5 reasons why I refuse to pay for YouTube Premium
Source: Android Authority
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Introduction
This doesn’t mean that I haven’t considered the option before. But every time I entertain the idea, YouTube makes another move that adds to my list of reasons I avoid the subscription.
The latest price hike is just one of many reasons I remain committed to my refusal. And based on a recent survey of readers, I’m not the only one who thinks it’s simply not worth it.
Why do you refuse to pay for YouTube Premium?
129 votes
1. Price hikes continue to make it unaffordable
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
YouTube Premium users will soon pay more in the US, with the Individual subscription increasing to $15.99 and the Family plan to $26.99. Premium Lite will be $8.99 per month.
While these prices will eventually affect other markets, they arrive at a time when many consumers are already facing strained budgets. YouTube’s price increases aren’t happening in a vacuum; other services are also raising their rates.
The service was already too expensive for me, and with it becoming even costlier, it’s far less appealing. After cutting down on subscriptions, I’m not interested in adding another just to avoid ads.
2. I’m not interested in YouTube Music
Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
YouTube Premium would be more attractive if I didn’t already subscribe to Spotify. Since YouTube doesn’t offer Premium Lite in South Africa, the only way to get full value would be to switch my music streaming to YouTube Music.
I was previously a Google Play Music subscriber, but after its shutdown, YouTube Music was underdeveloped, prompting my move to Spotify. I have no interest in switching, so I’d be paying for a service I don’t use.
3. I don’t use YouTube enough to justify the cost
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
In South Africa, YouTube Premium’s price is comparable to other streaming services—more than Prime Video and only slightly less than Netflix’s Basic plan. However, I only watch YouTube for about an hour on occasional days, often while drinking coffee or playing Pokémon Go. Many days I don’t use it at all.
Given my limited usage, the cost isn’t justified, especially when I’m already subscribed to another streaming service.
4. I don’t want to reward YouTube’s bullying tactics
Taylor Kerns / Android Authority
Part of my refusal is spite. YouTube has become a prime example of “enshittification,” pushing free users toward a paid plan by inundating the free version with ads. Previously, the subscription offered original content to attract users, but now the main perk is simply ad‑free viewing.
Paying for YouTube Premium would feel like rewarding Google for making its platform worse, even though features like offline downloads are nice.
5. I can’t share my subscription with others
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The Family plan can only be shared with people in the same household. Living alone, I have no one to split the cost with. Some regions offer a two‑person subscription, but it still requires co‑habitation.
If shared accounts were allowed regardless of location, the cost could be more manageable, but that isn’t the case after many companies cracked down on password sharing.
Every time I’m faced with another unskippable ad on my TV, I consider whether it’s time to subscribe to YouTube Premium to support creators I love. Yet these five reasons consistently keep me convinced that the service isn’t worth it for me.