How to Lower Your YouTube Music Costs
2026 Cost Reduction Guide
Current Pricing
YouTube Music costs $12.99 per month as of February 2026.
YouTube Music does not offer retention discounts or cancellation negotiations.
YouTube Music does not offer negotiated discounts. Focus on plan optimization or alternatives instead.
Before you pay — do you already have YouTube Music?
YouTube Music is included free (or heavily discounted) with these plans. Check if you're double-paying:
YouTube Premium — includes Full access
Included with YouTube Premium subscription
What Happens When You Cancel YouTube Music
How to cancel
music.youtube.com → Settings → Manage membership → Cancel
Steps (3 screens)
- 1Go to music.youtube.com/paid_memberships
- 2Click 'Manage membership'
- 3Click 'Cancel' or 'Deactivate'
- 4You may be offered a pause
- 5Confirm
What they'll try to keep you
In-flow discount offer?
❌ No
Win-back email after?
❌ No
Access after cancel
Reverts to free tier with ads and no offline/background play
Your data
Library and playlists preserved on free tier
If you have YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium is already included. Don't pay for both.
You can lower your YouTube Music costs by using the free ad-supported tier, splitting a family plan, or checking if your phone carrier includes a music subscription. At $12.99/month, YouTube Music adds up to $155.88 per year — but most subscribers pay more than they need to. Here are the best strategies to reduce what you spend on YouTube Music in 2026.
Quick Wins
YouTube Music Subscription
Music streaming with official and user-uploaded content.
YouTube Music Price History
Tracking: YouTube Music Premium (Individual)
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 2019-01 | $9.99 |
| 2023-07 | $10.99 |
| 2024-01 | $13.99 |
| 2025-01 | $13.99 |
This service has increased its price significantly. Consider locking in an annual plan or negotiating a retention discount to hedge against future increases.
Price forecast
YouTube Music saw a large increase in 2024. May stabilize for 12-18 months before the next hike.
Best time to subscribe
YouTube Premium includes Music Premium — don't pay for both. Family plan is the best per-person value.
How to Pay Less for YouTube Music
Save up to $12.99/month with these proven strategies
Hidden Discounts (1)
YouTube Premium Student: $8.99/mo (includes YouTube Music + ad-free YouTube)
Valid .edu email with SheerID verification
Apply nowPlan Downgrade Opportunity
YouTube Music Free covers 95% of casual listening. Premium is only necessary if you need offline downloads and background play.
- Ad-supported music streaming
- Upload 100k songs
- Create playlists
- Ad-free streaming
- Offline downloads
- Background play
Free Alternatives (1)
YouTube Music Free
Ad-supported YouTube Music with full catalog
Best Strategy:
Use free tier with ads or downgrade → save $12.99/mo, get YouTube Premium Student for $8.99 if eligible
Do I actually need a paid music subscription?
Use this framework to evaluate whether YouTube Music is worth keeping.
Listening daily and using offline downloads
Keep it — daily listeners get strong value. Check if a family or duo plan saves money if others in your household also subscribe.
Listening a few times per week, mostly at home on Wi-Fi
The free tier (Spotify, YouTube Music) may be sufficient since you don't need offline downloads. Test the free tier for a month.
Only listen to a few specific artists or playlists
YouTube's free tier with ads might cover your needs. Or buy albums outright on iTunes/Bandcamp — cheaper long-term if your taste is narrow.
Paying for multiple music services
Pick one. There's almost no reason to have both Spotify and Apple Music. Choose based on your device ecosystem and cancel the other.
YouTube Music vs Alternatives — Feature Comparison
Music Streaming
| Feature | youtube_music | spotify | apple_music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | With YouTube Premium ($13.99/mo) | Ad-supported standalone | No free tier |
| Premium Price | $10.99/mo (or $13.99 with YouTube) | $11.99/mo | $10.99/mo |
| Music Video Access | Official music videos included | No videos | No videos |
| Podcast Integration | Limited (YouTube only) | 100M+ podcast library | Separate Podcasts app |
| Offline Listening | Yes (Premium) | Yes (all tiers) | Yes |
Verdict: Best for music video fans; music videos + YouTube bundling creates unique value proposition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is YouTube Music premium worth it?
At $12.99/month, YouTube Music premium is worth it if you listen to music daily and want ad-free, offline listening. If you mainly listen at home or don't mind occasional ads, the free tier is a solid alternative. Student plans at roughly half price are the best value if you qualify.
How can I get YouTube Music for less?
Use the free ad-supported tier, check for student discounts (usually 50% off), split a family plan with household members, look for carrier bundles (Verizon, T-Mobile often include music services), and check for annual billing discounts.
What are free alternatives to YouTube Music?
Free music alternatives include Spotify Free (ad-supported), YouTube Music Free, Pandora Free, Amazon Music Free, and SoundCloud. All offer unlimited listening with ads. For truly ad-free listening, YouTube with an ad blocker or downloaded MP3s are options.
How do I cancel YouTube Music?
Cancel through your account settings on the YouTube Music website or app. If you subscribed through Apple or Google, cancel through your device's subscription settings. After canceling premium, you'll typically revert to the free tier rather than losing access entirely.
Related Guides
How Much Are You Overpaying?
YouTube Music is just one piece. Take the free 30-second quiz to see your total savings across all your subscriptions.
About YouTube Music: Music streaming with official and user-uploaded content.