How to Give YouTube Premium as a Gift: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you want to bestow the ad-free, download-and-play goodness of YouTube Premium upon a friend, family member, or deserving colleague? You’ve got excellent taste! Unfortunately, gifting a YouTube Premium subscription isn’t as straightforward as buying a gift card. There’s no official “YouTube Premium Gift Subscription” button staring you in the face. But fear not! This seemingly impossible task can be accomplished, and I’m here to guide you through the workarounds and ensure your generosity prevails.

The Not-So-Direct, But Totally Effective, Methods

Since Google doesn’t currently offer a direct gifting option for YouTube Premium, we need to employ a bit of creative strategy. There are two primary methods we can leverage:

Method 1: The Google Play Gift Card Gambit

This is the most widely recommended and, frankly, the most reliable method. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Purchase a Google Play Gift Card: Head to your local retailer (think grocery stores, pharmacies, electronics stores) or purchase one online through platforms like Amazon, Best Buy, or directly from the Google Play Store (if available in your region).
2. Choose the Right Denomination: This is crucial. Calculate the cost of YouTube Premium for the intended recipient’s region. YouTube Premium pricing varies depending on location due to differing taxes and currency exchange rates. Research! Don’t just guess. It’s always better to overestimate slightly than to come up short. Also, consider if you want to gift one month or several.
3. Deliver the Gift Card: You can physically hand over the gift card (add a personalized card for extra brownie points!) or send it digitally. Most online retailers offer email delivery of gift cards, making it super convenient.
4. Instruct the Recipient: This is where clear communication comes in. Explain to the recipient that they need to redeem the Google Play gift card to their Google account. Once redeemed, they can then use the Google Play balance to subscribe to YouTube Premium through the YouTube app or website. Walk them through the process if they’re not tech-savvy.

Why this works: YouTube Premium subscriptions are billed through Google Play (on Android devices) or the App Store (on iOS devices). A Google Play gift card essentially adds funds to the recipient’s Google account, allowing them to pay for the subscription.

Method 2: The (Potentially Risky) Account Sharing Approach

I strongly advise against this method unless you have complete trust in the recipient.

1. Share Your Family Plan (with Caution): If you already have a YouTube Premium family plan, you can add the recipient to your family group. They’ll then benefit from your subscription.
2. The Downside: This means they’ll have access to some of your Google family settings (though not your personal account details directly). More importantly, they’ll be tied to your Google account as part of your family group. If you later want to remove them, or if you have other family members already occupying those slots, it becomes a hassle. Plus, they can see who else is on the plan.
3. Privacy Concern: Even though they won’t have access to your personal account, you are effectively providing access to your subscription which is connected to your personal Google account.

Why I Advise Against It: This method is less about gifting and more about sharing. It’s not ideal for a formal gift, and it can create awkward situations down the line. The Google Play gift card route is far cleaner and more private for both parties. Furthermore, you run the risk of the recipient accidentally changing your family settings or misusing the shared access.

Important Considerations Before You Gift

• Regional Availability: YouTube Premium isn’t available in every country. Ensure it’s offered in the recipient’s location.
• Platform Compatibility: YouTube Premium works across all devices where YouTube is accessible (smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, etc.).
• Subscription Type: YouTube Premium offers individual and family plans. A family plan is only useful if you share it directly. A Google Play gift card is more flexible in this regard.
• Recurring Billing: YouTube Premium is a recurring subscription. The recipient will need to manage the subscription and ensure they have sufficient Google Play balance (or another payment method) to cover future renewals, unless you continue to provide gift cards.

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Gifting YouTube Premium

Here are some frequently asked questions that will give you all the information you need:

1. Can I directly gift a YouTube Premium subscription like a Netflix gift subscription?

Unfortunately, no. As of now, YouTube doesn’t offer a direct “gift subscription” option where you can purchase a subscription specifically for someone else. You must use the Google Play gift card method.

2. How much does YouTube Premium cost?

The cost varies by region and subscription type (individual, family, student). Check the YouTube Premium page in the recipient’s country for accurate pricing. Remember to factor in local taxes.

3. What happens if the Google Play gift card amount is less than the YouTube Premium subscription cost?

The recipient will need to add another payment method (credit card, debit card, or another Google Play gift card) to cover the remaining balance.

4. Can I use an Apple App Store gift card instead of a Google Play gift card?

No, you cannot. While YouTube is available on iOS devices, the subscription needs to be billed through the recipient’s Google account, regardless of the device they use to watch YouTube. This is because the underlying service is linked to Google services.

5. What if the recipient already has YouTube Premium?

No problem! If the recipient already subscribes to YouTube Premium, they can still redeem the Google Play gift card and use the balance towards their next billing cycle. It’s like getting a discount!

6. Is YouTube Music Premium included with YouTube Premium?

Yes! YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium, which allows ad-free listening, background playback, and downloads within the YouTube Music app. It’s a two-for-one deal!

7. Can the recipient cancel their YouTube Premium subscription after I gift it to them?

Absolutely. The recipient has full control over their subscription. They can cancel it at any time, and they’ll continue to enjoy YouTube Premium benefits until the end of the billing cycle.

8. What are the benefits of YouTube Premium?

The main benefits are:

• Ad-free viewing: Watch videos without any interruptions from ads.
• Background playback: Listen to videos even when your screen is locked or you’re using other apps.
• Offline downloads: Download videos to watch later without an internet connection.
• YouTube Music Premium: As mentioned above.
• YouTube Originals: Access to exclusive YouTube Originals content.

9. How does the recipient redeem the Google Play gift card?

The process is simple:

• Open the Google Play Store app on their Android device.
• Tap on their profile icon in the top right corner.
• Select “Payments & subscriptions.”
• Choose “Redeem gift code.”
• Enter the gift card code and follow the instructions.

They can also redeem the code on a computer by going to play.google.com/redeem.

10. Can I give a YouTube Premium family plan to someone who doesn’t live with me?

Technically, Google’s terms of service state that family plan members should reside in the same household. However, Google doesn’t actively verify this in many regions. Use your discretion, but be aware that Google could enforce this policy in the future. Using a Google Play gift card avoids this potential issue.

11. What if the recipient has an iPhone?

They can still subscribe to YouTube Premium! They just need to redeem the Google Play gift card to their Google account and then subscribe to YouTube Premium through the YouTube app on their iPhone. The billing will be linked to their Google account, not their Apple ID in this case.

12. Is it possible to give a YouTube TV subscription as a gift?

YouTube TV, a live TV streaming service, faces the same limitation as YouTube Premium: no direct gifting option. The Google Play gift card method is your best bet here as well. Again, research the current cost of YouTube TV in the recipient’s area to ensure the gift card covers at least one month.