YOUTUBE RAISES PREMIUM TO $15.99, BLAMES ADS ON BUG

AI DESK■ 1 MIN READ

SUN, APR 12, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

YouTube increased Premium subscription prices again, with individual plans now costing $15.99 monthly. The company attributed 90-second unskippable ads appearing on the free tier to a technical glitch.

YouTube's latest price hike marks another increase for its Premium subscription service. The individual plan now costs $15.99 per month, up from the previous rate. The timing coincides with reports of extended, unskippable ads on YouTube's free tier—some lasting up to 90 seconds without a skip button. YouTube stated these ads represent a bug rather than an intentional feature, though the company did not provide details on when the issue would be resolved. The price increase affects new subscribers and those renewing their memberships. Premium subscribers gain ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and access to YouTube Music and YouTube Studio features. This marks another adjustment to YouTube's pricing strategy as the platform seeks to boost revenue from its subscription service amid increased competition in the streaming market.

■ SOURCES

► Ars Technica

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YOUTUBE RAISES PREMIUM TO $15.99, BLAMES ADS ON BUG

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