Could This Be the Future of Shared Subscriptions?
YouTube Premium has long been a favorite for users who want an ad-free experience, background play, and access to YouTube Music. But now, the platform is reportedly experimenting with a new two-person Premium subscription tier, offering a discounted rate for couples, friends, or family members who want to share the benefits.
What’s the New Subscription Tier?
According to recent reports, YouTube is testing a “Premium Duo” plan in select markets. This tier would allow two people to share a single YouTube Premium subscription at a lower cost than two individual plans.
Currently, YouTube Premium costs 13.99/month∗∗forasingleuserintheU.S.,whilethe∗∗FamilyPlan∗∗(whichsupportsuptofivemembers)ispricedat∗∗22.99/month. The new Duo tier could sit somewhere in between, potentially offering a 20-30% discount compared to two separate subscriptions.
Why Introduce a Two-Person Plan?
Competing with Other Streaming Services – Many platforms, like Netflix and Spotify, already offer shared plans. YouTube may be looking to attract users who don’t need a full family plan but want to split costs with one other person.
Encouraging More Subscriptions – Some users may hesitate to pay full price for Premium but could be swayed by a cheaper shared option.
Reducing Password Sharing – By offering an official shared tier, YouTube could reduce unauthorized account sharing while still keeping users within its paid ecosystem.
Potential Challenges
While the idea seems promising, there are a few hurdles:
How Will It Differ from the Family Plan? – If the price is too close to the existing family tier, users might not see the value.
Region-Specific Testing – For now, the test appears limited to certain countries, meaning a global rollout isn’t guaranteed.
User Verification – YouTube will need a way to ensure that only legitimate users (like households or close friends) are sharing the plan.
What Users Are Saying
Early reactions are mixed. Some users love the idea, saying:
“Finally! My partner and I don’t need a full family plan, but paying for two individual Premium accounts is too expensive.”
Others are skeptical:
“Unless it’s significantly cheaper, why not just use the Family Plan?”
The Bottom Line
If YouTube moves forward with this plan, it could be a smart way to attract more subscribers without undercutting its existing tiers. For now, the feature is still in testing, but if successful, we might see “Premium Duo” roll out worldwide in the coming months.
Would you sign up for a two-person YouTube Premium plan? Let us know in the comments!
What do you think? Is this a good move by YouTube, or should they focus on improving Premium benefits instead? Drop your thoughts below! ?
(Like this article? Subscribe for more tech updates!)