YouTube is testing a cheaper subscription tier that offers ad-free viewing on iOS and other platforms, but doesn't include any of the other features of its YouTube Premium plan.
Credit: Google
The so-called "YouTube Premium Lite" subscription is being piloted in several countries like Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. It costs 6.99 for ad-free viewing, below YouTube Premium's local price tag of 11.99.
According to The Verge, YouTube Premium Lite offers ad-free viewing across the web and various YouTube apps. However, it doesn't offer ad-free listening in YouTube Music, background play, or offline downloads.
While the feature is only being tested in some European countries, it could offer an attractive alternative for users who don't like ads but don't need any of the other features of YouTube Premium.
YouTube told The Verge that the feature is in an experimental phase, and that it's considering trying out other plans based on user feedback. Of course, since Google is only piloting the feature, there's no guarantee YouTube Premium Lite will see a wider rollout.