YouTube, the video-sharing giant owned by Alphabet Inc., has launched its budget-friendly Premium Lite subscription plan in India, marking a pivotal expansion in its quest for greater subscriber growth in one of its largest and most dynamic markets. Priced at ₹89 per month, Premium Lite stakes its claim as an accessible alternative for viewers eager for an ad-free experience without shelling out for the full suite of features available in the standard Premium offering.
YouTube Premium Lite is designed with clear intentions giving users ad-free viewing on most content categories including gaming, fashion, and news, accessible across smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs. However, this plan comes with deliberate strategic limitations. Subscribers may still encounter advertisements on music content, music videos, and YouTube Shorts. Unlike the full Premium plan, Lite does not include background play, offline downloads, or access to YouTube Music. This targeted feature restriction allows YouTube to keep the price point competitive while differentiating the plan from higher-tier offerings.
The introduction of Premium Lite is anchored in YouTube’s broad strategy to diversify its subscription offerings, reflecting both global experimentation and local market adaptation. Previously piloted in markets such as the United States, Germany, Thailand, and Australia, Premium Lite’s arrival in India comes as YouTube’s subscription-based models become increasingly integral to Alphabet’s overall growth.
India’s subscription rates have been localized to ₹89 monthly for Premium Lite, with the full Premium plan remaining at ₹149 and family plans at ₹299. This tiered pricing appears designed to capture cost-sensitive segments while positioning YouTube competitively against local streaming services.
Premium Lite’s launch aligns with YouTube’s surging contribution to Alphabet’s earnings. In Q2 2025, YouTube’s advertising revenue reached $9.8 billion, a 13% year-over-year increase, helping drive Alphabet’s consolidated revenue to $96.4 billion for the quarter.
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