Is YouTube Music Free? What You Get Without Paying

Key Takeaway
Yes, YouTube Music is free to use, but the free tier includes ads, no background play, and lower sound quality. For offline listening, ad-free playback, and higher audio quality, you need YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium. Here is exactly where the free tier stops.

YouTube has been around for a while and is still one of the go-to places to listen to new music from undiscovered artists and get your fill of music videos. And it is packed with other content, too.

On the other hand, YouTube Music is dedicated to music, and only music. And the best part? You can download and use YouTube Music for free.

How are YouTube and YouTube Music different?

YouTube is a general video platform with originals, user uploads, and everything in between. YouTube Music is the music-only app built on the same catalog, with a interface that looks and feels like any other major streaming service.

One quirk worth knowing: playlists you create on YouTube show up in YouTube Music, but it does not work the other way around. If you want to get your library organized properly, here is how to create, import, and manage YouTube Music playlists.

For the full picture of what the app does and who it suits, read what YouTube Music actually is.

YouTube Music Free Tier

YouTube Music has a couple of subscription options, much like all of the big streaming platforms, but unlike many of them it offers a free tier too. For many people, the ad-supported tier is the ideal way to enjoy the music they love without paying.

The trade-off for enjoying music content for free is, of course, the ads that are sprinkled throughout the listening experience.

If you have used Spotify's free tier, you will already know the interruption that comes with an ad, which is why YouTube Music can be a good alternative for anyone on that free plan. You are used to the listening experience with ads peppered into it.

While other music streaming platforms are also implementing some level of video, YouTube did it first, and that feature has been integrated into YTM. With the Premium subscription you can watch the music videos as you listen, because there are two options: song mode or video mode.

With video mode, you search for the song you want to listen to as normal, then look for Video Mode at the top of the screen.

With YouTube Music being free to download and use, is there anything missing?

You will quickly notice that the audio quality on the free tier is limited. There are two settings available without paying:

• Low: 48 kbps AAC and OPUS, uses the least amount of data
• Normal: 128 kbps AAC and OPUS, the default setting

Unlike Spotify's free plan, you also need to keep the app open to keep the music playing, because there is no background playback. It is much better to use YouTube Music on desktop, or you risk running your mobile device's battery into the ground.

Here are a few of the features limited to the paid YouTube Music subscription:

• Music on demand
• Using the video function
• Unlimited skips
• No adverts

Originally songs were skippable and on-demand music was part of the free tier. Changes were made in 2021, bringing YouTube Music more in line with the Spotify free tier. You also cannot save tracks for offline listening on the free plan. If you upgrade and want to set that up, here is how to download music from YouTube Music.

Where does that leave the free tier overall? The big factor is that it costs nothing. The quality you get depends heavily on how you listen. On laptop speakers you are unlikely to notice much, but on a mid-priced or high-quality headset the 128 kbps ceiling becomes obvious.

Should you upgrade to YouTube Music Premium?

You are not alone if you are looking at all the different YouTube subscription options and wondering which gives you the most for your money. There are a couple of premium options.

YouTube Premium is a subscription to YouTube, and it includes background play, video downloading, and no adverts. It is not just YouTube, either. It includes YouTube Music Premium in the price. So for $15.99 you get ad-free music and videos across both YouTube and YouTube Music.

We did a deep dive into everything that makes the YouTube Premium subscription worthwhile, including student pricing and family plans, so if that is your speed, check this out: How Much is YouTube Premium? YouTube Premium Cost, Plans, Benefits.

YouTube Music Premium is $11.99 and covers YouTube Music only. You get ad-free listening, the ability to switch between songs and videos as you listen, and downloads for offline or background playback.

Paying also unlocks two higher audio settings on top of the free ones:

• High: 256 kbps AAC and OPUS, the highest quality available and Premium only
• Always high: 256 kbps AAC and OPUS, held even on a poor connection

Just to clear it up: YouTube and YouTube Music are the platforms. YouTube Premium is a subscription to multiple services, and YouTube Music Premium is a subscription to YouTube Music alone.

The difference between the two individual premium prices is $4. If that is in your budget, YouTube Premium is the better value, since it covers both. There is a YouTube Premium Family Plan too, so if a few people in the house enjoy video and music, that is $18.99 a month. Students can get YouTube Music Premium for $5.99.

How does YouTube Music compare to other services?

If you are weighing the free tier against what else is out there, we have covered the head-to-heads in detail:

• Spotify vs YouTube Music, the closest comparison for anyone choosing between two free tiers
• YouTube Music vs Apple Music, if audio quality is your priority
• Spotify Free vs Premium: Should You Pay?, if you are making the same free-or-paid decision on Spotify
• Best Hi-Res Music Streaming Services, if lossless matters more than price

Can you get YouTube Music Premium for free?

You can get a free trial of YouTube Music Premium, but once the trial period is over you need to pay the regular subscription price. Alternatively, you can downgrade back to the free tier.

You could also opt for the bigger subscription from YouTube and pick YouTube Premium instead, because you get all of the YouTube Music Premium features plus the YouTube Premium extras.

You can also find special offers such as a three-month trial. These are usually restricted to US residents.

Can I move music to YouTube Music?

If you are currently on a different music streaming service, you can transfer your playlists to YouTube Music in a few clicks with Free Your Music.

Switch from Spotify, transfer from TIDAL, or leave Apple Music and take your playlists, most loved albums, and favorite songs with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is YouTube Music really free?
Yes. YouTube Music offers a free, ad-supported tier that gives you access to a huge library of music, but it comes with limitations like no background play, no downloads, and lower sound quality.

What's the difference between YouTube Music and YouTube Premium?
YouTube Music focuses on music content only. YouTube Premium includes ad-free access to both YouTube and YouTube Music, plus background play, offline downloads, and more features for $15.99/month.

Can I use YouTube Music offline without Premium?
No. Offline listening is only available with a YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscription.

Is YouTube Music free forever, or is it just a trial?
The ad-supported tier is permanently free, not a trial. You can use it indefinitely without ever entering payment details. Premium is a separate paid upgrade.

Can I transfer my playlists to YouTube Music?
Yes. You can use Free Your Music to transfer playlists from Spotify, TIDAL, Apple Music, and other platforms to YouTube Music with just a few clicks.