Everything YouTube has to offer, music and videos alike, gets a serious upgrade once you go Premium. So, does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music? The short answer: yes. A YouTube Premium subscription doesn’t just remove ads and unlock offline downloads on YouTube videos. It also gives you full access to YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost.
That means all the perks of YouTube Music, ad‑free streaming, background play, offline listening, and audio‑only mode, are bundled into your Premium plan. You pay one price and enjoy it across both platforms seamlessly.
This article breaks down the benefits, explores how YouTube Premium compares to a standalone YouTube Music subscription, and helps you decide if it’s the right combo service for your needs.
What is YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service provided by YouTube that elevates your video-watching experience across the platform. Formerly known as YouTube Red, the service allows users to enjoy a seamless, interruption-free viewing experience along with several additional perks that enhance how you engage with content.
Features and Benefits of YouTube Premium
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Ad-free Viewing: Watch videos without interruptions from ads, providing a smoother, distraction-free viewing experience.
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Background Play: Keep videos playing even when using other apps or when your device’s screen is turned off, making multitasking effortless.
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Offline Videos: Download your favorite content for offline viewing. This is perfect for situations where internet access is unavailable, such as commuting or traveling.
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YouTube Originals: Access exclusive content produced by YouTube featuring well-known creators, artists, and actors, available only to Premium subscribers.
YouTube Premium is designed to provide maximum flexibility and convenience, offering viewers more control over how, when, and where they enjoy content.
What is YouTube Music?
YouTube Music is a dedicated music streaming platform from YouTube, designed specifically for music enthusiasts who want a focused and enhanced listening experience. It’s built around an extensive library of songs, albums, official music videos, remixes, live performances, and user-generated content, all accessible in one place.
Features and Benefits of YouTube Music
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Comprehensive Music Library: Explore millions of songs, albums, playlists, and live performances from popular artists worldwide.
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Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy music uninterrupted, providing a smoother listening experience without disruptive ads.
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Offline Playback: Download your favorite music and listen offline, ideal for traveling, commuting, or when you’re without internet access.
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Background Play: Keep your music playing in the background while using other apps or even when your screen is off, ensuring uninterrupted listening.
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Audio-only Mode: Switch easily between audio and video modes, which allows you to save data or simply listen without visuals.
YouTube Music stands out because of its deep integration with YouTube’s extensive video platform, allowing users to discover rare, exclusive, and user-uploaded tracks that might not be found on other music streaming services.
Does YouTube Premium Include YouTube Music?
The straightforward answer is yes. YouTube Premium does include full access to YouTube Music Premium at no additional cost.
When you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you automatically gain access to all of YouTube Music Premium’s features. This means:
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Ad-free music streaming: No interruptions during your listening sessions.
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Background play: Continue playing music when your device screen is locked or while using other apps.
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Offline listening: Download music and playlists directly to your device to listen without an internet connection.
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Audio-only mode: Save data by switching easily between audio and video modes.
Cost Comparison: YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Music Premium
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YouTube Premium: Typically costs around $13.99/month (varies slightly by region) and includes both YouTube’s video perks and YouTube Music Premium features.
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YouTube Music Premium (Standalone): Usually priced at around $10.99/month, but only covers music-related benefits without additional video perks from YouTube Premium.
By choosing YouTube Premium, you get the best of both worlds, music and video content, in one comprehensive, cost-effective subscription.
What Are the Advantages of Bundling YouTube Premium and YouTube Music?
Choosing a combined subscription like YouTube Premium that includes YouTube Music Premium offers clear advantages, especially if you frequently enjoy both video content and music streaming. Here are some key benefits:
- Cost-effectiveness: A bundled subscription provides significant savings compared to subscribing separately to each service. You pay a single price and receive access to both platforms, maximizing value for your money.
- Unified User Experience: Enjoy a seamless transition between video watching on YouTube and music listening on YouTube Music without needing to switch between separate subscriptions or apps. Your account preferences and history synchronize smoothly across both services.
- Convenience of One Subscription: Simplify billing and account management with one unified monthly payment. This eliminates confusion and ensures easier control over your subscriptions.
- Enhanced Content Discovery: Leverage recommendations across platforms. Videos and songs you like on one service can positively influence personalized suggestions on the other, enriching your overall entertainment experience.
With these bundled advantages, subscribing to YouTube Premium becomes an attractive choice for anyone looking to combine convenience, savings, and enhanced access to a wide range of digital content.
Who Should Choose the Combined Subscription?
YouTube Premium with bundled YouTube Music isn’t for everyone—but it’s a perfect fit for many. Here’s a breakdown of who benefits most from the all-in-one subscription:
Frequent YouTube Viewers
If you spend a lot of time watching videos—whether it’s entertainment, tutorials, vlogs, or documentaries—ad-free viewing and background play can significantly enhance your experience.
Music Lovers Who Want Flexibility
If you’re someone who listens to music while multitasking, commuting, working out, or relaxing offline, the added value of YouTube Music Premium makes the full subscription a smart choice.
Users Tired of Ads and Interruptions
Both platforms strip away ads completely. No interruptions in your music. No commercials before videos. Just pure content on your terms.
People Looking for a One-Stop Entertainment Solution
Instead of juggling multiple apps like Spotify and YouTube separately, Premium subscribers can get a full entertainment package—music, videos, and exclusive originals—all under one account.
Families or Households Sharing Content
YouTube Premium offers a family plan, making it ideal for households with multiple users. Everyone gets the perks, and the cost per person drops significantly.
Conclusion
So, does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music? Absolutely and that bundled access makes the subscription far more valuable than it may seem at first glance.
With one monthly fee, you get an ad-free experience across both platforms, background play, offline downloads, and access to exclusive content.
If you’re already using both YouTube and YouTube Music regularly, upgrading to Premium isn’t just convenient, it’s a smart move. It simplifies your digital life and delivers a richer, more flexible way to enjoy content.
FAQs about Does YouTube Premium Include YouTube Music?
Is YouTube Music a separate app from YouTube?
Yes. YouTube Music is a standalone app (available on iOS, Android, and web) dedicated to music streaming, but it’s integrated with your YouTube Premium benefits if you’re a subscriber.
Can I switch from YouTube Music Premium to YouTube Premium?
Absolutely. You can cancel YouTube Music Premium and subscribe to YouTube Premium instead. This will include all music benefits plus additional video perks.
Does the YouTube Premium family plan cover YouTube Music too?
Yes. Every member on a YouTube Premium family plan also gets access to YouTube Music Premium at no extra cost.
What happens to YouTube Music if I cancel YouTube Premium?
Once you cancel YouTube Premium, your access to YouTube Music Premium features (like ad-free music, offline listening, and background play) will end as well.
Are there any limitations with the music features included in YouTube Premium?
No. You get the full set of YouTube Music Premium features just as you would if you subscribed to it separately.