If you pay for YouTube Premium, you could pay 40% more
It may be time to opt for more affordable alternatives to keep your subscription spending low.
YouTube Premium subscribers would have to fork out some more money to continue to enjoy the experience after the platform hinted at a massive increase in its subscription prices via email.
Both individual and family plans are affected, in what YouTube says would ensure the smooth running of operations while making sure creators get paid. While the price increments of up to 40% target its European audience in countries such as Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, the U.S. and other parts of the world may be affected too.
According to Android Authority, other non-European countries, like the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia also saw an increase in their premium subscription fee.
In Ireland and the Netherlands, subscribers may see their family and individual plans increased from €17.99 and €11.99 to €25.99 and €13.99, respectively, starting November 2024.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
If you're an Apple user, you might have it a bit worse as many users who subscribed through Apple Pay reportedly saw up to a 60% increase in the price paid – likely because of the 15-30% levy Apple takes from any third-party app payment through its platform.
But YouTube isn't the only platform jacking up its prices though. It follows a trend other streaming services like Disney Plus and Hulu started when they increased their prices in several countries too.
As the streaming options continue to rise, consumers may be forced to reevaluate their subscriptions. The long-term effects of these price increases on the streaming market remain to be seen. However, some users may opt for more affordable alternatives or reduce their overall subscription spending.
Henry Chikwem
