YouTube Premium alternatives
Killing $13.99/mo (~$168/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
the answer easy migration
FreeTube · Free ⭐ 21.7K stars Ad-free, tracker-free desktop YouTube client with subscriptions stored locally.
you stop paying $13.99/mo → keep ~$168/yr
head-to-head
| YouTube Premium | FreeTube | |
|---|---|---|
| price | $13.99/mo | Free |
| self-hostable | no | yes |
| license | proprietary | AGPL-3.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
| migration | — | easy effort |
free & open source (1)
cheaper, but not open source (1)
Brave Browser cheaper
Free
Shields block YouTube ads incl. background play in the mobile browser.
trade-offs: In-browser experience ≠ native app · Cat-and-mouse with YouTube changes
faq
What is the best free alternative to YouTube Premium?
FreeTube is the top free option — Ad-free, tracker-free desktop YouTube client with subscriptions stored locally.
How much can I save by switching from YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium costs $13.99/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $168/year per seat.
Can YouTube Premium be self-hosted?
Yes — FreeTube can be self-hosted for free.