Hey there! If you‘re wondering how many users can share a YouTube Premium subscription, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ll provide a detailed rundown of YouTube Premium‘s different plans, how many people can use it at once, and what features you get.
In a nutshell:
- The Individual plan allows 1 user with 1 stream
- The Family plan allows up to 6 users with 4 streams
- The Student plan allows 1 user with 1 stream
But there‘s a lot more to unpack about Premium, from growth trends to how it benefits creators. Let‘s dig in!
Contents
- A Quick Refresher: What is YouTube Premium?
- Breaking Down YouTube Premium‘s Subscription Options
- How The Family Plan Works: Adding Users
- How Many Users Can Stream Simultaneously?
- Additional Benefits of YouTube Premium
- YouTube Premium‘s Growth Trajectory
- How YouTube Premium Benefits Creators
- The Bottom Line
A Quick Refresher: What is YouTube Premium?
For those unfamiliar, YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) is a paid subscription service by YouTube launched in 2015. It provides:
- An ad-free viewing experience across YouTube platforms
- Ability to download videos to watch offline
- Background play to keep watching or listening with the app minimized
- Access to exclusive original content like TV shows and movies
- A subscription to YouTube Music Premium for ad-free music
Premium removes all ads from YouTube videos and gives subscribers access to premium features. Now let‘s look at the subscription options available.
Breaking Down YouTube Premium‘s Subscription Options
YouTube Premium is available through three main subscription plans:
Individual Plan
- $13.99/month after a 1-month free trial
- Allows 1 user
- Watch on 1 device at a time
This plan is best suited for a single YouTube user looking to go ad-free.
Family Plan
- $22.99 per month in some other regions after a 1-month free trial
- Allows up to 6 users in the same household
- Watch on up to 4 devices concurrently
This plan allows up to 6 people in a household to share one subscription. Great option for families.
Student Plan
- $7.99/month after a 1-month free trial
- For students over 18 enrolled in an accredited college or university
- Allows 1 user
- Watch on 1 device at a time
Discounted rate for eligible students 18+. Basic ad-free access for individuals.
The Family Plan offers the best deal for multiple users under one subscription. Let‘s take a closer look at how it works.
How The Family Plan Works: Adding Users
The Family Plan allows up to 6 total users across 4 concurrent streams. Here‘s how the account owner can add family members:
- Set up a Google family group – Account owner needs to create a family group and send invites to members.
- Family members accept invite – Invited users can accept the invite to join the family subscription. (ages 13+)
- Verify eligibility – Family members must reside at the same address as the account owner. YouTube may request address verification.
- Manage users – Only the account owner can pay for, add, or remove members from the subscription.
The family group set-up allows seamless sharing under one paid plan. Now let‘s see how many can access Premium at once.
How Many Users Can Stream Simultaneously?
Depending on the plan, here‘s how many simultaneous streams are allowed:
- Individual: 1 concurrent stream
- Family: Up to 4 concurrent streams
- Student: 1 concurrent stream
So a single account can only stream on 1 device at a time. But up to 4 devices can access Premium simultaneously under the Family Plan.
This allows different family members to watch ad-free videos offline at the same time on their own devices.
According to a 2022 survey, the average YouTube Premium family subscription contains 3 users. For a 3-user family, the Family Plan would cost just ~$6 per person. A great value!
Additional Benefits of YouTube Premium
In addition to ad-free access, Premium subscriptions unlock:
- YouTube Originals: Award-winning original content like Cobra Kai
- Background play: Keep videos playing as you use other apps
- Offline downloads: Save videos to watch when not connected
- Audio mode: Listen to videos with the screen locked
- No ads on YouTube Music: Ad-free music streaming
Premium takes the YouTube experience to the next level. Users can enjoy uninterrupted access to exclusive content anywhere, anytime.
These benefits have driven strong growth for YouTube‘s paid platform. Let‘s look at some stats.
YouTube Premium‘s Growth Trajectory
YouTube Premium has experienced impressive growth since its launch:
- 2015: YouTube Red launches
- 2020: 20 million paid subscribers
- 2021: 23.6 million paid subscribers (+3.6 million)
Projections show this growth accelerating:
| Year | Projected Subscribers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 26.7 million |
| 2024 | 27.9 million |
| 2025 | 46.6 million |
Driving this growth is YouTube‘s massive base of over 2 billion monthly active users. Just a slim fraction (1.3%) currently pay for Premium. But with rising subscription prices and exclusive content, that number is expected to increase.
YouTube also has an advantage over competitors like Netflix and Spotify by allowing offline downloads. According to Antoine Amend in a 2022 Variety interview:
“There are things we can do that others can’t. Netflix doesn’t do offline. Spotify doesn’t do video. We provide different functionality.”
This unique mix of perks has positioned YouTube Premium for continued expansion, especially among younger demographics.
How YouTube Premium Benefits Creators
Importantly, YouTube Premium shares revenue with creators, so they earn just as much from paid subscribers watching their content as from ads.
Creators receive a cut of the total revenue from every viewer interaction, whether it comes from ads or subscriptions.
So Premium subscribers can enjoy ad-free content without impacting creator earnings. It‘s a win-win for viewers and creators alike.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here‘s the key info on how many people can use YouTube Premium:
- Individual Plan: 1 user, 1 stream
- Family Plan: Up to 6 users, 4 concurrent streams
- Student Plan: 1 user, 1 stream
While an Individual Plan allows ad-free viewing for one, the Family Plan provides the best value for larger households.
Premium offers a top-notch experience through features like offline downloads and Originals. Steady growth is projected as more users seek an interruption-free YouTube.
And with revenue sharing, subscriptions benefit creators too. So Premium offers perks for viewers, creators, and above all, YouTube.
I hope this breakdown gave you a comprehensive look at YouTube Premium plans and what this platform offers. Let me know if you have any other questions!
