YouTube has added offline downloads and background playback to its $7.99 Premium Lite plan as part of efforts to strengthen the offering, TechCrunch reported on Feb. 24.
The update applies to the lower-priced plan features that were previously included only in the Premium plan, priced at $13.99.
Premium Lite, launched in March last year, offers an ad-free viewing experience, but ads remain on music content and it did not support the YouTube Music app. The upgrade now enables background playback and offline downloads.
YouTube said the expansion of Premium Lite features reflected user feedback.
The Premium Lite plan was first introduced in Thailand, Germany and Australia, and is now available in major markets including the United States, Canada, Britain and India. YouTube's subscription business continues to show growth, and Alphabet said YouTube's total revenue in 2025 surpassed $60 billion.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr