In the internet age, digital streaming media services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video are immensely popular.
There’s one more service you might’ve heard of while binge-watching videos online: YouTube Premium.
However, with so many platforms cropping up, it can be costly to pay the full price for every single one of them. That’s why sharing access to these services is a trend among many people nowadays.
If you haven’t tried YouTube Premium, it can make your YouTube experience much more enjoyable because you don’t have to tap to skip ads every few minutes.
In this article, we’ll specifically look at YouTube Premium and answer the important questions you may have:
- What a YouTube Premium Family Plan is, how it works, and how to set it up
- Whether you can share your YouTube Premium with friends and in different houses
- How to manage your Family Plan, and other important things to know about the service.
Let’s dive right in!
Can You Share YouTube Premium with Friends? Answered!
The short answer: yes! You can share YouTube Premium with friends, but only if you live together and register the same residential address.
YouTube Premium offers a Family Plan, which allows up to five people to enjoy YouTube Premium accounts with one purchase.
This gets you a pretty good discount compared to an individual plan – though there are some restrictions that everyone will need to follow.
What Is a YouTube Premium Family Plan?
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription for the popular video streaming service — you guessed it — YouTube.
It removes ads, allows people to download videos, keeps videos playing even when you exit the mobile app, and has plenty more cool benefits.
The Family Plan version of YouTube Premium includes a YouTube Premium subscription for up to five other individual users’ accounts.
How Much Does the YouTube Family Plan Cost?
The YouTube Premium Family Plan cost differs by country; you can find the exact cost by visiting the YouTube Premium Family Plan page. Currently, it is $22.99/month in the United States after a 1-month free trial.
If you’re just looking to go solo and are considering purchasing the individual YouTube Premium plan, its cost also differs by country (and you can find the price here).
No matter the specific price where you live, signing up for a Family Plan will save you and your group of friends some money.
How the YouTube Premium Family Plan Works
The Family Plan works by having one person (known as the “family manager”) purchase the subscription. The family manager will then add up to five family group members to the plan.
Those family group members will get YouTube Premium features on their own individual Google accounts and gain access to the Primetime Channels that the family manager purchases.
Each member also has the option of purchasing additional Primetime Channels for their own private enjoyment, but note that this feature is for the U.S. only.
Can You Use the YouTube Premium Family Plan in Different Houses?
Sadly, no. You can only share the YouTube Premium Family Plan with people with the same residential address. YouTube will confirm your addresses electronically every 30 days.
This means you likely won’t be able to share a YouTube Premium Family Plan with most of your friends. You might not even be able to share the plan with your family if they frequently live elsewhere.
You’ll be able to share with roommates, though, as well as other people you live with on a regular basis.
How to Set up a YouTube Premium Family Plan
Firstly, you’ll need to pick a family manager. They’ll be the ones to buy the plan and add or remove members.
If the family manager already has a family group, they can share the plan with their family group at purchase. If not, they’ll be guided towards creating one after purchase.
To purchase the plan, the family manager will have to follow these device-specific instructions.
Android
- Go to the YouTube app
- Tap on your profile picture, and tap “Purchases and memberships”
- Tap “Learn more”, and select the option to get a Family Plan
- Tap “Get Family Plan” or “Try it free”.
Desktop
- Go to the YouTube Premium Family Plan page
- Click “Get Family Plan” or “Try it for free”.
iOS Devices
- Go to the YouTube app
- Tap on your profile picture, and tap “Purchases and memberships”
- Tap “Learn more”, and select the option to get a Family Plan
- Tap “Get Family Plan” or “Try it free”.
For Current Premium Members
You can upgrade your individual YouTube Premium subscription into a Family Plan subscription.
Visit the Paid Memberships page on desktop, or click your profile picture then “Purchases and memberships” on the app.
Click or tap “Get Family Plan” (and again when prompted once more) then confirm your purchase.
Managing the YouTube Premium Family Plan
Managing the YouTube Premium Family Plan is done from the Paid Memberships page or by going to YouTube and selecting “Manage membership” on desktop.
If you’re on the app, click your profile picture and then tap “Purchases and memberships”.
Adding Members
To add members, select “Edit” next to your family sharing settings.
Select “Invite family member” and enter the phone number or email address of the person you want to invite. Don’t forget to select “Send”.
If the person joins your family, you’ll receive an email notification.
Removing Members
To remove members, select “Edit” next to your family sharing settings again. Select the person you want to remove, and then tap “remove member”.
Family Manager Requirements
A family manager can be anyone in your household over the age of 18 as long as they:
- Have a regular Google account, not a Google Workspace account
- Live in a country where YouTube Premium is available
- Aren’t already in a different family group (and haven’t been in one) in the past 12 months.
Family Member Requirements
Family group members need to be:
- Over the age of 13, with a regular Google account (not a Google Workspace account)
- Living at the same residential address as each other
- In no other family group (and haven’t been in one) within the past 12 months.
Important Things to Know
You’re all set to enjoy a YouTube Premium Family Plan with your friends! Before you start streaming content, here are several things that you should know about the plan:
- Removal Leads to Access Denial — if someone is removed from a family group, they’ll no longer be able to access their Google Play Family Library
- Email Notification to Family upon Removal — when someone is removed from a family group, YouTube will send an email to let them know. No sneakily removing people without their knowledge!
- Deleted Family Library Content — family members won’t be able to access items the removed person added to the library as these will also be deleted
- One Change per Year — if someone is removed from a family group, they won’t be able to join another family group for 12 months.
Summary
In short, the YouTube Premium Family Plan is a great way to share the subscription with friends. Unfortunately, you can’t extend YouTube Premium to friends who don’t live with you.
In any case, a Family Plan still lets you save some money on YouTube Premium, and it allows you to share your subscription with others in your household.
Simply follow the steps and restrictions for creating Google family groups that we’ve explored in this article, and you’ll be ready to enjoy YouTube Premium together in no time.