YouTube Premium costs $13.99/month for individuals in the US — but millions of users are paying nothing at all. Per Google's official support documentation, new subscribers qualify for free trials, and several carrier and retail partnerships extend those savings even further. If you already know how to get free Spotify Premium, the same logic applies here: timing, eligibility, and knowing which promotions stack.
Whether you're a student, a Google Fi subscriber, or simply a new user who hasn't claimed a trial yet, there's likely a legitimate path to free or deeply discounted access waiting for you. Check our guide on streaming service bundles if you want to compare the full picture. Here are the five best ways to get YouTube Premium free — let's get started!
Quick Answer
YouTube Premium costs $13.99/month, but you can get it free through a 1-month trial for new subscribers, student discounts, Google Fi carrier deals, or retail partnerships. Students typically pay around $7.99/month. Timing your signup with active promotions and checking carrier eligibility are the fastest legitimate paths to free or discounted access.
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Summary Table
| Item Name | Price Range | Best For | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official YouTube Premium Trial | Free (1–3 months) | New subscribers claiming their first trial | Visit Site |
| Best Buy Promotion | Free (3 months) | My Best Buy Plus or Total members in the US | See details |
| Google Fi Unlimited Plus | Free (6 months, included with plan) | Google Fi subscribers aged 13+ on Unlimited Plus | Visit Site |
| Student Plan Discount | $7.99/month after verification | Enrolled college and university students | See details |
| Google TV Bundle | Free (bundled with eligible devices) | Google TV device owners seeking included perks | Visit Site |
5 Legit Ways to Get YouTube Premium Free (2026)
Below you'll find detailed information about each option, including what makes them unique and their key benefits.
1. Official YouTube Premium Trial
The easiest way to get YouTube Premium free is through Google's own trial offer, which gives new subscribers one month at no cost. After the trial ends, the plan renews at $13.99/month for Individual or $22.99/month for Family, so cancel before the billing date if you don't want to pay. This works on any device and activates instantly through your Google account.
What you get during the trial:
- Ad-free playback on all YouTube videos
- Background play and offline downloads
- YouTube Music Premium included at no extra cost
2. Best Buy Promotion
Best Buy periodically offers 1 free month of YouTube Premium plus 50% off the following two months for new subscribers — giving you three months at a steep discount. This is a solid option if you've already used the official Google trial, since it's a separate promotional path for eligible new members. The deal is available to new YouTube Premium subscribers only and is redeemed through Best Buy's website.
Key details:
- Month 1: Free; Months 2–3: ~$7/month (50% off $13.99)
- New YouTube Premium subscribers only — not stackable with Google's trial
- Check Best Buy's site for current availability, as promotions rotate
3. Google Fi Unlimited Plus
Google Fi's Unlimited Plus plan bundles YouTube Premium at no extra charge, making it a way to access the service for free if you're already paying for a phone plan. According to Google Fi's support page, the Unlimited Plus plan includes YouTube Premium as a built-in perk alongside 100GB of hotspot data. If you're switching carriers anyway, this effectively makes the subscription free as part of your existing bill. You can also pair this with other streaming service bundles to maximize value.
Plan highlights:
- Unlimited Plus starts at $65/month (single line) — YouTube Premium included
- No separate subscription needed; activates automatically on eligible plans
4. Student Plan Discount
YouTube Premium's student discount cuts the standard $13.99/month price down to around $7.99/month — not entirely free, but close enough to count as a heavily subsidized option worth knowing. Eligibility is verified through SheerID, which checks enrollment at accredited colleges and universities in supported countries.
You'll need to re-verify your student status every 12 months, and the discount applies for up to 4 years. If you're already exploring free spotify premium through a student deal, stacking both is a straightforward way to cover your streaming needs at minimal cost.
Key details:
- ~$7.99/month vs. $13.99/month standard rate (saves ~$72/year)
- Includes YouTube Music Premium at no extra charge
- Available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and select other countries
5. Google TV Bundle
Purchasing a Google TV device — such as the Chromecast with Google TV — sometimes comes bundled with a free YouTube Premium trial lasting 3 to 6 months, depending on the promotion. This is a device-based offer, meaning the free access is tied to redeeming a code that ships with eligible hardware rather than signing up directly through YouTube.
It's worth checking current retail listings at Best Buy or Google's own store before purchasing any Google TV hardware, as bundle terms vary by retailer and promotion period. If you're already planning to buy a streaming device, this route effectively makes Premium free for several months.
Notable perks:
- Trial length varies: commonly 3 months, occasionally up to 6 months
- Redeemable by new YouTube Premium subscribers only
- Works alongside other streaming service bundles you may already use
Final Words
Getting YouTube Premium for free is entirely possible through legitimate methods like free trials, student discounts, family plan sharing, Google Play rewards, or carrier bundle deals. Explore these five options to enjoy ad-free streaming, background play, and YouTube Music without paying the standard $13.99/month fee.