Yes, YouTube Music is free to use if you are willing to listen to ads. The free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music allows you to stream music and listen to playlists without paying a subscription fee. However, you will hear audio and video advertisements periodically while using the free service.
How YouTube Music’s Free Service Works
YouTube Music offers both free and paid membership options. The free version is supported by ads, while the paid YouTube Music Premium subscription removes ads and unlocks additional features. Both options allow you to search for and play unlimited music.
With a free YouTube Music account, you can:
- Search for and play any song, album, playlist, or music video on demand
- Create personal playlists to save songs
- Get customized song recommendations
- Listen to auto-generated playlists based on your tastes
- Use background listening on mobile so music plays even when you switch apps
The main limitation is that you will hear audio and video ads periodically while using the service for free. Ads play every few songs or between music videos. You cannot skip or remove these ads without a paid subscription.
Advantages of the Free, Ad-Supported Service
Opting for the free version gives you access to YouTube Music’s entire catalog of over 80 million official songs, covers, remixes, and live performances without paying a monthly fee. Here are some of the advantages:
- It’s free – You get full access to stream music on demand at no cost.
- Large music library – You can play virtually any song from major and independent artists.
- Works offline – You can download up to 500 songs to listen when not connected to the internet.
- Radio feature – Stations play music based on your tastes and listening history.
- Playlist generation – Get customized and regularly updated playlists without creating your own.
For casual listeners who don’t mind occasional ads, the free service provides a robust on-demand music experience at no cost. It gives you access to a large catalog of music with basic features like radio and playlists.
Limitations of the Free Service
While you get access to YouTube Music’s full catalog for free, the ad-supported service does come with some limitations:
- Audio ads – You’ll hear ads intermittently while listening to music.
- Video ads – Ads also play before and during music videos.
- No downloading – You can only download up to 500 songs for offline listening.
- No background play – Music stops if you switch to another app on mobile.
- No skips – You cannot skip or remove ads when they play.
For frequent listeners who want an uninterrupted, ad-free experience, the limitations of the free service may be frustrating. Paying for YouTube Music Premium removes all restrictions.
YouTube Music Premium Benefits
YouTube Music Premium provides an upgraded experience without any ads for $9.99 per month. Going premium unlocks these key benefits:
- No ads – Listen to music uninterrupted with no audio or video ads.
- Unlimited skips – Freely skip as many songs as you want.
- Unlimited downloads – Download as much music as you want for offline listening.
- Background play – Music doesn’t stop when you switch apps or lock your phone.
- Higher quality audio – Listen to high fidelity and spatial audio tracks.
YouTube Music Premium also includes ad-free access to all YouTube videos. Overall, it provides the best experience for music and video streaming.
Signing Up for YouTube Music
Getting started with YouTube Music is quick and easy:
- Go to music.youtube.com or download the YouTube Music app on your device.
- Sign in with your Google account or create a new one.
- Search for artists, songs, playlists, or start listening to customized recommendations.
- To go ad-free, select “Try YouTube Music Premium” and start a 1-month free trial or purchase a subscription.
- Download songs for offline listening from the library icon.
On the YouTube Music app, toggle between the two tabs at the top – Home and Explore – to find music suggestions and browse categories.
Listening on Mobile vs Desktop
The YouTube Music experience is slightly different on mobile devices versus the desktop site:
- Mobile – The app allows background listening, downloading songs, and control from the lock screen or notifications.
- Desktop – You can only stream music in the browser tab on a computer. Music stops if you switch tabs or apps.
Downloading the YouTube Music app on your smartphone or tablet is recommended for the best ad-free listening experience. The mobile app enables offline and background play.
Using YouTube Music Offline
You can save and listen to music offline on YouTube Music when not connected to the internet. Here’s how:
- Next to any track, album, or playlist, tap the download button (downward arrow icon).
- Downloads will appear in the library tab of the YouTube Music app.
- Tap a downloaded item to play it offline without using mobile data or WiFi.
- With Premium, there’s no limit on downloads. The free tier limits you to 500 offline songs.
Downloaded music expires after 30 days for free users. Paid subscribers can renew downloads at any time to keep songs offline indefinitely.
Supported Devices
YouTube Music is available across devices:
- Mobile: Android, iOS
- Tablet: Android, iPadOS
- Computer: Windows, MacOS, Linux
- Smart devices: Google Home, Chromecast, Android TV, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
- Gaming: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Wearables: Wear OS, Apple Watch
The mobile experience is the most robust in terms of background listening, downloads, and controls. Desktop and other devices limit you to in-browser streaming.
Pros and Cons
Here are some key pros and cons to consider about YouTube Music’s free, ad-supported service:
Pros
- Access full music catalog for free
- Create and share playlists
- Get personalized recommendations
- 500 song download limit for offline listening
- Available across all major devices
Cons
- Periodic audio and video ads
- No unlimited downloads
- No background listening
- No unlimited track skips
- Lower audio quality than paid tier
Is YouTube Music Ultimately Worth It for Free?
YouTube Music’s free, ad-supported tier offers a lot of value at no cost. For casual listeners, the free service provides:
- Access to YouTube Music’s entire catalog of over 80 million songs
- Custom playlists and radio stations based on your taste
- Basic features like shuffle play and song queues
- Limited song downloads for offline listening
However, frequent listeners will likely want to upgrade to the paid Premium plan to remove pesky ads and unlock unlimited downloads, background play, and skips.
Overall, the free ad-supported YouTube Music experience is worth it for light users who want casual access to music and don’t mind occasional audio ads. Heavy listeners who want the best experience will need to subscribe, but they can try it free for a month before committing.
