YouTube Premium Set to Increase Subscription Prices Globally Starting November
Muhammad Naeem:
Islamabad:YouTube is quietly rolling out global price hikes for its Premium subscription services, with the changes set to take effect in November. Users across Europe have already been notified of the increased costs for both individual and family plans via email.
In countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, the price for YouTube Premium’s family plan will rise significantly, from €18 to €26 per month. Individual plans will also see an increase, going from €12 to €14. Similar hikes are being reported in Switzerland, where prices will jump from CHF 24 to CHF 34, and in Sweden, from SEK 179 to SEK 279.
While YouTube Premium prices in Pakistan remain much lower compared to Europe, a proportional increase is expected to follow soon. Although YouTube has not yet published an official list of all the impacted countries, users worldwide are advised to check their emails for further details.
The price hike has sparked discontent among subscribers, with many taking to social media platforms like Reddit to express their frustration. Critics argue that YouTube Premium’s pricing has now surpassed that of other popular streaming services. For instance, Spotify’s family plan in Europe typically costs €18, while its individual plan is around €11. Apple Music offers similar pricing, making YouTube Premium one of the most expensive options, especially for those primarily using it for music streaming.
Despite the criticism, YouTube Premium continues to offer features such as ad-free viewing, offline downloads, higher-quality streaming, background playback on mobile devices, and access to YouTube Music, justifying its cost for some users.
