YouTube has announced the expansion of its Premium Lite subscription pilot to India, after the initial roll-out in some countries earlier this year. The new, more affordable plan is priced at Rs. 89 per month and offers users the ability to watch most videos on the platform without advertisements.
This launch comes as YouTube’s Music and Premium services have collectively reached over 125 million subscribers globally, including those on trial periods.
The introduction of Premium Lite is positioned as the next step in providing subscribers with a wider range of options for their content consumption. According to the company, this new tier, alongside the existing Premium plans, will also create additional revenue opportunities for creators and partners on the platform.
The Premium Lite plan is designed to offer a more flexible option for viewers who primarily want to avoid ad interruptions. The membership is compatible across various devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and smart TVs.
Even though this is cheaper compared to the YouTube Premium plan at Rs. 149 per month after last year’s price hike, the plan has certain limitations. While it removes ads from most videos, advertisements may still be present in music-related content and YouTube Shorts. Ads may also appear when users are searching for content or browsing the platform.
For users seeking a completely ad-free experience that includes YouTube Music, along with features like offline downloads and background playback, YouTube continues to recommend its standard Premium subscription.
The roll-out of YouTube Premium Lite is currently underway, with the company expecting it to be fully available to all users across India in the coming weeks.