The short answer is yes, YouTube Music is free to use on Google Home smart speakers. However, there are some limitations to the free experience. Let’s take a closer look at how YouTube Music works with Google Home.
YouTube Music Free Features on Google Home
With a free YouTube Music account linked to your Google Home device, you can:
- Play audio from official music videos and songs on YouTube Music.
- Search for and play any song, album, artist, playlist, or music video on YouTube.
- Create personalized playlists and stations based on your musical tastes.
- Listen to curated playlists like Discover Mix that are tailored to your preferences.
- Take advantage of Google Assistant to control music playback using voice commands.
YouTube Music has a vast catalog of over 80 million official songs, covers, and remixes. So even without a paid subscription, you still get access to stream a lot of music for free.
YouTube Music Premium Features Not Included
While YouTube Music on Google Home gives you plenty of free streaming options, upgrading to YouTube Music Premium unlocks additional features such as:
- Ad-free listening – No video or display ads will play between songs.
- Background/offline playback – Music will continue even when your mobile app is in the background or offline.
- Audio-only mode – Listen to songs in audio-only format without the video.
- Uninterrupted listening – Enjoy music without interruptions from visuals or ads.
- Downloads for offline listening – Download songs, albums, playlists to listen when offline.
So with the free tier, music will stop if you exit the YouTube Music app. And some music videos will include visuals and ads between songs. For a seamless listening experience across devices, YouTube Music Premium is recommended.
Setting Up YouTube Music on Google Home
Using YouTube Music on your Google Home speaker only takes a few minutes to set up:
- Make sure your Google Home device is connected to the Google Home app and working properly.
- Download the YouTube Music mobile app (Android or iOS) if you don’t already have it.
- Sign into the YouTube Music app using your Google account.
- In the Google Home app, go to Settings > Services > Music.
- Under “Your music services” tap on YouTube Music.
- Link your YouTube Music account when prompted.
Once linked, you can start playing music by saying voice commands like “Hey Google, play jazz music on YouTube Music” or “Hey Google, play my Discover Mix.”
Voice Commands for YouTube Music
Here are some helpful voice commands you can use to control YouTube Music playback on Google Home speakers:
- “Hey Google, play some music” – Starts playing recommended music.
- “Hey Google, play top hits on YouTube Music” – Plays current popular songs.
- “Hey Google, play classic rock on YouTube Music” – Plays genre-based radio station.
- “Hey Google, play acid jazz radio on YouTube Music” – Plays customized music station.
- “Hey Google, play my Discover Mix on YouTube Music” – Plays personalized playlist.
- “Hey Google, play relaxing piano music on YouTube Music” – Plays mood-based playlist.
- “Hey Google, play synthwave from YouTube Music” – Plays songs based on search term.
You can request songs, artists, albums, playlists, and more. Just say “from YouTube Music” at the end so Google Home knows which service to use.
Restrictions
There are a couple restrictions to note with the free version of YouTube Music on Google Home:
- You can’t select specific songs on-demand – it functions more like a radio station.
- You may hear ads between songs depending on the content.
- Visuals from music videos will not display on Google Home screen.
- Music stops if you exit the YouTube Music app.
Also, access to YouTube Music catalogs can vary by region. So some songs may not be available in your country. Overall though, you still get a lot of functionality for free.
Upgrading to YouTube Music Premium
To unlock features like unlimited skips, ad-free listening, and background playback, you’ll need a YouTube Music Premium subscription. Pricing options include:
- Individual plan – $9.99/month
- Family plan – $14.99/month (up to 5 family members)
- Student plan – $4.99/month
With YouTube Premium ($11.99/month), you get ad-free YouTube video streaming in addition to YouTube Music Premium. There is also a 1-month free trial available so you can test it out.
Upgrading to YouTube Music Premium takes your Google Home listening experience to the next level. But the free, ad-supported version still gives you plenty of music to enjoy.
Pros and Cons
Here are some key pros and cons to using the free version of YouTube Music with Google Home:
Pros
- Access to vast music catalog on YouTube
- Personalized playlists and radio stations
- Syncs across devices when app open
- Intuitive voice control with Google Assistant
- Free with ads (no subscription cost)
Cons
- No on-demand song selection
- Ads interupt listening experience
- No audio-only or background listening
- Limited search, skip, and replay
- Playback stops when you exit app
The Bottom Line
YouTube Music offers an impressive free streaming experience on Google Home smart speakers. While you don’t get all the perks of a paid subscription, you can still enjoy playlists, radio stations, and music videos at no cost.
If you want an ad-free, uninterrupted listening experience with unlimited on-demand playback, YouTube Music Premium is worth the upgrade. But even without paying, YouTube Music still provides free access to a vast catalog of music.
So in summary – yes, YouTube Music is free to use on Google Home. Just link your YouTube Music account in the Google Home app to start streaming.
