YouTube Premium Lite is getting a major upgrade with background playback and offline downloads for most non-music content, along with an ad-reduced (but not eliminated) experience on general videos, while music videos and music content remain with ads and do not include YouTube Music Premium.

The full YouTube Premium plan remains ad-free across all videos and includes YouTube Music Premium, priced at $13.99 per month, with Lite continuing to offer a cheaper, feature-augmented option.

The move aligns with YouTube’s strong subscription growth and revenue trajectory, reflecting solid performance in 2025 from ads and subscriptions.

The expansion covers all devices and markets where Premium Lite is available, including India, where the plan is priced at Rs 89 per month.

YouTube has announced that Background Play and Downloads will be rolled out to Premium Lite over the coming weeks, expanding value for budget-minded users.

Industry observers view the update as a strategic move by Alphabet to strengthen the entry-level option rather than nudging users toward higher-priced plans.

Tech media notes the ongoing distinction between video features and music content within Premium tiers as part of the rollout discussion.

Rollout began February 24 and will expand over the coming weeks to all markets where Premium Lite is offered, with completion expected in the same timeframe.

YouTube frames the change as ongoing testing and product-building driven by user feedback, with broader availability anticipated soon.

In its notes, YouTube emphasizes that the update reflects continuous refinement to better meet user needs.

Some critics question whether a paid plan that still carries ads during certain interactions is acceptable, arguing a paid service should minimize or remove ads.

The update fits YouTube’s broader strategy of tiered monetization, expanding Lite features to boost value, retention, and conversion in price-sensitive regions.