YouTube Premium is now available in Sri Lanka

YouTube Premium, the platform’s subscription service is finally available in Sri Lanka making it among the hundred markets to open up in recent times. The service comes with all the standard benefits of YouTube Premium at a regional price, similar to the likes of Netflix and Spotify. So what does a YouTube Premium subscription get you? Here’s what you need to know.

YouTube Premium benefits

• No ads, which means none of those random intrusive promos will show up while watching videos
• You can download videos. You won’t be able to move the files around like a TikTok video, but it’s a useful feature to have, particularly if you’re looking to watch offline or simply make use of that nighttime data
• Picture-in-Picture mode and background play. Not only will you be able to watch those videos while on another app, but you can also listen to YouTube videos in the background without having the app open
• YouTube Music comes bundled and ad-free. While it might not be as popular as Spotify, YouTube Music has a similarly-sized catalog. However, sound quality maxes out at 256kbps for Premium users.

In terms of the subscription, users can buy an individual plan for LKR 629 per month while a family plan at LKR 1,199 per month will let you add 5 members within the same household. There’s also a student plan available for LKR 365 per month where an annual verification is required to retain the service.

Alternatively, if you’re only interested in YouTube Music, a Premium subscription will have an LKR 529 per month price tag. The plan offers ad-free music, offline listening, and background play. either way, if you’re still on the fence about YouTube Premium, the service will give you a one-month trial.

More streaming choices

YouTube’s expanded offering comes at an interesting time, considering Google’s recent decision to raise YouTube Premium prices in the US. The company followed suit with numerous other streaming services like Amazon Music, Tidal, Apple Music, and Spotify that have already raised prices in the market. Of course, it’s unlikely to impact regions like Sri Lanka in the immediate future.

In any case, the availability of YouTube Premium should come as a welcome addition considering how popular the platform has become in the digital space.