YouTube Music: Google's music service

YouTube Music is Google's music streaming service that integrates seamlessly with the huge video platform YouTube. With access to official albums, singles, remixes, live performances and covers, YouTube Music offers a unique music experience. In this article you'll discover everything about the free and premium versions, and how to get the most out of the app.

Free versus Premium: what are the differences?

YouTube Music is available in two versions with considerable differences in features and ease of use.

YouTube Music Free

The free version gives you access to the full music catalog, but with limitations. You hear ads between songs, you can't download music for offline listening, and the app stops playing as soon as you turn off the screen or switch to another app. For occasional use or to try out the service, this is a fine option.

YouTube Music Premium

With Premium for 10.99 euros per month, all ads disappear and you can play music in the background while you use other apps. You can download unlimited songs for offline listening and the audio quality is higher. Premium subscribers also get access to exclusive content and can stream audio only to save data.

YouTube Premium bundle

For 13.99 euros per month you get YouTube Premium, which includes both ad-free videos on YouTube and YouTube Music Premium. If you watch a lot of YouTube, this is the best deal.

Installing and setting up the YouTube Music app

Download YouTube Music from the App Store for iPhone or the Google Play Store for Android. The app is free to download, whether you have a free or a premium account.

Creating an account or signing in

Sign in with your existing Google account. All your YouTube preferences sync automatically, which means the app immediately knows which artists you like based on your watch history. You can also create a new account if you prefer.

Setting your music preferences

The first time you open the app, it asks you to select artists you like. Tap artists to add them to your preferences. This helps the algorithm make better recommendations. You can always change this later in the settings.

The YouTube Music interface is clear and intuitive. At the bottom you find four main tabs: Home, Explore, Library and Upgrade (or your profile if you have Premium).

Home tab

The Home tab is your personalized start page. Here you find mixes made especially for you, recently played music and recommendations based on your listening history. The Supermix combines all your favorite genres into an endless playlist.

Explore tab

This is where you discover new music. Find new releases, trending songs in the Netherlands, moods and genres, and playlists put together by curators. It is the perfect place to step outside your comfort zone and discover new artists.

Library tab

Your library contains all your saved music, downloads, playlists and liked songs. Here you manage your personal music collection and quickly find your favorites again.

Unique features of YouTube Music

YouTube Music stands out from competitors with a few unique features you won't find anywhere else.

Music videos and live performances

Switch seamlessly between audio and video. Watch the official music video of a song or listen to the audio only to save data. Access to live performances, concert recordings and acoustic sessions makes YouTube Music unique.

Covers and remixes

Discover covers of your favorite songs by other artists, fan remixes and mashups. You won't find this huge range of user-generated content on any other streaming service.

Lyrics

Many songs have synchronized lyrics that scroll along with the music. Tap the lyrics icon during playback to read or sing along.

Creating and managing playlists

Create personal playlists by tapping the three dots next to a song and choosing Add to playlist. You can create new playlists or add songs to existing ones.

YouTube Music also automatically creates playlists for you, such as your Liked music, Offline mixtape and personal mixes per genre. These are constantly updated based on your listening behavior.

Offline listening with Premium

With a Premium subscription you can download music for offline listening. Tap the download button next to an album, playlist or song. Choose the download quality in the settings: low, normal or high.

The Smart downloads feature is especially handy. Turn it on to automatically download a selection of your favorite music whenever you are connected to Wi-Fi. That way you always have music available, even if you forgot to download manually.

Data usage and audio quality

In the settings you can adjust the audio quality for both mobile data and Wi-Fi. Choose between low, normal, high or always high. Premium users also have an option to stream audio only, which uses considerably less data than video.

Data saving tips

Turn on audio only for mobile use to save data. Download your favorite music at home over Wi-Fi. Use the Limit mobile data usage option in the settings to avoid unexpectedly high data usage.

Integration with other Google services

YouTube Music integrates seamlessly with other Google products. Ask Google Assistant to play music on your phone or smart speaker. Chromecast your music to your TV or compatible speakers. Your listening history syncs automatically across all your devices.

Tips for getting the most out of it

Like songs you enjoy to improve your recommendations. Use the queue to add songs you want to hear next. Try out the different mixes to discover new music that suits your taste. Make use of the lyrics feature to get to know songs better.

Frequently asked questions

Is YouTube Music really free?

Yes, YouTube Music has a completely free version. You have access to all the music, but with ads, no offline downloads and no background play. For the full experience you need Premium for 10.99 euros per month.

What is the difference between YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium?

YouTube Music Premium (10.99 euros per month) only gives you access to ad-free music with offline downloads. YouTube Premium (13.99 euros per month) includes everything from Music Premium plus ad-free videos across all of YouTube and access to YouTube Originals.

Can I use YouTube Music on my computer?

Yes, YouTube Music is available in the browser at music.youtube.com. You can also install the Progressive Web App for an app-like experience. All features, including Premium benefits, work in the web version.

Does YouTube Music sync with my YouTube account?

Yes, YouTube Music uses your Google/YouTube account. Your likes, subscriptions and watch history on YouTube influence your music recommendations. This means the app immediately knows what you like without you having to set everything up again.