YouTube is telling Premium subscribers outside the US that they’ll be paying more for the service soon, social media users began reporting over the weekend. So far, the higher prices are being reported in regions that include the EU, the Middle East, and South America, according to Android Authority.
The price increases affect both individual and family plans. In some EU countries, people have said they were told their family plans will be going from €17.99 to €25.99 (or €11.99 to €13.99 for individuals) starting on November 7th. Posts on social media are reporting similar increases in places like Singapore, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia. A Reddit user is tracking the amounts in one thread.
Another Reddit user posted screenshots of a Premium Lite plan option, accompanied by a beta tag. YouTube had started piloting a version of Premium with fewer features than the standard plan in 2021 but told customers last year it was discontinuing it. (We’ve asked the company for more information on this version of Premium Lite and will update if we get a response.)
The price increases sound a lot like those that have already hit US users. YouTube’s individual Premium plans went up from $11.99 to $13.99 in the US over a year ago, several months after it hiked its family plan rates to $22.99 from $17.99. Other streaming services have also increased pricing in the last few months, including Disney Plus, Max, and Paramount Plus.
Original author: Wes Davis