In a surprising move, YouTube has increased the subscription prices for its premium services in India, impacting students, individuals, and families alike. This change comes with a hefty hike of up to 58% on some plans. Globally, YouTube boasts over 100 million subscribers, but this latest development might alter the user dynamics in India.
The price adjustments are already in effect, and current subscribers may soon need to adjust their budgets accordingly. There has been no word from YouTube on whether existing users will be given a grace period before these new charges kick in.
What Do You Get With YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium offers a host of benefits, including ad-free streaming, background play, picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, and high-definition video streaming. These features have made YouTube Premium a popular choice among users who consume a lot of content on the platform.
New YouTube Premium Prices for India
The new price changes affect all tiers of subscription plans. Here’s a detailed look at the changes:
| Plan Type | Previous Price (INR) | New Price (INR) | Increase (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Monthly Plan | 79 | 89 | 10 |
| Individual Monthly Plan | 129 | 149 | 20 |
| Family Monthly Plan | 189 | 299 | 110 |
| Individual Prepaid Monthly | 139 | 159 | 20 |
| Individual Prepaid Quarterly | 399 | 459 | 60 |
| Individual Prepaid Annual | 1,290 | 1,490 | 200 |
For prepaid options, the Individual Prepaid Monthly plan has been increased from Rs 139 to Rs 159, the Quarterly plan from Rs 399 to Rs 459, and the Annual plan from Rs 1,290 to Rs 1,490.
Spotify’s Pricing Landscape
Moving over to Spotify, here’s how they stack up against YouTube Premium. Spotify offers an Individual plan for Rs 119 per month, a Family plan for Rs 179 per month (covering up to six premium accounts), and a Student plan for Rs 59 per month.
| Plan | Monthly Cost (INR) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | 119 | Ad-free, high-quality music, offline downloads, play music in any order, organize your listening queue, and more. |
| Family | 179 | Covers up to six premium accounts with all the benefits of the individual plan, offering a personalized experience for each family member. |
| Student | 59 | All the benefits of the individual plan at a discounted rate for students. |
Apple Music’s Competitive Pricing
Apple Music is also a major contender in the subscription service arena. The Individual plan is available for Rs 149 per month. For those who use multiple Apple services, the Apple One plan for Rs 195 per month could be a better deal. This bundles Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ with 50GB of storage.
For families, Apple One offers a plan for Rs 365 per month, covering up to five members and including 200GB of iCloud+ storage.
| Plan | Cost (INR) | Services Included | Storage | Number of Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Music (Individual) | 149 | Apple Music | N/A | 1 |
| Apple One (Individual) | 195 | Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud+ | 50GB | 1 |
| Apple One (Family) | 365 | Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud+ | 200GB | Up to 5 |
These price hikes and comparisons reveal the competitive landscape of subscription-based services in India. How consumers respond to the new rates remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: companies are continually adjusting their strategies to capture and maintain their market share.