YouTube is ending its ad-free Premium Lite subscription plan, as reported by The Verge. Customers received an email from YouTube stating that Premium Lite will no longer be available after October 25th, 2023.
YouTube introduced Premium Lite as a lower-cost plan for ad-free video viewing in specific countries after testing it for two years. This plan, priced at €6.99 per month, was launched in certain European countries in 2021, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
It provided ad-free viewing but did not include features like offline downloads, background playback, or access to YouTube Music. Current Premium Lite subscribers will have two choices: either return to watching YouTube with ads or upgrade to the more expensive YouTube Premium, which also includes access to YouTube Music.
YouTube will offer Lite subscribers a one-month free trial of YouTube Premium, even if they’ve had a trial before. To take advantage of this offer, subscribers must cancel their Lite subscription or wait for it to be canceled.
As per The Verge report, in the email, YouTube states,
After October 25, 2023, we will no longer offer Premium Lite as you know it. We understand this may be disappointing, but we are continuously working on various versions of Premium Lite based on feedback from our users, creators, and partners.