YouTube Premium Lite now offers background playback and offline downloads in India and globally. Check updated price, features, benefits and full comparison.
YouTube Premium Lite now offers background playback and offline downloads in India and globally [Photo: X]
YouTube has finally upgraded its most affordable paid tier. In a major move aimed at budget-conscious viewers, YouTube has added two highly requested features, background playback and offline downloads, to its Premium Lite subscription. The update significantly improves the value of the lower-cost plan in India and several global markets.
Until now, Premium Lite mainly offered fewer ads compared to the free version. However, it lacked core playback features that many users consider essential. With this update, YouTube is clearly trying to make the Lite tier more competitive without pushing users toward the full Premium plan.
YouTube Premium Lite subscribers can now play videos in the background. This means users can lock their screens or switch to another app while the video continues playing. The feature is especially useful for podcasts, interviews, educational videos and long discussions.
The company has also enabled offline downloads. Users can now download videos over Wi-Fi or mobile data and watch them later without an internet connection. This feature benefits commuters, travellers and users in areas with unstable connectivity.
YouTube confirmed that the rollout will complete in the coming weeks across all markets where Premium Lite is available.
In India, YouTube Premium Lite costs Rs 89 per month, making it one of the most affordable paid streaming plans available. The full Premium Individual plan costs Rs 149 per month, while Family and two-member plans cost Rs 299 and Rs 219, respectively.
In the United States, Premium Lite is priced at $7.99 per month, compared to $13.99 for the full Premium subscription. As of now, YouTube has not announced any price increase following the addition of background playback and offline downloads.
With the latest update, Premium Lite subscribers now get:
However, the plan still does not include ad-free music streaming or access to YouTube Music Premium, which remains exclusive to the full Premium subscription.
This update removes two major limitations that previously separated Lite from the full Premium plan. Subscribers will now enjoy background playback for most non-music content. They can also store videos locally for offline viewing.
YouTube said it “heard feedback” from customers who wanted these features added to YouTube Premium Lite and is positioning the change as a response to those requests. However, advertisements will still appear on music videos and music-related content. Lite users will not get ad-free music streaming.
Despite the upgrade, YouTube continues to differentiate between Premium Lite and the full Premium subscription.
In India, YouTube Premium Lite costs Rs 89 per month. The full Premium Individual plan costs Rs 149 per month, while the Family plan costs Rs 299 and the two-member plan costs Rs 219 per month. The yearly Individual plan is priced at Rs 1,490.
In the United States, Premium Lite costs $7.99 per month, while the full Premium plan costs $13.99.
Full Premium still includes:
Lite users do not get access to the YouTube Music app or ad-free music streaming.
Industry observers see this update as a strategic move by Alphabet Inc., YouTube’s parent company. Instead of forcing users into higher-priced subscriptions, YouTube now offers a stronger entry-level option.
Premium Lite originally launched as a pilot program in countries such as Thailand, Germany and Australia before expanding to India, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom and parts of Europe and Asia.
By improving the Lite plan without raising prices, YouTube targets price-sensitive markets where users want fewer ads and better playback control but do not need music streaming. mFor users who already subscribe to services like Spotify or Apple Music, Premium Lite now becomes a practical option.
YouTube continues to show strong financial performance. In 2025, YouTube’s combined advertising and subscription revenue reached $60 billion. An Alphabet representative stated, “The company also reported that YouTube’s ad revenue increased 9% to $11.38 billion in the fourth quarter.”
Furthermore, the company noted, “Meanwhile, the ‘subscriptions, platforms and devices’ group’s revenue increased 17% to $13.6 billion in Q4, which the company attributed to strong growth in YouTube subscriptions, particularly YouTube Music and YouTube Premium.” These numbers show that subscriptions now play a crucial role in YouTube’s overall growth.
With background playback and offline downloads finally included, YouTube Premium Lite now offers strong value for everyday viewers. The plan remains cheaper than full Premium while covering the needs of users who focus on video content rather than music streaming.
The update makes Premium Lite far more practical for students, travellers and podcast listeners. While full Premium still dominates for music lovers, Lite now stands as a serious alternative for millions of users worldwide.
