7 Legit Hacks to Get Youtube Premium Free
Since its inception in 2005, Youtube has become the go-to platform for video-based entertainment and information. While the platform is free, it comes with ads, limits on video downloads, and lacks some added features that make Youtube Premium enticing. Youtube Premium is the paid version of Youtube that offers exclusive content, ad-free watching, and the ability to download videos for offline viewing.
In the current age where many people are budget-conscious and might not want to pay for the upgrade, there are several legit ways to upgrade to Youtube Premium for free.
1. Free Trial
The first method is the most obvious: taking advantage of the free trial. New subscribers to Youtube Premium are offered a free trial for the first month of subscription. Users can access all Youtube Premium features without paying a dime. However, for the privilege to keep enjoying these features, you have to provide your payment information.
Here is how to go about it. Open the YouTube website or app and click on the Premium tab or the Premium icon on the YouTube app. Sign in with your Google account, and at the top of the page, you will see a prompt to start a free trial. Click to get started and fill in your payment details. After a month, you will be charged if you don’t cancel. You can cancel any time between when you initially sign-up and the day before renewal.
2. Student Discounts
Students with valid email addresses are eligible for promotional discounts on Youtube Premium subscription fees. The discount is approximately 50% off the regular subscription price. Students from eligible institutions will get free access to Youtube Premium for three months at the beginning of the subscription.
To access this discount as a student, create a Google account with your student email. Then, open YouTube and navigate to the YouTube Premium Student page. If your institution is among the eligible schools, the page will prompt you with the required identification details.
3. Special Promotions
From time to time, Youtube rolls out promotional offers. For instance, there have been holiday giveaways that offer users a lengthened free trial duration. To ensure you don’t miss out on these kinds of offers, keep checking Youtube social media pages where such promotions are advertised or sign up for Youtube’s email list to learn about current and future promotions.
4. Use Google Play Music
If you subscribe to Google Play Music premium, then you already have access to Youtube Premium at no extra cost. Since May 2020, Google Play Music has been transitioning its paid subscribers to Youtube Music and Youtube Premium. Users of Google Play Music Premium can access all the features of Youtube Premium. To access this feature, open any Youtube page, tap your user icon in the top right-hand corner, and select Switch Account from the dropdown menu. Select your Google Play Music account to access Youtube Premium at no extra cost.
5. Use a VPN
In some countries, Youtube Premium is not available. However, using a VPN can help you work around this restriction. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can provide an IP address that makes it seem like you are in a region where Youtube Premium is allowed. That way, you can access Youtube Premium without paying for it.
To use a VPN, subscribe to a reputable VPN service. Once you have signed up, launch the VPN app and select the server or location that will enable you to access Youtube Premium without any restrictions. After selecting the server, launch Youtube and access Youtube Premium by following the sign-up process. You can then turn off the VPN and enjoy the features in your country or location of choice.
6. Ask a Family Member or Friend
While it is against the terms of service for individuals to share their Youtube Premium account with others, sharing the cost among family members can help make the payment more affordable. Youtube Premium’s Family Plan supports up to six users for AUD 22.99 or USD 14.99 per month, which is less than the cost of each individual subscription. Sharing the cost with friends or family members who join your Family Group is an excellent means of accessing content for multiple users without paying much.
7. Participate in Community Events
Youtube occasionally hosts community events that offer users a chance to win free Youtube Premium subscriptions. For example, the platform has several challenges, quizzes, and contests where premium subscriptions are offered to winning participants. These challenges can take several forms and can be anything from answering trivia questions to creating unique content. By participating in such events, you can win free subscriptions without paying.
How to Unlock Youtube Premium Features without Paying a Dime
Some features, such as ad-free watching, are worth upgrading to Youtube Premium for. However, you can still enjoy these features without paying a dime. The following section outlines how you can unlock Youtube Premium features for free.
Ad-free Viewing
If you are not ready to make the jump to Youtube Premium, you can use an ad-blocker to block all ads from appearing. Ad-blockers are browser extensions that prevent ads from appearing on videos and other web pages. By installing an ad-blocker, you can eliminate pre-roll ads, banners, and pop-ups from interrupting your viewing experience.
Offline Play
Youtube Premium offers the unique advantage of allowing subscribers to download videos and audios for offline use. While this feature is unavailable for free users, apps such as YouTube Go allow users to download videos for offline use without subscribing to Youtube Premium.
To download a video for offline use, open the video in question in the app, tap on the download icon located below the player, and select the quality in which you want to download the video. Once downloaded, you can watch the video without needing an internet connection.
Exclusive Content
Youtube Premium subscribers have access to exclusive content that is only available for paying subscribers. However, so long as you know what channel offers the content you want, you can find the content without being a subscriber.
Youtube Premium features exclusive content from selected channels only. For instance, if a creator chose to post new videos on Youtube Red, you could only access these videos by paying for Youtube Premium. However, creators are required to wait seven days after first making a video available on Youtube Premium before publishing to the public. Therefore, if a user waits seven days before watching any premium content, they will be able to view the content for free.
Youtube Premium vs. Youtube Free: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
The decision to upgrade to Youtube Premium ultimately depends on individual needs and preferences. Here is a comparison of Youtube Premium and Youtube Free to help you make an informed choice.
Pro
Youtube Premium offers users ad-free viewing, offline play, and exclusive content. These features enhance the user experience by providing uninterrupted video play, the ability to watch videos and listen to music without an internet connection, and access to content only available on Youtube Premium.
Con
The cost of subscribing to Premium and the lack of a family plan for individual users could be cons for some people. YouTube Premium costs AUD 14.99 or USD 11.99 per month – a price point that some people could deem too high. Additionally, individual users cannot use the family plan offered by Youtube Premium, which means they have to pay the full cost individually.
Youtube Premium Family Plan: How to Share Premium Features With Your Loved Ones
The Youtube Premium Family Plan is an excellent way to share the cost of Youtube Premium among family members. The Family Plan supports up to six family members, all of whom can access all premium features for one low cost. Here is how to get started on Youtube’s Family Plan:
- Create a family group by going to the Youtube Family Plan page and following the prompts
- Invite family members to become part of the group by sending them an invite link or adding their email address
- Pay for the Family Plan being sure to be transparent about the cost and which family members have access to the plan
How Youtube Creators Can Get Youtube Premium For Free
Youtube creators who partner with Youtube are eligible to access Youtube Premium features without having to pay. Here is how to get started:
- Meet eligibility criteria by having at least 1,000 subscribers, having accumulated more than 4,000 watch hours, and adhering to YouTube’s community guidelines and terms of service
- Sign up for one of YouTube’s monetization programs, which include: YouTube Partner Program, Super Chat & Super Stickers, FameBit, and YouTube Premium Revenue
- Using one of the above monetization programs, content creators can earn money from their videos, and unlock Youtube Premium’s features
Conclusion
Youtube Premium offers exciting new features to enhance the user’s streaming experience. However, not everyone might be ready or willing to take the plunge and pay a monthly fee. With the above 7 legit hacks to get Youtube Premium for free, you can still enjoy the premium features at no extra cost. Additionally, you can also unlock some of the features such as ad-free watching, offline play, and exclusive content without paying a dime. So, take advantage of these tips and tricks to upgrade your Youtube experience for free.
