YouTube is raising the price of YouTube Premium plans for the first time in almost three years 9 to 5 Google.
The Individual plan is $14 to $16, the Family plan is $23 to $27, the Lite plan is $8 to $9, and the Music Premium plan is $11 to $12.
The last time YouTube Premium raised prices was in the summer of 2023, shortly after the highest rate of inflation in the post-covid years. And the company is positioning it as something that will help people making content.
“To continue to deliver a high-quality experience that supports creators and artists on YouTube, we’re updating the pricing of YouTube Premium plans in the US for the first time since 2023,” a YouTube spokesperson told Gizmodo.
“This change allows us to maintain the features our members value most: ad-free browsing, background playback, and a large library of 300M+ tracks on YouTube Music. We continue to offer multiple plans, allowing subscribers to choose the option that works best for them,” the statement said.
YouTube Premium subscribers have started receiving emails about price changes that appear on the YouTube Premium sign-up page. However, existing users won’t see the price increase until June. YouTube Premium currently offers a three-month trial for $0, then costs $16 per month after three months.
YouTube is quick to point out that the Family plan is the best deal per user, and if there are six people on the Family plan, it drops to $4.50 per month per family member.
Consumer prices have risen recently, according to the latest figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. In March, the consumer price index increased by 0.9%, bringing the level of annual inflation to 3.3%. February’s gain was a more modest 2.4% The Wall Street Journal.
Gas prices appear to be the biggest driver of inflation right now after President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a war against Iran on February 28. Iran’s military has seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only a few ships to pass through the area, where 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Gasoline prices rose 18.9% last month, the biggest increase since the government began tracking them in 1967. USA Today. AAA estimates that the current national average price for a gallon of gas is $4.15.
The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire this week, and talks are scheduled to begin this weekend in Pakistan. But it is not clear what will come out of the talks, because Trump does not understand what he is agreeing to when he announces the ceasefire. The president has demanded that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran says the US has not fulfilled other parts of the interim ceasefire agreement, including an end to Israeli bombing of Lebanon.
YouTube Premium goes up today. But if Trump can’t find a way to open the throat, everything will be more expensive.
