Like many things to come in 2020, YouTube Premium Lite is returning next year — this time as a stripped-down version of the full YouTube Premium service. This is a simplified subscription that is built to give you an ad-free viewing experience and is for people who don’t need all the additional a la carte features that are included in the full Premium package. Google is ready to reintroduce Premium Lite again in 2023 after testing it. Read everything you need to know about YouTube Premium Lite and why it is being relaunched.
What is YouTube Premium Lite?
Unlike YouTube Premium Lite, YouTube Premium includes all of the features on YouTube Premium Lite, as well as music playback in the background and offline downloads, as well as the ability to listen to YouTube Music and other supported audio apps. For viewers who still want to watch YouTube Premium but find ads too bothersome, it’s perfect because it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the fully loaded YouTube Premium package.
Premium Lite is the opposite of YouTube Premium; the former has some extras (background play, music streaming, downloads) where YouTube Premium removes ads across YouTube’s main platform but doesn’t offer all that.
Why is Google Relaunching YouTube Premium Lite?
The relaunch of YouTube Premium Lite comes with some changes due to user feedback and increasing subscription flexibility. YouTube Music and downloading to your phone (which some don’t seem to care about) doesn’t interest everyone, but a lot of people still want ad-free content.
As more people use more video content, more users are increasingly looking for ways to avoid seeing ads without paying for services they’re not going to use. YouTube Premium Lite closes this gap by offering a simpler, log-in and play experience. It gives users the ability to consume their content without pause and select what best suits them.
YouTube Premium Lite Key Features
With YouTube Premium Lite it is about basic, ad free. Here’s what it offers:
- Ad-Free Viewing: Ad-free video playback is the main reason why you should be using YouTube Premium Lite on both the YouTube website and the app.
- No Background Playback: Premium Lite offers distractions such as videos which can be left playing when switching to another app, unlike the full Premium subscription.
- No Offline Downloads: With the YouTube Downloader, you won’t be able to download the videos to watch them offline as is the case with full Premium subscribers.
- No YouTube Music: The full YouTube Premium, which includes YouTube Music, is bundled with YouTube Premium Lite, which does not include YouTube Music access.
Is YouTube Premium Lite Worth it?
For those cutting to the chase and only care about ad-free viewing, YouTube Premium Lite brings a simplified but premium experience to their fingertips. If you need more, like background play, download offline, YouTube Music, the full YouTube Premium is better.
Here’s a comparison of what each plan offers:
Feature | YouTube Premium Lite | YouTube Premium |
Ad-Free Viewing | ✔ | ✔ |
Background Playback | ✖ | ✔ |
Offline Downloads | ✖ | ✔ |
YouTube Music | ✖ | ✔ |
So is YouTube Premium Lite for You?
If you’re someone who views videos on YouTube often but hates how YouTube keeps forcing ads on you, YouTube Premium Lite can be for you. If you don’t want YouTube Music or the ability to play videos in the background but want to watch videos with no ads, this is ideal for you.
This plan strikes the perfect balance between pricing and utility: no ads, no excess frills to your premium experience. As Google starts rolling out YouTube Premium Lite in different regions keep an eye out for more announcements.

Conclusion
In the wake of YouTube Premium Lite’s relaunch, Google is aiming to level up its users’ viewing experience by giving them more control over what and how they’re watching, with a cheaper, ad-free version of the premium experience. Whether you’re a casual viewer or someone just looking for a tapered-down subscription level, Premium Lite was designed to offer the ability to enjoy content distraction-free, without all the pomp and parade of the full premium package.
More updates to come, and get ready to make your YouTube experience even better when Premium Lite releases!