While YouTube doesn’t offer a direct “gift subscription” button for YouTube Premium, you can still easily gift the ad-free viewing experience and other perks to friends and family. The most effective method is by using a Youtube Premium Gift Card, or more accurately, a Google Play gift card. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about gifting YouTube Premium using gift cards, ensuring your loved ones can enjoy uninterrupted entertainment.
Understanding Your Options for Gifting YouTube Premium
Previously, YouTube offered prepaid gift memberships, simplifying the gifting process. However, the current approach involves utilizing gift cards that cover the subscription cost. Let’s explore the available options:
Google Play Gift Cards: The Versatile Choice
Google Play Gift Cards are your go-to solution for gifting YouTube Premium. These cards aren’t limited to just YouTube; they provide access to a wide array of Google services and content. When your recipient redeems a Google Play gift card, the funds are added to their Google Play balance, which can then be used to pay for:
- YouTube Premium subscriptions: Enjoy ad-free YouTube, background playback, and offline downloads.
- YouTube Music Premium subscriptions: Ad-free music streaming, offline listening, and background play in the YouTube Music app.
- YouTube TV: Access live TV streaming (where available).
- Movies and TV shows on YouTube: Rent or purchase content directly on YouTube.
- Digital content on Google Play: Apps, games, books, and more from the Google Play Store.
- Channel memberships: Support creators with monthly memberships.
- Super Chats and Super Stickers: Engage with live streams (on mobile).
Essentially, a Google Play gift card offers maximum flexibility, allowing the recipient to choose how they want to use the gifted funds, with YouTube Premium being a prime option.
Google Play Gift Card for Gifting YouTube Premium Subscription
You can purchase Google Play gift cards from numerous authorized retailers. Google provides a helpful tool to find locations near you or online retailers: https://play.google/intl/en_us/giftcards/#where-to-buy. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy offer both physical and digital Google Play gift cards, providing convenient options to suit your gifting needs. Digital gift cards are particularly handy for instant delivery, making them perfect for last-minute gifts.
YouTube Gift Cards (No Longer Available)
It’s worth noting that YouTube once offered specific “YouTube Gift Cards.” These were more targeted and could only be used for YouTube-related services such as YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, and YouTube Movies & TV Shows. However, YouTube-branded gift cards have been discontinued and are no longer available. Therefore, Google Play Gift Cards are now the standard and only method for gifting YouTube Premium through gift cards.
Sharing a YouTube Premium Family Plan
If you are already a YouTube Premium subscriber with a family plan, this presents another way to “gift” YouTube Premium. A family plan allows you to add up to five family members to your subscription, enabling them to enjoy all the benefits of YouTube Premium under your umbrella. This is a cost-effective solution if you wish to provide YouTube Premium access to multiple people within your household.
Choosing the Best Gifting Option:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Gift Card | Highly versatile, can be used for YouTube Premium and other Google services | Less specifically targeted towards YouTube if the recipient has other needs |
| Share Family Plan | Economical for multiple users, direct access for family members | Requires you to have a family plan, limited to family members |
| YouTube Gift Card (Deprecated) | Specifically for YouTube services (but no longer available) | Not available for purchase |
Delving Deeper into YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium significantly enhances the standard YouTube experience by offering a range of valuable features that cater to avid viewers.
The Advantages of YouTube Premium
Subscribing to YouTube Premium unlocks a suite of benefits designed to provide an optimal viewing environment:
- Ad-Free Viewing: Enjoy videos without interruptions from advertisements. This is arguably the most sought-after benefit, providing a seamless and immersive experience.
- Offline Downloads: Download videos directly to your device to watch anytime, anywhere, even without an internet connection. Perfect for commutes or travel.
- Background Playback: Continue listening to videos or music even when you switch to other apps or lock your screen. Ideal for listening to music, podcasts, or lectures while multitasking.
- YouTube Music Premium Included: Gain access to YouTube Music Premium, unlocking ad-free music streaming, offline listening, and background play within the YouTube Music app.
- YouTube Originals Access: Watch exclusive content, including series and movies from YouTube Originals.
YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Music Premium: Key Differences
While both subscriptions enhance your YouTube experience, they cater to slightly different needs:
- YouTube Premium: Offers a comprehensive upgrade for the entire YouTube platform, including ad-free viewing for all video content, music, offline downloads, and background play across both YouTube and YouTube Music apps.
- YouTube Music Premium: Focuses specifically on music, providing ad-free music streaming, offline music downloads, and background play, but only within the dedicated YouTube Music app. It does not remove ads from general YouTube video content.
For gifting purposes, YouTube Premium is generally the more appealing option due to its broader range of benefits, encompassing both video and music content.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gifting YouTube Premium
Navigating the gifting landscape can sometimes raise questions. Here are answers to common queries regarding gifting YouTube Premium:
How do I actually gift YouTube Premium to someone?
The process is straightforward: purchase a Google Play gift card from an authorized retailer, either a physical card or a digital code. Deliver the gift card to your recipient. They can then redeem the card to add funds to their Google Play balance and use those funds to subscribe to YouTube Premium.
Can I gift a year-long YouTube Premium subscription?
While YouTube doesn’t offer a direct annual gift subscription, you can easily achieve this by purchasing a Google Play gift card with an amount equivalent to the annual cost of YouTube Premium. The recipient can then use this gift card to pay for a year-long subscription.
Is a Google Play gift card redeemable for YouTube Premium?
Yes, absolutely. Google Play gift cards are valid for purchasing YouTube Premium subscriptions, as well as other Google services and digital content within the Google ecosystem.
Can I gift specific YouTube content like movies?
Currently, direct gifting of individual YouTube purchases like movies is not a feature. However, by gifting a Google Play gift card, you indirectly provide the recipient with the means to purchase movies, TV shows, or subscribe to YouTube Premium, effectively gifting access to a wide range of YouTube content.
Is there a way to gift a YouTube Premium family plan?
Directly gifting a family plan isn’t possible. However, you can gift a Google Play gift card with a value sufficient to cover the cost of a YouTube Premium family plan subscription. The recipient can then use the gift card to set up their own family plan.
By understanding these gifting methods, you can confidently give the gift of uninterrupted entertainment with a YouTube Premium gift card, bringing joy to any video and music enthusiast.
