YouTube premium: How to add and change payment methods

On this page:

▸ How can I pay for YouTube Premium?

▸ How can I add a payment method to YouTube Premium?

▸ How can I change payment method on YouTube Premium?

▸ Use a prepaid card for YouTube Premium

▸ How do I cancel my YouTube Premium subscription?

▸ FAQs

YouTube Premium is a subscription service provided by the video platform YouTube. Subscribers pay £11.99/€11.99 per month to get features such as ad-free videos, free downloads and ad-free music that can be played offline.

Standard YouTube plays adverts before and during videos, whereas YouTube Premium is completely ad-free (bar the embedded adverts in videos). You can also lock your phone while playing videos with YouTube Premium, whereas Youtube will pause videos if you exit the app or lock your phone.

Family Plans are available for £19.99 per month, which allows access for up to five family members. Student plans are also available to eligible and verified students for £6.99 monthly. You can sign up for an annual plan as an individual user, although annual plans are unavailable for Family or Student memberships. 

How can I pay for YouTube Premium?

You can pay your monthly subscription fee for YouTube Premium in several ways, as detailed below.

Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and debit cards are the most common and widely accepted payment methods for YouTube Premium. You can use any major credit or debit card to pay for your subscription. This includes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. You will be asked to enter your card details during the subscription process, and YouTube will automatically charge your card monthly on the date your subscription started.

Prepaid cards

Prepaid cards are an excellent alternative to credit and debit cards. You can use your prepaid card details when registering as you would a credit or debit card. The card isn’t directly linked to your bank account, which means cybercriminals won’t be able to access the rest of your money if your YouTube account is hacked. Your subscription will stop if you don’t have enough money on your card because there isn’t an overdraft.

PayPal

Another popular payment method for YouTube Premium is PayPal. Similarly to prepaid cards, PayPal offers an added layer of security because you don’t have to enter your credit card details every time you make a payment. YouTube will charge your PayPal account monthly rather than directly charging your bank account.

Google Pay

Google Pay is a good option if you’re an Android user. The service allows you to store your credit and debit card information in one place and use it to make payments quickly and easily. You have to link your Google Pay account to your YouTube account and select it as your preferred payment method.

Google Play Balance

If you have a Google Play balance, you can use it to pay for your YouTube Premium subscription. Google Play balance is a virtual currency that you can use to buy apps, games, and other digital content on Google Play. To use your Google Play balance to pay for YouTube Premium, you will need to select it as your preferred payment method during the subscription process.

How can I add a payment method to YouTube Premium?

You may have already saved a payment method on your Google Account, which will show up when you register for YouTube Premium. If there isn’t a card saved on your Google Account or you want to change the payment method, you can do so when registering for YouTube Premium. You can add a card, your PayPal or a Paysafecard account as your chosen payment method.

You must add a payment method when you sign up for YouTube Premium. This is the case even if you are starting with a one-month free trial. A free trial lets you use the features of YouTube Premium without paying anything. You will be prompted to add your payment details when you register.

If you don’t cancel your membership, you will be automatically charged every month after your free trial finishes. A standard YouTube Premium account costs £11.99 monthly (including VAT). You must be aged 18 years or older to sign up for a YouTube Premium membership.  

How do I change payment method on YouTube Premium?

You can change your default payment method through your YouTube account. First, navigate to “Purchases and memberships” by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner. From here, you must select your membership and click ‘Edit’ next to the existing payment method. This will bring up a drop-down menu that allows you to add a new credit, debit or prepaid card. Once you have entered your details, you must save the card as your default payment method.

You can delete a payment method by following the steps detailed above. Once you have clicked ‘Edit’ next to the primary payment method, you can choose to delete a payment method from your account. You will be prompted to add a new payment method if you have no other information saved to continue your subscription.

Use a prepaid card for Youtube Premium

There are many benefits to using a prepaid card instead of a credit or debit card. You can only spend the funds on the card, which can help with budgeting. For example, you could add enough funds to cover a six-month membership. You won’t be able to pay for a seventh month if you don’t manually add further money to your prepaid card.

Prepaid cards help when you cancel your subscription. YouTube Premium can’t accidentally charge your prepaid card for another month if you don’t have sufficient funds. On the other hand, YouTube Premium could mistakenly charge your credit or debit card after you cancel your subscription and potentially put you into an overdraft.

Prepaid cards are extra secure because they aren’t directly linked to your bank account. Cybercriminals, therefore, won’t be able to access your bank account if they hack your YouTube account.

How do I cancel my YouTube Premium subscription?

To cancel your YouTube Premium subscription, you will need to go to YouTube and click on your profile icon in the top right corner. Select “Paid memberships” and choose the membership you want to cancel. Once you have clicked “Continue”, you will be asked to select your reason for cancelling your membership. Make sure to click “Next” and confirm you want to cancel the subscription.

You can pause or cancel your subscription anytime in your YouTube Premium membership. It’s also possible to change your monthly plan to an annual or a family plan.

You will be automatically charged for YouTube Premium membership at the beginning of each new billing cycle. If you cancel after you have been charged, your benefits will continue until the end of the billing period. After this time, your benefits will stop, and you won’t be charged for the next cycle. 

FAQs

Can I pause an annual plan membership?

No, you cannot pause an annual plan YouTube Premium membership. You have to pay for an annual plan upfront. Your premium benefits will be available for 12 months, after which you can decide whether to purchase another annual membership or cancel. However, you may be able to request a refund if you believe the purchase was made fraudulently.

Does YouTube Premium offer a free trial?

Yes, YouTube Premium does offer a free trial for new members. You will have to register a payment method when you sign up for a membership, but you won’t be charged until the following month. If you don’t want to continue with the paid membership, you will have to cancel your membership before you are billed the following month.

Does YouTube Premium include YouTube TV?

No, YouTube Premium is a separate service and doesn’t include YouTube TV. With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch live TV from several major broadcast and cable networks and original YouTube television shows.

YouTube Premium allows you to watch ad-free videos and listen to music. You can use the two memberships together and watch YouTube TV without adverts if you have a YouTube Premium membership.

Summary

You can pay for a YouTube Premium membership via a credit, debit or prepaid card. Alternatively, you could link your PayPal or Paysafecard account. When registering for a YouTube Premium account, you will be asked to select your chosen payment method.

You can edit, change or delete your payment method at any point in your membership. However, you need to ensure you have a valid payment method when your next billing period is due. Your subscription may be paused if you don’t have sufficient funds to pay for your membership.

Premium cards are a great choice for online subscriptions. You can decide how much you want to put on the card, which helps with budgeting. There’s no way that you will be charged too much if you put the exact subscription fee on the card. Your bank account is also protected because there isn’t a direct link to your prepaid card.