YouTube Introduces Affordable Ad-Free Plan in India with Premium Lite Subscription at ₹89

YouTube has rolled out a new budget-friendly subscription tier in India, aimed at users who want an ad-free experience without paying the higher price of its standard plans. The newly launched YouTube Premium Lite, priced at just ₹89 per month, will allow viewers to enjoy videos without ads across multiple categories.

The move comes as part of Google’s strategy to expand its subscriber base in India, one of its largest and fastest-growing video streaming markets.

What the New Plan Offers

The YouTube Premium Lite plan offers ad-free video streaming for content across popular categories such as gaming, comedy, cooking, education, and lifestyle. With this plan, users can watch their favorite videos without interruptions from advertisements.

However, the plan comes with certain limitations compared to the full YouTube Premium subscription. Notably:

• Ads will still appear on music content, music videos, and YouTube Shorts.

• The plan does not include background playback, meaning videos won’t continue running when the app is minimized.

• It also excludes the option to download videos for offline viewing.

Despite these limitations, the ₹89 plan is positioned as an affordable alternative for users who mainly want to avoid ads while streaming regular videos.

Why YouTube Launched Premium Lite

YouTube initially introduced Premium Lite in March 2025 as a pilot program in select markets, including the United States. The pilot received positive responses from users who wanted an ad-free experience but did not necessarily need additional features like offline playback or YouTube Music access.

By expanding this tier to India, YouTube aims to attract a larger pool of subscribers who are price-conscious but still value an uninterrupted viewing experience. Subscription revenue is becoming an increasingly important part of YouTube’s business model, as advertising growth faces more competition from rival platforms and changing consumer preferences.

Existing YouTube Premium Plans in India

YouTube already offers multiple subscription options in India:

• Student Plan: ₹89 per month

• Individual Plan: ₹149 per month

• Family Plan: ₹299 per month (up to 5 members)

• Music Premium: Starting at ₹59 per month

In August 2024, the company revised subscription prices, raising rates by 12% to 58% across different plans. Against this backdrop, the Premium Lite plan is expected to attract users who were discouraged by the higher pricing of regular Premium plans.

YouTube’s Growing Subscriber Base

Globally, YouTube’s subscription services have been witnessing rapid growth. By March 2025, the platform had amassed 125 million subscribers for its combined YouTube Premium and Music Premium offerings. Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, revealed that its total paid subscription user base across platforms has surpassed 270 million.

With India’s vast user base of over 500 million internet video consumers, YouTube’s decision to expand Premium Lite here signals its intent to dominate the competitive streaming and content market, which includes platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar.

Why Premium Lite Matters for Indian Users

For Indian users who spend significant time on YouTube daily, advertisements often disrupt the overall viewing experience. While the regular Premium plans provide a full suite of features including YouTube Music, offline downloads, and background playback, not all users find these features necessary.

The ₹89 Premium Lite plan offers a middle ground — delivering ad-free streaming at a fraction of the cost. This makes it particularly attractive to students, casual viewers, and users in smaller towns who prefer affordable digital services.

Conclusion

YouTube’s launch of Premium Lite in India at ₹89 per month is a strategic move to capture a wider segment of cost-conscious users while strengthening its subscription-driven revenue model. Although it lacks some premium features, the plan directly addresses one of the biggest complaints among Indian viewers — frequent ad interruptions.

As YouTube continues to expand its subscriber base, the Premium Lite plan could emerge as a popular choice, offering millions of users across India a smoother, ad-free video experience at an affordable price