If you’ve been hanging around the r/YouTube subreddit lately, you’ve probably spotted reports from people claiming to be seeing ads despite being subscribed to YouTube Premium.
Check these screenshots for reference:
If true, that would have been the final nail in the coffin for YouTube. But that’s not what’s been going on. If you’re in the same boat and believe YouTube is shoving ads on your Premium account, here’s what you should know.
The confusion stems from YouTube’s introduction of Premium Lite, a cheaper tier that launched earlier this year. When the company rolled out this new option, it quietly removed some existing pricing structures and automatically shifted certain subscribers to different plans. Some users found themselves moved from their original Premium subscriptions to Premium Lite without realizing the difference.
Premium Lite costs significantly less than full Premium, but comes with a catch: you’ll still see ads on music content, Shorts, and some search results. The service promises “ad-free on most videos,” which sounds great until you hit that word “most.” For people who primarily watch regular YouTube videos, Premium Lite works fine. But if you listen to music on the platform or spend time browsing Shorts, those ads will pop up.
The Reddit complaints make perfect sense when you understand this context. Users who had been enjoying completely ad-free YouTube suddenly started seeing commercials, particularly when watching music videos or AI covers. They assumed YouTube was breaking its Premium promise when in reality some of them had been shifted to a different service tier entirely. Others simply weren’t aware of the fact that they’d still be seeing ads on Premium Lite.
This isn’t YouTube testing the waters for ads in full Premium subscriptions. Regular Premium subscribers remain completely ad-free across all content types. The company isn’t slowly introducing commercials to paid users as part of some grand scheme to extract more money later. Those fears, while understandable given YouTube’s track record, appear to be unfounded here.
If you’re seeing ads and paying for a Premium subscription, check which plan you actually have. Log into your YouTube account settings and look at your subscription details. You might discover you’re on Premium Lite rather than full Premium. The pricing difference is substantial: Premium Lite typically runs around $7.99 monthly while full Premium costs closer to $16.99, depending on your region.
For users who want zero ads anywhere on YouTube, full Premium remains the only option. Premium Lite serves people who don’t mind occasional commercials in exchange for significant savings, particularly if they use other services for music streaming. It’s actually a reasonable middle ground for budget-conscious viewers who mainly watch regular video content.
The takeaway? YouTube isn’t betraying Premium subscribers by sneaking ads into paid accounts. Instead, the company created a confusing rollout of pricing tiers that left many users unclear about what they were actually paying for. If you want the full ad-free experience you remember, you’ll need to upgrade to regular Premium. Otherwise, Premium Lite might work fine depending on your viewing habits.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1304 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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