YouTube raises price for its premium plan after Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+

After Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney+, YouTube has become the newest platform to raise its rates with the cost of the YouTube Premium family plan—which enables six users to share a single subscription—will rise by £2 to £19.99 from £17.99 in the UK.

In the meanwhile, prices in the US and Canada will rise by 30%, from $17.99 (CA$17.99) to $22.99 (CA$22.99).

With YouTube Premium, users may download videos, view them in the background of other apps, and watch without advertisements.

Even though the price increase won't take effect until November 21, a number of irate consumers have already voiced their complaints on social media, with some even making threats to cancel the service completely.

Customers of YouTube Premium received emails informing them that their fees would be going up.

The news of price rises was initially announced to customers in the US and Canada; shortly after, subscribers in the UK began getting emails of their own.

In the email, YouTube writes: "We created YouTube Premium to provide an uninterrupted YouTube experience so that you can get closer to the videos, creators and music artists that you love."

It added that the prices would be raised in order to "continue delivering great service and features."

YouTube has launched a new website aimed at gathering "input regarding the YouTube Premium price adjustment," suggesting that it is quite apprehensive about possible unfavourable reactions.

Angry users said that the price increase was driving them off of X (previously Twitter).

"Cancelling my YouTuber premium due to the price increase," one user wrote.

Another added, "It was already more than I would have liked, and I still ended up seeing ads at least once a week and had to reload. Disappointing."

And one vented, "I had YouTube Premium from the start, and just cancelled mine after the price hike."

"They are so out of touch with reality."

It seems that the days of inexpensive streaming are past, since several sites have increased their rates this year.

Disney+ just unveiled a new, less expensive version of its service with advertisements and raised its annual fee to a maximum of £36, all within the same week.

Disney+ had just one pricing up until now in the UK, a monthly membership of £7.99 or £79.90 for a full year.

In the meanwhile, millions of Netflix subscribers in the UK now pay monthly costs of up to £17.99, an increase of £2, after the streaming service revealed last month that it was raising its rates.

The monthly cost of its ad-free premium plan has increased to £17.99 in the UK, a £2 increase over the previous month's £10.99 ordinary membership.