YouTube Music review

YouTube Music wins on breadth of material rather than audio quality. Alongside official albums, it pulls in the covers, remixes, live sets and music videos that only exist on YouTube, and you can switch a song between audio and video with one tap. Google says the app covers over 100 million songs, videos and live performances. Without paying, you get mixes and curated playlists; Premium removes ads and adds offline downloads and background play with the screen off. The Family plan lets you add up to five members aged 13 or older in your household, and a Student plan requires annual verification. New members get a one-month trial. The weaknesses are a busier interface than Apple Music, fewer published details on audio quality than Tidal or Qobuz, and the fact that our location showed only local currency, so we could not confirm the US price for this update. For heavy YouTube users it is a natural fit.

Who it is for

Listeners who already use YouTube and want songs, live versions and music videos in one app.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Over 100 million songs, videos and live performances
• Switch between audio and video for a song with one tap
• Background play and offline downloads on Premium
• Family plan for up to 5 added members aged 13 and over
• Mixes and playlists available without a subscription

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Covers, remixes and live recordings that other services lack
• Strength: Free tier with mixes and curated playlists
• Strength: Ties into an existing YouTube account and history
• Weakness: Audio quality settings are less detailed than Tidal or Qobuz
• Weakness: Background play and downloads need Premium
• Weakness: USD prices could not be confirmed from our location

Key facts

• Plans: Individual, Family and Student
• Family: Up to 5 added members aged 13+
• Catalog: Over 100M songs, videos and live performances
• Trial: 1 month for eligible new members
• Free use: Yes, with ads and without background play

Where it ranks

YouTube Music is No. 5 in our Best Music Streaming Services verdict.