Here's How Much A YouTube Music Subscription Cost In 2018 Vs. 2026

While big names like Spotify and Apple Music might be some music fans' first choice for funneling tunes into their ear canals, YouTube Music is another premier platform listeners appreciate for its premium audio quality. However, its efforts to tackle big problems with music transparency and enticing hidden features you should be using, like humming to search for songs, came with a price — in this case, an inevitable price hike.

While the minimal increase might have some potential listeners questioning whether a YouTube Premium subscription is worth it for music, it shouldn't dissuade song lovers from switching over to Music. YouTube Music has experienced a rather gentle increase over the past eight years. The listening service's monthly subscription costs $11.99 as of this writing, while its annual plan goes for a discounted $119.99. YouTube also offers an $18.99 family plan and a discounted $5.99 student deal. 

It comparatively offered a $10 monthly subscription back in 2018. The annual plan was not yet available, and wouldn't be until 2022. It's also worth noting that YouTube offered a free, ad-based option for users willing to tolerate interruptions between jams both then and now. So long as YouTube Music keeps its price jumps to a minimum, if any, users may find its relatively consistent subscription cost another tempting reason to make it their number one music source.

YouTube Music's price changes may also be viewed through the lens of the accompanying YouTube Premium subscription, which bundles Music Premium with features relating to the main YouTube app, including ad-free videos, downloads, and background play. A Premium subscription costs a monthly $15.99, while its annual price is $159.99. Students can also access a $8.99 monthly plan.

In contrast, Premium, originally branded as YouTube Red, had a base tier that was offered for what is, as of this writing, YouTube Music's modern cost when the former launched in 2018: $11.99. It's also a given that, if you're already a Premium subscriber, then YouTube Music is another added service at your disposal you needn't pay extra for. Thus, pricing isn't a factor you should worry about if you're comparing it to other services.

Some Reddit users argued it'd be wasteful for Premium users not to choose YouTube Music over other streaming services. "Now that Spotify is looking to be the most expensive music service, particularly for higher quality, it may be time to have another look at YouTube Music if you're a YouTube Premium subscriber," one user wrote. "There's little need to pay for 2 music services if 1 of them is good enough." It'd certainly be the cheaper choice to use your pre-purchased perk, rather than tack on another subscription cost to your monthly entertainment bill.