YouTube to expand Premium Lite subscription worldwide

YouTube has announced that its YouTube Premium Lite subscription will be expanded to all countries where the standard YouTube Premium service is currently available. This move aims to close a gap of approximately 57 markets where the cheaper tier was previously unavailable.

YouTube Premium Lite offers a more affordable alternative to the full subscription. While it provides ad-free viewing for most video categories—such as gaming, fashion, and news—advertisements will still appear during music content, Shorts, and searches. The Lite tier also includes features like background playback and video downloads, but it does not include the YouTube Music Premium service.

This expansion is part of a broader update to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which includes changes to creator eligibility. New thresholds for monetization will require creators to reach 8,000 watch hours over 365 days or 20 million Shorts views within 90 days. These program changes are expected to take effect on February 1, 2027.