Thinking about canceling YouTube Premium? You're not alone. Launched back in 2014 (though it's had a few name changes), YouTube Premium offers ad-free viewing, background play, and YouTube Music. But with prices ranging from $7.99 to $22.99 a month, it's an easy cut to make if you're not using it. Maybe you signed up just to watch that new MrBeast documentary without ads and now it's time to go. Canceling can save you up to $276 a year. This guide covers how to cancel on desktop, iOS, and Android without the headache.
Before You Cancel: What You Should Know
- Keep Your Benefits: You can still use your Premium benefits, like ad-free viewing and downloads, until the end of your current billing cycle.
- No Refunds: YouTube generally does not offer refunds or pro-rated credits if you cancel mid-month. Once you've paid for the month, that's it.
- Pause Instead: Don't want to cancel forever? YouTube lets you pause your membership for one to six months. Your subscription will automatically resume after the pause period ends.
- Downloads Disappear: Any videos or music you've downloaded for offline viewing will be removed once your subscription officially ends. A real pain if you're about to travel.
Subscription Plans and Pricing (2025)
Plan | Price (per month) | Details |
---|---|---|
Individual | $13.99 | Ad-free YouTube, background play, downloads, and YouTube Music Premium for one account. |
Family | $22.99 | All the benefits of the Individual plan for up to 5 family members (ages 13+) in the same household. |
Student | $7.99 | All the benefits of the Individual plan for eligible students. Requires annual verification. |
Frequently Asked Questions about YouTube Premium
Chloe Anne-Bennett
Streaming & Entertainment Editor
Chloe Anne-Bennett is the Streaming & Entertainment Editor at Pine AI. Chloe is a leading voice on the business of streaming, entertainment and the evolving landscape of digital media. Before contributing to Pine AI, Chloe was an entertainment correspondent for a major news outlet, where she reported on everything from box office trends to the impact of streaming services on traditional media. At Pine AI, Chloe leverages her deep industry knowledge to provide our readers with insightful analysis of the latest trends, helping them make sense of their subscriptions and where to hit the sweet spots in how to handle customer service reps.