YouTube has been steadily raising its subscription prices over the last few years. The most recent significant increase for US users happened in July 2023, followed by a global price hike in November. Now, just months later, YouTube was planning to raise fees again for subscribers outside the US.
At the end of September 2024, a number of Reddit users shared that they received emails about a steep rise in their subscription fees — some seeing increases as high as 50%!
So, what’s going on here, and what can you do to avoid these rising costs?
Countries Feeling the Pinch from YouTube’s Price Increase
If you live in Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Colombia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, you might want to prepare for a change in your monthly bill.
Both individual and family YouTube Premium plans are getting more expensive. In places like Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, the Family plan is jumping from €18 to €26 come November. The individual plan isn’t escaping the trend either — it’ll rise by €2 to €14.
In Switzerland, subscribers will see the Family plan go up to 34 CHF from 24 CHF, while the individual plan will increase by 2 CHF to reach 18 CHF. In Sweden, the Family subscription fee is skyrocketing from 179 SEK to a whopping 279 SEK.
Although most reports of these price hikes are coming from Europe, YouTube is also raising prices in the Middle East, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. And let’s not forget that YouTube already implemented a 15-20% increase in India back in late August.
So, if you’re paying for your YouTube Premium subscription through the iOS App Store, be prepared for an even bigger price bump starting in November.
Read also: How to Listen to Music Offline on Spotify Without Premium on Desktop & Mobile
A Bigger Burden Than Ever
Are you feeling frustrated with YouTube’s latest price increase? You’re among the many! If you’re thinking about alternatives, platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are solid options for your music needs. But when it comes to video streaming, YouTube really doesn’t have much competition. This seemingly leaves you with two choices: either deal with the ads or pay those higher subscription fees. Many people on Reddit are voicing their concerns, claiming that YouTube has now become the priciest streaming service out there.
This price bump isn’t just a coincidence. It seems to be part of YouTube’s plan to ramp up ad revenue. After introducing unskippable ads on smart TVs last year, they’ve now rolled out something called Pause ads — those frustrating little interruptions that pop up when you try to pause a video. It’s pretty clear they’re eager to cash in.
How to Watch YouTube Offline
If you’re okay with the cost, YouTube Premium remains the simplest option for enjoying ad-free content and offline videos. Here’s what you should do to download videos to your computer:
- Start by going to youtube.com and signing in to your YouTube Premium account.
- Go to the video you want to download and open its Watch page.
- Just below the video, you’ll see a Download button. Click on that, and you’re set.
- Once the video finishes downloading, the download icon will turn black, meaning it’s ready for offline viewing.
If your internet connection drops while you’re downloading, don’t sweat it! The download will automatically resume as soon as you’re back online.
To check out your downloaded videos on your computer:
- Head back to youtube.com and make sure you’re signed in to your Premium account.
- Click on Downloads in the left menu.
For mobile users, it’s just as straightforward but on the YouTube app.
Can You Watch YouTube Offline Through Other Methods?
If you’re looking for an alternative way to watch your videos ad-free beyond subscribing to Premium, downloading them is a great option. Here’s how to use 4K Video Downloader Plus, for instance:
- Open 4K Video Downloader Plus. It’s available for macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android devices.
- Copy the link to the YouTube video you want to download.
- Click the Paste Link button in the downloader.
- Select the format and quality you prefer, and choose the folder where you want to save the video.
- Click Download to enjoy your videos offline without ads.
URL Modification for Downloads
To watch YouTube offline without Premium, you can also use a simple trick by adding ss right before youtube in the URL. For example, if the original URL is youtube.com/watch?v=abc123, change it to ssyoutube.com/watch?v=abc123 to access the download options.
If that doesn’t work, you can always visit the dedicated SSYouTube website:
- Start by opening YouTube in your web browser or the app. If you’re on a computer, visit youtube.com. On a mobile device, just open the YouTube app.
- Look for the video you want to download. Enter your search in the bar at the top for desktop. On a mobile device, press the magnifying glass to find videos by title, channel, or topic.
- Click or tap on the video to start playing it.
- Copy the link and head over to SSYouTube in your browser. If any ads pop up, close them right away.
- Paste the link.
- Now, click the red Download button with an arrow next to it. This will show you different download options.
- Select your preferred video quality by tapping Download next to it. You can go for 720 or higher for HD quality or 360 for standard quality. Your video will typically be saved in your Downloads folder.
When you see an X on a red speaker icon beside any download option, it means that the audio cannot be downloaded.
Are There Risks With Third-Party Downloaders, and Can You Avoid Them?
Yes, it’s wise to be aware of the potential risks of third-party downloaders despite them being so handy for grabbing videos. Unreliable tools can expose you to malware or lead to unintentional copyright violations. Also, using them might conflict with the terms of service of the platforms you enjoy.
The good news is that you can take steps to avoid these pitfalls. Stick to reputable sources and do a little research before downloading to minimize these risks.
How to Watch YouTube Videos for Free on Android
There are many options, of course, and one of them is iTubeGo, a free app that supports Full HD, 4K, and 8K videos and is perfect for downloading playlists too. Here are the steps for you to follow:
- Download the APK file from the iTubeGo website and install it on your Android device.
- Open YouTube, find the video you want, tap the share button, and select Copy URL. Open iTubeGo, and it will display the video details.
- Click the Download button, select MP4 as the format, and choose your video resolution.
- Tap OK to start downloading.
What About iPhone?
Downloading videos on an iPhone can be a bit tricky. Although there are some apps available that show you how to watch YouTube videos offline without Premium, Apple makes it harder to download videos directly compared to Android. So, you'll mostly rely on browser-based solutions instead.
Options like 4K Downloader, SSYouTube, EaseUS, etc. make it easy to get videos right from your browser. If you’re looking to download content on your iPhone, online tools are definitely the way to go.
Is It Possible to Download Videos in 1080p or Higher Resolution?
Absolutely! You can definitely download videos in 1080p or even higher with certain third-party downloaders, provided the original video quality supports it.
All the downloaders mentioned here can handle high-quality videos, but keep in mind that some limitations may apply. For instance, SSYouTube restricts certain videos to 360p if you’re using the free version, and higher-quality downloads won’t include audio. So, check the specifics of each tool for the best experience.
We really hope this guide has shown you how easy it can be to download YouTube videos without the annoying ads — and often for free! There are so many options out there, from simple browser extensions to powerful desktop software, so you can pick what suits you best. Go ahead and explore your choices!
