Would you rather pay less for fewer ads on YouTube or more for a truly ad-free experience?

YouTube is at it again with a fresh twist on its Premium Lite subscription, and it’s got us all wondering — would you rather save a few bucks and see fewer ads, or pay full price for a truly ad-free ride? That’s the question YouTube seems to be asking as it quietly tests a new version of Premium Lite in select countries.

The revived version of Premium Lite is currently being tested in Australia, Germany, and Thailand, according to Android Authority. So, what’s the catch with this budget-friendly plan? While Premium Lite used to offer a totally ad-free experience, the new version sprinkles in some “limited ads.”

According to details shared by Australian singer-songwriter Jonah Manzano on Threads, the Premium Lite plan in Australia costs $8.99 AUD per month on the web, which is about $6. That’s less than half the $16.99 AUD price for the full-fat YouTube Premium. On iOS, the prices are slightly higher, at $11.99 AUD for Lite and $22.99 AUD for Premium. These figures translate to about $8 and $15, respectively.

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But here’s the kicker: while you won’t be seeing ads everywhere, they might still pop up in some corners. YouTube hints that ads may appear on music content, Shorts, and when you’re browsing or searching for videos. The platform promises these ads will be “non-interruptive,” but we all know what that really means.

Oh, and if you’re hoping to escape ads on YouTube Music, forget it. Lite users won’t get access to YouTube Music Premium, offline downloads, or the ability to keep videos playing in the background while you multitask. In short, this subscription is for those who don’t mind a little noise in exchange for saving some cash.

For those keeping score at home, YouTube already tried something like this before. The original Premium Lite plan launched in parts of Europe back in 2021, offering ad-free videos but with none of the extras like background play or downloads. That version of Lite got the boot in 2023, leaving users stuck between paying full price or enduring all the ads. Now, YouTube seems to be bringing Lite back from the dead — but with a twist.

This time around, YouTube’s playing it smart with “limited ads.” It’s less than a total ad blackout, but if you’re not fussed about having some ads in your search results or while watching music videos, it could be a sweet deal. But would you really sign up for this plan if you still have to deal with ads in any form?

Let’s be real: YouTube Premium is not cheap. In the U.S., it’s $13.99 per month for an individual plan. Throw in the family plan, and that jumps to $22.99 a month. But with Premium, you get the full ad-free experience, offline viewing, background play, and ad-free access to YouTube Music. It’s the VIP section of YouTube, minus the velvet rope.

So, would you be willing to trade the full ad-free experience for something a little more “lite”? In markets like Australia, Premium Lite is about half the cost of the full version. That’s a tempting offer for those of us who just want to watch a few cat videos without burning a hole in our pockets.

Right now, YouTube’s tight-lipped about whether Premium Lite will roll out beyond Australia, Germany, and Thailand. A YouTube spokesperson told The Verge that the company has been testing this version for “several months” but didn’t share anything about a broader launch.

Still, the return of YouTube Premium Lite raises a very modern question — how much would you pay to make ads disappear? Would you opt for fewer ads at a lower price, or are you sticking with the full ad-free version no matter the cost? Let us know in the comments below.