For those who have been enjoying the benefits of YouTube Premium at a more affordable price through a VPN, a word of caution is in order. The discounted subscription you’ve been enjoying may be at risk. Reports on social media suggest that YouTube has taken action and canceled some users’ Premium subscriptions.
So, is the cheap YouTube Premium subscriptions ending? Here are all the details.
How did the cheap subscription tactic work with a VPN?
Some users have been using a VPN to virtually move their accounts to different countries to subscribe to YouTube Premium at lower prices. Especially in countries like Ukraine, YouTube Premium costs a very attractive $2.44 per month. In contrast, the same subscription costs $13.99 in the US. Users who want to take advantage of this price difference can get a Premium subscription at more affordable prices by moving their accounts to countries like Ukraine with a VPN.
However, YouTube has begun to address this situation. Some users who obtained cheaper subscriptions through a VPN started receiving emails that their accounts were canceled. Some users are even reporting that when they contacted YouTube customer service, they were told that their accounts had been canceled due to “relocation” and that they now need to re-subscribe from the country they are in.
This development is in line with YouTube’s recent crackdown on anti-advertising practices. The platform has begun sending warnings to those using ad blockers and experimenting with new ad-serving techniques. This could be interpreted as part of YouTube’s effort to encourage viewers to use the platform with ads or purchase a Premium subscription for an ad-free experience.
YouTube’s clear message is, “Pay for a Premium subscription based on where you live“.
YouTube is now enforcing a clear policy: the Premium subscription fee must be paid based on the user’s actual country of residence. This means that the method of using a VPN to access cheaper subscriptions is no longer a viable option.
YouTube Premium price by country
You can see the pricing of YouTube Premium by country in the table we have prepared for you below:
| Country | Monthly Price | USD Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 139 MXN | $8.10 |
| Switzerland | 15.90 CHF | $18.35 |
| Sweden | 69 SEK | $6.58 |
| United Kingdom | 12.99 GBP | $16.41 |
| Poland | 25.99 PLN | $6.50 |
| France | 12.99 EUR | $14.02 |
| Norway | 69 NOK | $6.50 |
| Germany | 12.99 EUR | $14.02 |
| Saudi Arabia | 23.99 SAR | $6.40 |
| United States | 13.99 USD | $13.99 |
| Romania | 26 RON | $5.64 |
| Italy | 11.99 EUR | $12.94 |
| Brazil | 24.90 BRL | $5.01 |
| Netherlands | 11.99 EUR | $12.94 |
| Malaysia | 17.90 MYR | $3.79 |
| Australia | 16.99 AUD | $11.07 |
| Indonesia | 59,000 IDR | $3.75 |
| New Zealand | 17.99 NZD | $10.92 |
| Vietnam | 79,000 VND | $3.24 |
| Denmark | 69 DKK | $9.99 |
| Philippines | 159 PHP | $2.83 |
| Hong Kong | 78 HKD | $9.97 |
| Ukraine | 99 UAH | $2.64 |
| Canada | 12.99 CAD | $9.65 |
| Turkiye | 57.99 TRY | $1.90 |
| Singapore | 11.98 SGD | $8.92 |
| India | 129 INR | $1.55 |
| Japan | 1,280 JPY | $8.63 |
| Argentina | 869 ARS | $1.05 |
The era of using a VPN to access YouTube Premium at a more affordable price is seemingly drawing a close. As YouTube’s position on this issue becomes more stringent, users will appear to be left with two options: either agree to use the platform with ads or pay the Premium subscription fee based on their actual country of residence.
Featured image credit: NordWood Themes / Unsplash
