YouTube beefs up its $7.99/month Lite subscription with offline downloads and background play | TechCrunch

TechCrunch

by Sarah Perez

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

YouTube has enhanced its $7.99-per-month Premium Lite subscription plan by adding two key features: offline video downloads and background playback, even when the screen is off or other apps are in use. These features were previously exclusive to the full Premium plan, which costs $13.99 per month. The updates, driven by user feedback from a pilot program, aim to make the Lite tier more appealing by offering additional value beyond ad-free content. Launched last March, YouTube Premium Lite initially provided access to ad-free videos across various categories like gaming and news but still included ads on music-related content. With the new additions, offline downloads and background play are now available for all users on the Lite plan. This shift positions ad-free music as the main differentiator between the Lite and Premium tiers. The Lite subscription was first rolled out in countries like Thailand, Germany, and Australia before expanding to the U.S. and other global markets. The enhancements reflect YouTube’s commitment

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Originally published on TechCrunch on 2/24/2026