YouTube Premium Price Increase in South Africa – Full Breakdown

Google has officially announced a significant price increase for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscriptions in South Africa. This marks the first price adjustment since these services were introduced in the country back in March 2019. The changes affect both individual and family plans, with increases ranging from 8% to over 36%, depending on the subscription type.

Subscribers started receiving email notifications from Google on a Friday, informing them that the new pricing will take effect starting June 2025 for existing users, while new subscribers will see the updated rates immediately.

Why Is YouTube Premium Getting More Expensive?

Google’s official statement explains that the price hike is necessary to continue improving YouTube Premium and to better support content creators and artists on the platform.

“We don’t make these decisions lightly, but this update will allow us to continue to improve Premium and support the creators and artists you watch on YouTube.”

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While this reasoning aligns with YouTube’s long-term goals, many users are questioning whether the sharp increase is justified—especially in a market like South Africa, where the local currency has weakened significantly against the US Dollar over the past few years.

Detailed Price Changes for South African Users

1. YouTube Premium (Ad-Free Experience)

• Individual Plan:
  • Old Price: R71.99 per month
  • New Price: R81.99 per month
  • Increase: 14%
• Family Plan:
  • Old Price: R109.99 per month
  • New Price: R149.99 per month
  • Increase: 36.4%

2. YouTube Music (Standalone Subscription)

• Individual Plan:
  • Old Price: R59.99 per month
  • New Price: R64.99 per month
  • Increase: 8%
• Family Plan:
  • Old Price: R89.99 per month
  • New Price: R99.99 per month
  • Increase: 11%

Why Are Subscribers Upset?

The biggest frustration comes from Family Plan users, who are now facing a 36.4% price jump—one of the steepest increases seen in any market.

For context, YouTube Premium’s main selling point has always been its ad-free viewing experience, along with perks like:
✔ Background playback (keep videos playing while using other apps)
✔ Offline downloads (watch videos without internet)
✔ Access to YouTube Music Premium (ad-free music streaming)

However, with competitors like Spotify and Apple Music offering similar music services at lower prices, some users may reconsider whether YouTube Premium is still worth the cost.

Why Did Google Raise Prices Now?

1. The Weakening South African Rand (ZAR)

A major factor behind this increase is the decline in the Rand’s value against the US Dollar.

• March 2019 (When YouTube Premium Launched in SA):
  • 1 USD = R14.39
• March 2025 (Current Exchange Rate):
  • 1 USD ≈ R18.25

This means the Rand has lost about 27% of its value since YouTube Premium first arrived in South Africa. Since Google prices its services in US Dollars, the weaker Rand forces them to adjust local pricing to maintain revenue.

2. Global Trend of Streaming Price Hikes

YouTube is not alone in raising subscription costs. Other major streaming platforms have also increased prices recently, including:

• Netflix (multiple price adjustments in 2023-2024)
• Disney+ (raised prices in late 2024)
• Spotify (increased Premium costs in several markets)

This suggests a broader industry shift where streaming services are trying to boost profits after years of heavy investment in content.

Will Other African Countries Be Affected?

South Africa is often a testing ground for digital service pricing in Africa. If YouTube increases prices here, other African markets could follow.

Current YouTube Premium Prices in Nigeria (For Comparison)

• Individual Plan: ₦1,700 per month
• Family Plan: ₦2,800 per month

Other African Countries with YouTube Premium:

• Ghana
• Kenya
• Senegal
• Zimbabwe
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Libya
• Morocco

If South Africa’s price hike is successful (meaning most users stay subscribed), Google may apply similar increases in these countries within the next year.

How Does This Compare to Global Price Increases?

YouTube has already raised prices in Europe, the US, and parts of Asia over the past two years.

Recent Price Hikes in Other Regions:

Europe (Since November 2024)

• Individual Plan: €11.99 → €13.99 (16.6% increase)
• Family Plan: €17.99 → €25.99 (44.4% increase)

United States (Since 2023)

• Individual Plan: $11.99\to$13.99 (16.6% increase)
• Family Plan: $17.99\to$22.99 (27.8% increase)

Other Markets (Singapore, Colombia, Saudi Arabia)

Users in these countries have also reported significant price jumps, with many complaining on Reddit and Twitter.

Is There a Cheaper Alternative Coming?

YouTube Premium Lite – A New Budget Option

Google is testing a lower-cost version of YouTube Premium called YouTube Premium Lite.

What Does It Include?

• Ad-free videos (main feature)
• No background play or downloads (unlike full Premium)
• Lower price (exact cost not confirmed yet)

Where Will It Launch First?

• United States
• Australia
• Germany
• Thailand

If successful, it could expand to Africa, giving users a more affordable way to avoid ads without paying for extra features.

Should You Keep Your Subscription?

Reasons to Stay Subscribed:

✔ No ads (better viewing experience)
✔ YouTube Music included (replaces Spotify/Apple Music for some)
✔ Supports creators (YouTube shares revenue with channels you watch)

Reasons to Cancel:

✖ Family Plan is now much more expensive (R149.99/month)
✖ Free alternatives exist (Spotify has a free tier, though with ads)
✖ If you don’t use YouTube Music, it may not be worth it

What’s the Best Move?

• If you mainly watch YouTube and hate ads, keeping Premium may still be worth it.
• If you only use it for music, consider switching to Spotify or Apple Music, which may be cheaper.
• Wait for YouTube Premium Lite if you want a cheaper ad-free option.

Final Verdict: Is YouTube Premium Still Worth It in South Africa?

The 36% increase for Family Plans is a major jump, and some users will likely cancel. However, for those who heavily use YouTube and YouTube Music, the convenience of no ads + offline playback may still justify the cost.

The bigger question is: Will other African countries see similar hikes soon? If so, this could push more users toward free alternatives or pirated content, which would hurt YouTube’s long-term growth in the region.

What do you think? Will you keep YouTube Premium at the new price, or switch to another service? Let us know in the comments.