YouTube is adding some major improvements to its Premium Lite subscription by implementing features from the more expensive plan.
Back in 2025, YouTube gave users a cheaper way to enjoy ad-free videos through a new subscription dubbed Premium Lite.
This $7.99 plan got rid of ads for the most part, though advertisements are still be shown on music videos, Shorts, and when you search or browse for content.
Originally, Lite didn’t let users enjoy other features from its standard Premium counterpart such as the ability to download videos to watch offline or background play, but that’s now changed as of February 24.
YouTube improves Premium Lite subscription after user feedback
According to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, the new features will be coming to Lite over the coming weeks.
“You’ll soon be able to enjoy most videos offline and in the background, in addition to most videos ad-free,” he said. “Excited to keep giving our subscribers more flexibility to choose the YouTube experience that’s right for them.”
Tech Crunch reports that YouTube decided to bring these features following user feedback and in an attempt to make the service more enticing.
Just like with ads on Premium Lite, Shorts and music content is exempt, so if you want to download those or watch them in the background, you’d need a $13.99 Premium subscription.
Additionally, Lite still doesn’t give users access to some extra features such as continue watching, Jump ahead, queuing, high-quality audio and video, and more.
WBD says Paramount’s new, higher offer could be “superior” to Netflix's