Calculate your exact YouTube Premium cost per ad-free hour and video watched. Find out if YouTube Premium is worth it or if you should stick with free YouTube and tolerate ads.
With YouTube Premium pricing at $13.99 monthly for individual plans, millions of YouTube users wonder: "Is YouTube Premium worth it in 2025?" The answer depends on your viewing habits and tolerance for advertisements. If you only watch 10-15 hours of YouTube monthly, your YouTube Premium cost per hour could reach $0.93-$1.40 per ad-free hour – potentially expensive when considering that free YouTube with ads remains fully functional for most content consumption needs.
Many subscribers discover they're paying to remove ads from content they watch sporadically or could easily tolerate with advertisements. The question "Should I cancel YouTube Premium?" has become more relevant as subscription costs accumulate across multiple services. Our YouTube Premium calculator helps determine whether you're getting genuine value or if YouTube Premium has become too expensive for your actual viewing patterns, especially when considering that free YouTube provides the same content with brief ad interruptions.
Understanding your YouTube Premium cost per hour is essential for evaluating subscription value versus ad tolerance. Our calculator provides instant analysis comparing your viewing habits against YouTube Premium's monthly cost. Whether you're considering YouTube Premium vs free YouTube with ads, evaluating the included YouTube Music benefits, or contemplating cancellation to reduce subscription expenses, data-driven decisions lead to smarter entertainment budgets.
The results often surprise users: heavy YouTube consumers watching 60+ hours monthly confirm exceptional value at under $0.25 per ad-free hour, while casual viewers discover they're paying $1+ per hour to avoid brief advertisements. If your YouTube Premium subscription isn't worth it based on usage, you'll receive immediate recommendations including returning to free YouTube, using ad blockers where applicable, or evaluating whether brief ad interruptions justify the monthly savings.
Don't let subscription costs accumulate for minimal convenience gains. Calculate your true YouTube Premium cost per ad-free hour below and make an informed decision about whether removing ads justifies the monthly expense or if free YouTube better suits your viewing habits in 2025.
Divide your monthly YouTube Premium subscription cost by the number of hours you watch YouTube monthly. For YouTube Premium Individual at $13.99, if you watch 40 hours monthly, your cost per ad-free hour is $0.35. This helps determine if avoiding ads justifies the subscription cost.
YouTube Premium is worth it if you watch 30+ hours monthly and value ad-free viewing, background play, and YouTube Music. Light viewers watching under 20 hours monthly may find better value sticking with free YouTube and tolerating brief advertisements.
Yes, if you're paying more than $0.50-$0.75 per hour for ad-free viewing, consider canceling. Free YouTube provides the same content with manageable ad interruptions. Use the savings for other entertainment subscriptions you use more frequently.
YouTube Premium ($13.99) focuses on ad removal and YouTube Music, while Netflix ($15.49) and Hulu ($7.99) offer curated content libraries. Choose based on whether you prefer user-generated YouTube content or professionally produced shows and movies.
YouTube Premium includes ad-free viewing, background play (audio continues when screen is off), YouTube Music Premium access, and offline downloads. Family plans ($22.99) cover up to 6 household members, improving value for multiple users.
Free YouTube provides the same content with ads. For music, alternatives include Spotify Free, Apple Music free trial, or YouTube Music free tier. Ad blockers can remove YouTube ads on computers, though this may violate YouTube's terms of service.