Free with a Catch

YouTube

Google · Top Free Apps · 4.7★ (48,987,130 ratings)

Is YouTube free? Free with a Catch.

Pricing: Watching, searching, subscribing, commenting, and uploading all stay free and ad-supported; paying removes ads and adds background/offline playback via YouTube Premium, which on iOS costs $20.99/month individually or $34.99/month for Family (pricier than signing up on the web), with a cheaper ad-reduced Premium Lite tier at $11.99/month, plus optional movie rentals (from $3.99) and Super Chat live-stream tipping ($1.99–$4.99). Optional paid features: YouTube Premium (monthly) ($20.99/month); YouTube Premium Family (monthly) ($34.99/month); Premium Lite (monthly) ($11.99/month); Super Chat (live tipping) ($1.99–$4.99); Movie/show rental (from $3.99).

View on the App Store →

Watching, searching, subscribing to channels, commenting, and uploading videos all work without paying. The free experience is heavily ad-supported, though, and reviewers say the ad load can be excessive enough to interrupt viewing repeatedly.

Pros
  • The core video library is available without a subscription.
  • Users can search, watch, subscribe, comment, and upload without paying.
  • Reviewers still find YouTube useful for entertainment, information, and learning.
Cons
  • Reviewers repeatedly complain about too many ads during videos.
  • Premium is required for conveniences such as ad-free viewing, background playback, and offline video downloads.
  • Recent reviews mention interface bugs, including missing video titles or channel names.
What's free vs. paid

Watching, searching, subscribing, commenting, and uploading all stay free and ad-supported; paying removes ads and adds background/offline playback via YouTube Premium, which on iOS costs $20.99/month individually or $34.99/month for Family (pricier than signing up on the web), with a cheaper ad-reduced Premium Lite tier at $11.99/month, plus optional movie rentals (from $3.99) and Super Chat live-stream tipping ($1.99–$4.99).

Free
  • Watch, search, and subscribe to channels
  • Comment and join live chats
  • Upload videos and livestream
  • Ad-supported viewing
Costs money
  • YouTube Premium (monthly)$20.99/month
  • YouTube Premium Family (monthly)$34.99/month
  • Premium Lite (monthly)$11.99/month
  • Super Chat (live tipping)$1.99–$4.99
  • Movie/show rentalfrom $3.99
App Store description

Get the official YouTube app on iPhones and iPads. See what the world is watching -- from the hottest music videos to what’s popular in gaming, fashion, beauty, news, learning and more. Subscribe to channels you love, create content of your own, share with friends, and watch on any device. Watch and subscribe ● Browse personal recommendations on Home ● See the latest from your favorite channels in Subscriptions ● Look up videos you’ve watched, liked, and saved for later in Library Explore different topics, what’s popular, and on the rise (available in select countries) ● Stay up to date on what’s popular in music, gaming, beauty, news, learning and more ● See what’s trending on YouTube and around the world on Explore ● Learn about the coolest Creators, Gamers, and Artists on the Rise (available in select countries) Connect with the YouTube community ● Keep up with your favorites creators with Posts, Stories, Premieres, and Live streams ● Join the conversation with comments and interact with creators and other community members Create content from your mobile device ● Create or upload your own videos directly in the app ● Engage with your audience in real time with live streaming right from the app Find the experience that fits you and your family (available in select countries) ● Every family has their own approach to online video. Learn about your options: the YouTube Kids app or a new parent supervised experience on YouTube at youtube.com/myfamily Support creators you love with channel memberships (available in select countries) ● Join channels that offer paid monthly memberships and support their work ● Get access to exclusive perks from the channel & become part of their members community ● Stand out in comments and live chats with a loyalty badge next to your username Upgrade to YouTube Premium (available in select countries) ● Watch videos uninterrupted by ads, while using other apps, or when the screen is locked ● Save videos for when you really need them – like when you’re on a plane or commuting ● Get access to YouTube Music Premium as part of your benefits Note: If you subscribe via Apple, payment will be charged to App Store Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the rate of the selected plan. Subscriptions and auto-renewal may be managed by going to Account Settings after purchase. YouTube paid service terms: https://www.youtube.com/t/terms_paidservice. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy

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