since 2023. Two YouTube-specific rules: subscribe on the web, because the iOS app charges more, and use the pause option (one to six months) instead of cancelling.
YouTube Premium is cheaper by $48 a year on its entry plan.
At a glance
| Spotify | YouTube Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest standard plan | Individual: $12.99/mo | Premium Lite: $8.99/mo |
| Cheapest plan per year | $155.88 | $107.88 |
| Most expensive plan | Family (up to 6): $21.99/mo | Family (up to 5 extra): $26.99/mo |
| Price changes since 2023 | 3 | 2 |
| Latest price change | February 2026 | April 2026 |
| Free trial | Usually 1 month free for new Premium users; frequent 2-3 month promos. | 1-month free trial for new members; frequent 2-3 month promos. |
| Cancellation | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat | 4 steps · app-store or partner billing caveat |
Cheapest and most expensive plans exclude add-ons, student, bundle, and per-seat plans. Price changes are counted from January 2023. US list prices, last reviewed September 8, 2026.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Spotify if…
Pick Spotify if music discovery, playlists and podcasts are the point, or you need the Duo plan. Its free tier means cancelling costs you nothing but ads.
Choose YouTube Premium if…
Pick YouTube Premium if you watch YouTube most days: ad-free video plus background play plus YouTube Music for $15.99 is the better bundle. Family at $26.99 covers five extra people, but Google checks that everyone lives at the same address.
Every current plan
Spotify plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $12.99/mo |
| Duo | $18.99/mo |
| Family (up to 6) | $21.99/mo |
| Student | $6.99/mo |
YouTube Premium plans
| Plan | Current price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $15.99/mo |
| Family (up to 5 extra) | $26.99/mo |
| Student | $8.99/mo |
| Premium LiteAd-free on most videos; no YouTube Music, no downloads | $8.99/mo |
US list prices; taxes, promotions, and app-store billing may differ. Last reviewed September 8, 2026.
Price history, both services
April 2026 · YouTube Premium
Individual rose from $13.99 to $15.99, Family from $22.99 to $26.99, Student and Premium Lite from $7.99 to $8.99 (new subscribers from April 10, 2026; existing from their June 7 bill). YouTube Music Premium went from $10.99 to $11.99 in the same round.
February 2026 · Spotify
Third hike since 2023: Individual $11.99 → $12.99, Duo $16.99 → $18.99, Family $19.99 → $21.99, Student $5.99 → $6.99.
July 2024 · Spotify
Individual rose $10.99 → $11.99.
July 2023 · Spotify
First-ever US price increase: Individual $9.99 → $10.99.
July 2023 · YouTube Premium
Individual rose $11.99 → $13.99; Family went to $22.99.
How to run both without paying for both
If you hold both, try a month with only YouTube Premium and see whether YouTube Music covers your listening; that alone saves $155.88 a year. If it does not, pause YouTube Premium during months you barely watch rather than paying $15.99 for nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Spotify or YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium. Its cheapest standard plan works out to $8.99 a month ($107.88 a year) versus $12.99 a month ($155.88 a year) for Spotify, a difference of $48 a year. Bundles, promotions, and app-store billing can change the final price.
Does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music?
Yes. YouTube Premium at $15.99 includes full YouTube Music Premium, so it can replace Spotify for many people. A YouTube Music-only plan is also sold separately at $11.99 if you do not care about ad-free video.
Why is YouTube Premium more expensive on my iPhone?
Because you subscribed through the iOS app, which adds App Store fees. Cancel in Apple's subscription settings and resubscribe on the web to pay $15.99.
Full guides
Spotify price & cancellation guide
Three US price hikes since 2023, Individual hit $12.99 in February 2026 while free-tier features keep shrinking.
View guideYouTube Premium price & cancellation guide
The 2023 holdout ended: every US tier rose in April 2026, so ad-free YouTube plus YouTube Music now starts at $15.99.
View guideMore comparisons
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