YouTube is expanding the benefits of its lower-cost Premium Lite subscription to include offline downloads and background playback, features previously exclusive to the full Premium tier.
YouTube is bolstering its lower-tier subscription service, Premium Lite, with features designed to attract a wider audience and counter the growing use of ad blockers. The platform announced on February 24, 2026, that the $7.99-per-month plan will soon allow users to download videos for offline viewing and continue playback while using other apps, according to a report by Techcrunch. This move brings Premium Lite closer in functionality to the full YouTube Premium experience.
Currently available for $7.99 monthly, the updated Premium Lite will enable users to download videos for offline viewing and continue watching content in the background while multitasking on their smartphones. The service still blocks ads on most videos. This expansion of features aims to provide a more versatile viewing experience for budget-conscious subscribers.
Is the Value of YouTube Premium Diminishing?
While the French-language version of the YouTube subscription page has not yet been updated to reflect the changes, the company assures users that these benefits will arrive “in the coming weeks…wherever the Premium Lite subscription is available.” Subscribers to the $7.99 plan should see the updates automatically.
It’s key to note that not all ads will be removed with a Premium Lite subscription. Ads will continue to appear in music videos, Shorts, and within search results. However, the company notes that the overall viewing experience should be largely ad-free “for most videos.”
With the rollout of these features to its most affordable tier, the $12.99-per-month YouTube Premium plan loses some of its appeal. Its remaining exclusive benefits include integration with YouTube Music and advanced features such as queueing and high bitrate video playback, as well as 3x playback speed.
The Race Against Ad Blockers
The addition of these popular features to the Lite subscription was driven by user demand, and Google states that subscriber feedback was the primary reason for enhancing the offering.
For further reading
YouTube Music Premium vs YouTube Premium: price, differences… Which subscription should you choose?
This move to democratize key Premium features comes as YouTube increasingly battles the use of ad blockers, even going so far as to throttle its mobile website for users employing them. It appears the company is recognizing that improving the legal viewing experience is a more effective strategy than attempting to block ad-blocking software.
