Pretty much every smart device I’ve ever owned has, eventually, become a YouTube machine.
I watch YouTube on my main phone (as well as any review units I have in rotation), on my iPad, on my MacBook, on my Nintendo Switch, on my TV, and even on my PlayStation. I think I’d watch YouTube on my toaster if it had a screen.
Here at TechRadar, a core part of our mission is to highlight great value tech products, whether they be hardware, software, or subscription services. However, I never expected that the best-value tech product I’d ever purchase would land in the latter category.
From afar, this might seem like hyperbolic praise for a service that a) costs a lot compared to other subscriptions, and b) has relatively few premium benefits.
Indeed, at $12.99 / £12.99 / AU$13.99, YouTube Premium does cost quite a lot. In terms of features, while it allows the queueing of videos on mobile and 4K streaming on any device, as well as access to the middling YouTube Music streaming service, the main value is concentrated in two big-ticket items.
The first is background playback on mobile devices and tablets, which is a game-changer for long-form listens like essays and DJ mixes, or for keeping the video going in picture-in-picture mode. The second, and by far most important, is the total removal of advertising from videos.
In my view, the time and annoyance saved by taking ads out of the picture more than makes up for the high price tag of YouTube Premium. In a world oversaturated with advertising, it feels pretty amazing to have YouTube’s vast library of videos available with no commercial breaks.
And it’s not just me who thinks it’s a good deal – according to Global Media Insight, YouTube Premium increased its subscriber base from 100 million in 2024 to 125 million in 2025. And my colleague, John Loeffler, similarly praised the service this time last year for being the "best tech decision" he's ever made.
How to give YouTube Premium for Christmas
If you find yourself thinking that YouTube Premium would be a good fit for someone in your life, here’s how you can give it as a gift as Christmas approaches.
There’s no direct way to give someone a YouTube Premium subscription – instead, your best bet is to purchase Google Play Store gift cards that can then be used to pay for the service through a Google account.
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, YouTube Premium can also be bought with Apple gift card balances, but only if the subscription is activated through the App Store.
Admittedly, neither of these methods is perfect, as gift card balances don’t match up perfectly with subscription costs – but it is the thought that counts after all.
Are you a YouTube Premium user? Or is there another subscription service that's worth more for the money? Let me know in the comments below.
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