Summary
- YouTube is testing a new two-person Premium plan in select countries.
- The tier is currently available to select users in India, France, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
- Couples and roommates will benefit the most from this new plan.
In the last two years, YouTube has significantly hiked its subscription prices. While the platform has added several Premium-only features, they do little to justify the steep price. For more value-conscious users, Google launched YouTube Premium Lite in the US earlier this year, bringing an almost ad-free viewing experience at a lower cost. Now, taking a cue from Spotify’s playbook, YouTube is testing a new Duo subscription tier in select countries.
Related
According to Money Control, YouTube is testing a new subscription plan that lets the primary account holder share their perks with another household member above the age of 13. Both users can continue with their individual Google accounts, ensuring separate YouTube watch histories while enjoying full access to all the Premium perks, like Smart Downloads, offline playback, and more.
In India, the two-person plan costs Rs. 219 ($2.5) per month, making it slightly cheaper than the Rs. 299 ($3.5) Family tier, which allows adding up to five family members. For comparison, the Individual subscription costs Rs. 149 ($1.7) per month.
The report states that YouTube is currently piloting the two-person subscription plan in India, France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Google also confirmed the new two-member plan, saying, “We’re experimenting with new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers, including offering a two-person Premium plan option, allowing two people to share a subscription at a reduced cost.”
The two-member plan will benefit couples
There isn’t a big price difference between YouTube’s two-member and family subscription tiers. However, in price-sensitive markets like India, the tier will make sense for friends and couples who would otherwise have to subscribe to the family plan or take individual subscriptions. In both cases, they would end up paying more than the two-member plan Google is currently trialing.
While YouTube Premium Lite would have been a good alternative for couples and friends, Google only offers the plan in the United States, Australia, Germany, and Thailand.
Spotify already offers a similar Duo subscription, where couples can get two individual Premium accounts. In India, the plan costs only Rs 149 per month, while in the US, it costs $17 monthly.
Do note that Google testing a two-member subscription plan doesn’t guarantee a public launch. And even if it does, the rollout could be several months away and may only be available in select countries.
