YouTube has unveiled a new subscription tier called Premium Lite, offering a more affordable option compared to its standard YouTube Premium service. This new tier provides a reduced set of features while maintaining a lower price point.

Premium Lite offers an ad-free viewing experience for most videos in categories such as gaming, fashion, beauty, and news. However, it does not include offline downloads or background playback, and ads may still appear on music-related content, YouTube Shorts, and during search and browsing activities.

The subscription is priced at $6 less than the full Premium service, which costs $13.99 per month. This translates to an annual saving of $72, but the value will depend on individual user preferences and usage.

Currently, Premium Lite is being tested as a pilot program in the United States, with plans to expand to users in Germany, Thailand, and Australia in the coming weeks. These countries have been part of an initial trial phase, and YouTube aims to extend the pilot to additional countries throughout the year, including Pakistan.

With over 125 million global subscribers to YouTube Premium, including trial users, Premium Lite aims to attract a broader audience by focusing on those who prioritize an ad-free experience over additional features like YouTube Music and downloadable videos.