YouTube Premium's Price Is Going Up. Here's Why It's Still Worth the Cost for Me

Everyone has a favorite streaming service -- and it's no wonder, since we have so many options these days. For me, YouTube Premium takes the cake. I've been a subscriber for a few years now, and when I recently got the news that it's going up in price, I didn't consider canceling, even for a second.

Let's take a look at the new cost of YouTube Premium and the features that make it worth keeping as a regular charge on my credit card.

How much will YouTube Premium cost you now?

As recently reported by The Verge (and also via email, if you're a current subscriber), YouTube Premium's price is going up by $2 a month, and will now be $13.99 per month. If you pay for a full year at once, the cost is increasing from $119.99 to $139.99, a $20 jump.

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YouTube Music, which is available on its own or as part of Premium (more on that below!) is increasing in price, too, and will now cost $1 more per month. It used to be $9.99 per month, but now it will be $10.99. What features do you get for this new higher price?

What does it include?

The biggest selling point of YouTube Premium is you get an ad-free viewing experience. This is not to say that you won't have to deal with sponsored content and internal ad breaks from your favorite content creators, all of whom have bills to pay. But if you subscribe to YouTube Premium, gone are the days where you must suffer through ads or count down the seconds until the "Skip Ad" button appears on screen.

YouTube Premium also includes YouTube Music Premium, which is ad free as well. You can download music and videos for offline viewing/listening, which can really come in handy if you're staring down a long wifi-free flight. You'll also get access to YouTube Kids, featuring special programming and shows for the younger set.

The YouTube apps gain some additional functionality when you go Premium, too. With free YouTube, you can't multitask with the app running; if you go to your email app, for example, the video you're watching will stop playing. This isn't the case with Premium, though, and it's one of the reasons why I'm not batting an eye at a price jump.

YouTube Premium is still aces for me

This ability to keep listening to a video while you're in another app is the biggest perk of YouTube Premium for me. You can turn any video into an instant podcast, and if you're as much of a multitasker as I am, you'll love being able to keep listening to a video while you do chores, look up directions, or check social media.

YouTube Music Premium, which is included with YouTube Premium, is also a vital service for my everyday life. The service reached 100 million tracks last fall, and you can create custom playlists or take advantage of the thousands curated by YouTube or by your fellow listeners. I listen to music during my work day, and I've discovered many new-to-me artists as a result. The YouTube and YouTube Music apps for iPhone and iPad also make entertaining yourself on the go super easy.

Life just keeps on getting more expensive, and YouTube's price increases are really no surprise. That said, the service offers enough value for me to absorb the hit. If you've never tried YouTube Premium and already use regular YouTube (perhaps to check out personal finance advice?), you can get a free month of Premium to see if it's right for you.