Highlights
- YouTube Premium Lite in India now supports background play and offline downloads.
- The plan remains at ₹89 per month, the same as the student plan for full Premium, making it a budget-friendly option.
- Rollout is expected in the next few weeks.
(Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash)
YouTube has introduced two major upgrades to its YouTube Premium Lite plan in India and other regions. The company confirmed that subscribers to the more affordable tier will soon gain access to background play and offline downloads. Here’s everything you need to know about the Premium Lite plan upgrade.
YouTube Premium Lite – What’s New?
In a recent blog announcement, YouTube revealed that Premium Lite users in India can now play videos in the background. This means subscribers can continue listening to podcasts, interviews, music videos, and long-form discussions even when their screen is turned off or while using other apps.
Secondly, the platform has also enabled offline downloads for Premium Lite members. Users can now download videos over Wi-Fi or mobile data and watch them later without requiring an active internet connection. This feature is particularly beneficial for commuters, travellers and users in areas with unreliable network coverage.
YouTube Premium Lite gets background play and downloads. (Image credit – YouTube Blog)
Until now, the Premium Lite plan mainly offered an ad-reduced experience but lacked support for background playback and downloads. The addition of these features significantly enhances the plan’s overall value. YouTube noted that the rollout of these updates will take place over the next few weeks.
Premium Lite does not include all the benefits offered under the standard YouTube Premium subscription.
YouTube Premium Lite Price in India
In India, the YouTube Premium Lite subscription is priced at Rs. 89 per month. This is the same price as the student plan for the full YouTube Premium subscription. YouTube has not announced any pricing changes following the addition of background play and offline downloads.
The standard Individual plan costs Rs. 149 per month and is also available as an annual subscription priced at Rs. 1,490. Meanwhile, the Family plan allows adding up to five members and is priced at Rs. 299 per month. There is also a two-member plan available at Rs. 219 per month.
YouTube Premium Lite now become a more attractive budget-friendly alternative for users who want essential premium features at a lower monthly cost.
FAQs
Q1. What new features have been added to YouTube Premium Lite in India?
Answer. Subscribers now get background play and offline downloads, allowing them to listen with the screen off and save videos for later viewing.
Q2. How much does YouTube Premium Lite cost in India?
Answer. The plan is priced at ₹89 per month, the same as the student plan for full YouTube Premium.
Q3. How does Premium Lite differ from the standard YouTube Premium plan?
Answer. Premium Lite now offers ad-reduced viewing, background play, and downloads, but it still lacks some benefits like full music streaming and family sharing options.