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How to Get YouTube Music Premium for Free: An Ultimate Guide

From student discounts to trial tricks, learn how to access premium features.

Photo by Leon Bublitz / Unsplash

Updated: 18 February (more ways are added!)

In a world where music is the heartbeat of our digital lives, we obviously value an ad-free, uninterrupted listening experience. YouTube Music Premium, along with Spotify Premium, has become a sought-after subscription for music enthusiasts.

Good news! There's a way to savor these premium perks without reaching for your wallet. Yes, you read that right — in this article, we unveil the secrets and strategies to acquire YouTube Music Premium for free. From insider tips to legitimate methods, get ready to elevate your musical journey without burdening your card with monthly payments.

Is YouTube Premium the same as YouTube Music Premium?

YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium are two subscription services offered by YouTube, each with its own set of features. Let's unravel the key distinctions between these two subscription services.

YouTube Premium is a choice for those who are more concentrated on watching videos rather than listening to music on this platform.

Here are the main features of this subscription plan:

  • Ad-free videos: With YouTube Premium, you can watch videos on YouTube without any ads.
  • Video downloading: You can download videos for offline viewing on your mobile device.
  • Background play: Videos can continue playing in the background while you use other apps or when your device's screen is off.
  • YouTube Originals: Access to YouTube Originals, which are exclusive shows and movies produced by YouTube.

This plan costs $13.99 a month. It also gives you access to the YouTube Music app and allows you to listen to it ad-free.

However, YouTube Music Premium subscription provides more features than YouTube Premium for those who listen to music more and are more interested in this part of the YouTube platform. Those are:

  • Ad-free music: Listen to music on YouTube without interruptions from ads.
  • Offline listening: Download songs and playlists for offline listening.
  • Background play: Keep the music playing in the background while using other apps or with the screen off.
  • Audio-only mode: You can switch to an audio-only mode, allowing you to listen to music without the video.

As you can see, the subscription plan does not include any of the video-watching features and is more focused mainly on YouTube music and their app.

How much is YouTube Music Premium?

This plan is cheaper than YouTube Premium and costs $10.99 a month.

How to Get Cheap YouTube Music Premium?

If you care that content creators get some kind of gratitude or do not want to apply any “cheating” methods, there are several options for you.

Option 1: Get a student’s subscription plan ($5.49 a month)

This requires being a student or… asking your friend who is a student. First, you or your friend need to verify that you are eligible for a student discount using SheerID. This requires first name, last name, school name, and some kind of a document showing current enrollment. It usually takes some time till you get verified. There is also an option to use your school credentials (log-in data from a school platform).

In this case, you get verified right away. After you get a verification confirmation e-mail you can finish up the sign-up process by selecting a preferable payment method. Once the verification process is successful, you should have access to YouTube Music Premium at the discounted student rate. You will then be required to prove your verification annually.

Option 2: Get a family subscription plan ($16.99 a month, 6 users)

In this kind of subscription plan, you can add up to 5 members to your account and share the price. Even two people sharing this subscription get it for a cheaper price than a single subscription. Ask your friends or family members whether they would like one. Surely, some of them might say yes.

However, one of the requirements is that you should live in one household. But it is only required to enter one address — the address of the owner and the payee of the main account and no other verification is needed. The members should enter the address to verify it once a year and that is basically it. There are some drawbacks to this method, though. There is only one person who pays for everything which may lead to some trouble regarding payments from others. What is more, if some person from the group decides to stop using the account, it will get more expensive for the others. But, as already said, still cheaper.

Option 3: Pay for a whole year in advance ($99.99 a year)

This seems like a big amount of money at first glance. But, at the end of the day, it is 15% cheaper than a monthly plan. With an annual plan, you make a single payment for the entire year, which means you don't have to worry about monthly transactions or the potential for service interruptions due to missed payments. It simplifies your financial management, reducing the frequency of transactions and billing notifications. In some cases, annual subscribers may be shielded from potential price increases that could occur during the year.

By locking in the annual rate, you can avoid unexpected cost hikes. While the advantages are significant, it's essential to consider your personal preferences, budget, and commitment to the service. If you're unsure about a long-term commitment, another type of plan might offer more flexibility.

How to Get YouTube Music Premium for Free

Option 1: Free trial (1 or 2 months for free)

Yes, you have read that correctly. A free trial is the easiest way to get yourself a free YouTube Music Premium subscription for 1 month. Most importantly, a free trial allows you to experience the benefits of this subscription without any financial commitment. Get a feel for the user interface and overall user experience.

Determine if the app's layout, navigation, and features align with your preferences and make for a seamless and enjoyable music streaming experience. It's an opportunity to test the waters and decide if the premium features are worth the subscription cost. Just don’t forget to cancel it on time if you don't want to pay!

You can also ensure that YouTube Music Premium is compatible with your devices and integrates well with your existing music ecosystem. The trial period allows you to test the service across various platforms. In addition, premium subscriptions often come with higher audio quality. Use the free trial to assess if the upgraded sound quality enhances your listening experience and meets your expectations.

Here's how it works:

  1. Go to YouTube official website and sign in your Google account.
  2. Choose "Try 1 month for $0" icon. There's also a free trial for two months.
  1. Tap Confirm.
  2. Select the payment method and fill in your information. No worries, you won't be charged right now. The payment will be withdrawn when the free trial expires.

You can cancel the subscription anytime.

Option 2: 4K YouTube to MP3 (YouTube Music Premium for free forever)

The 4K YouTube to MP3 app is a software application designed to extract audio from YouTube videos and save it in MP3 format. This app is part of the suite of 4K Download tools, which includes applications like 4K Video Downloader and 4K Stogram, each catering to specific functionalities related to downloading and extracting content from various online platforms. The primary purpose of the 4K YouTube to MP3 app is to extract audio tracks from YouTube videos.

It allows users to convert YouTube videos into high-quality MP3 audio files. The application has a straightforward and user-friendly interface. You can easily copy and paste YouTube video URLs into the app, select their preferred audio quality, and initiate the extraction process. You can also download multiple audio tracks simultaneously from multiple YouTube videos in one go (meaning you can download music from YouTube playlists and entire channels). In addition, you can select the audio quality for the MP3 files you want to download.

How to download from YouTube Music for free with 4K YouTube to MP3

  1. Launch 4K YouTube to MP3 on your Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu device.
  2. Copy the link to a YouTube video, playlist or channel from your browser.
  3. Click the Paste Link button in 4K YouTube to MP3.

That’s it! Now you can watch the downloaded content ad-free and offline whenever you want.

Option 3: Google Pixel Watch (3 months of free YouTube Music Premium)

Owners of the Google Pixel Watch can get three months of YouTube Music Premium for free. This offer provides access to all premium features of YouTube Music. However, it is only available to U.S. customers who purchase and activate an eligible Wear OS device by October 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST.

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Note: This offer is available to U.S. residents aged 18 and older. The free trial is only for new users who have never subscribed to YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, YouTube Red, or Google Play Music and have not previously participated in a trial for these services.

Be sure to cancel your YouTube Music Premium trial before it ends, as you will be automatically charged once the trial period is over.
  1. Sign in to your Google account on your Pixel Watch.
  2. Open the YouTube Music app on your watch and sign in to your YouTube Music account.
  3. Navigate to the promotion section and claim your 3-month free trial by following the on-screen instructions.

Option 4: Samsung (3 months of free YouTube Music Premium)

In recent years, Samsung has launched several new devices with exclusive YouTube Premium trial offers. The Galaxy S24 Series comes with a 3-month free trial, while the Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, and select A Series devices offer a 2-month free trial. Both promotions are valid until April 1, 2025. If you own one of these Samsung devices and frequently use YouTube, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of the offer.

  1. Activate your Samsung device.
  2. Open the YouTube app and go to My Account > Get YouTube Premium.
  3. Sign in with your Google account.
  4. Click "Try it Free".
  5. Enter your billing information.
  6. Click "Buy" to confirm and activate your free trial.

Option 5: Google Fi Unlimited Plus (6 months of YouTube Music Premium for free)

If you're looking for an extended YouTube Music Premium trial, Google Fi Unlimited Plus is a great option. Google Fi Wireless, Google's telecommunications service, offers three plans: Simply Unlimited, Unlimited Plus, and Flexible. Subscribers to Unlimited Plus get 6 months of YouTube Premium for free, which includes ad-free, offline, and background playback on YouTube Music Premium.

You can also try Google Fi for 7 days free to test the coverage before committing.

  1. On your mobile device, visit fi.google.com/account#plan. iPhone and iPad users must sign in via a web or mobile browser at fi.google.com.
  2. Sign in with your Google Fi username and password.
  3. Go to "Member Profile."
  4. In the "Devices & Subscriptions" section, tap YouTube Premium > Get Started.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate your free trial.

How to cancel YouTube Music Premium free trial

You can cancel your YouTube Music Premium free trial anytime by following these steps:

  1. Go to your profile and click "Paid memberships."
  2. Select the membership you want to cancel.
  3. Choose a cancellation reason, tap "Next," then confirm by tapping "Yes."

How to Get YouTube Music Premium for Free - Wrapping Up

In conclusion to this guide on how to get YouTube Music Premium for free, remember that there is a diverse array of opportunities available. Whether you're a student leveraging educational perks, an individual exploring trial experiences, or a group of friends sharing favorite playlists with a family plan, the options are as diverse as the melodies on YouTube Music itself. While the YouTube Music Premium experience without payment is alluring, navigating this journey responsibly and ethically is crucial. Always adhere to the terms of service of the platforms involved and consider upgrading to a paid subscription if and when your circumstances allow.

So, go ahead, and unlock the premium features.

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See also: How to watch private videos on YouTube: 4 best ways

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