Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
YouTube Music Review
YouTube's music app: official tracks plus videos, covers and remixes in one catalogue
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
YouTube Music suits people already living in the YouTube and Google ecosystem who want official tracks alongside videos, covers and remixes; prices vary by country and are comparatively low in Vietnam. The trade-offs are that the free tier has ads and no background play, and Wikipedia notes it had not reached full feature parity with the old Google Play Music as of 2024.
Best for: Listeners who often play covers, remixes, live sets and music videos from YouTube
Skip it if: People who want free background playback with the screen off
Pros
- Official US prices: $11.99 individual, $18.99 family, $5.99 student per month
- One-month trial for eligible new members
- Premium removes ads and adds background play and offline downloads
Cons
- The free tier has ads and, per Wikipedia, tops out at 128 kbit/s
- Downloads expire after up to 30 days without reconnecting
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- Rated 4.7/5 on the Vietnamese App Store (over 13,000 ratings)
Cons
- Google Play (Vietnam) rates it 4.1/5, well below its App Store score
Best for
- Families or students after a low-cost paid tier ($18.99 and $5.99 a month in the US)
Skip it if
- Those who need lossless audio; available sources cite only up to 256 kbit/s for Premium
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What it is
YouTube Music is YouTube's music app, released in November 2015 according to Wikipedia. What sets it apart from most music apps is a catalogue that mixes official releases with videos, covers, remixes and live sets uploaded to YouTube. In December 2020 it became Google's main music brand when Google Play Music shut down.
Key features
According to Google's help page, Premium members get ad-free listening, playback that continues with the screen off, downloads kept up to 30 days and casting from the web app to speakers or TVs; the audio-only mode is open to all podcast listeners. Ads can still appear on podcasts and some live streams. Wikipedia lists Premium audio at up to 256 kbit/s versus 128 kbit/s on the free tier.
Pricing
YouTube's US sign-up page shows Individual at $11.99/month (or $119.99 for 12 months), Family at $18.99/month (up to 5 more members aged 13+) and Student at $5.99/month (annual verification). Eligible new members get a one-month trial. Wikipedia lists Vietnam as launching on 12 April 2023.
More analysis
Versus alternatives
YouTube Music's strengths are its reach into YouTube content and low family and student prices. People who want a library of official releases only, or audio above 256 kbit/s, should compare Spotify, Apple Music or TIDAL on current prices and features.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Official US prices (USD)
- Free (with ads)PersonalFree
- Music Premium - IndividualPersonal$11.99/mo$10/mo billed yearly
- Music Premium - FamilyPersonal$18.99/mo
- Music Premium - StudentPersonal$5.99/mo
Miễn phí (có quảng cáo)
PersonalFree
Free with ads. According to Wikipedia, the free tier has no audio-only background playback and audio is up to 128 kbit/s.
Music Premium - Cá nhân
Personal₫65,000/mo/user
Ad-free, background play and offline downloads. $11.99/month in the US, or $119.99 for 12 months (Vietnam prices exclude VAT). Eligible new members get a one-month trial.
Music Premium - Gia đình
Personal₫99,000/mo
Add up to 5 members aged 13 or over from the same household. $18.99/month in the US (Vietnam prices exclude VAT).
Music Premium - Sinh viên
Personal₫35,000/mo/user
Eligible students only, with annual verification. $5.99/month in the US (Vietnam prices exclude VAT).
- Free plan limits
- The free version has ads; ad-free listening, background play with the screen off and downloads belong to Music Premium.
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial · no credit card
Cancellation & refunds
The sources opened do not state a refund policy. The sign-up page says you can cancel at any time and are reminded 7 days before the trial ends.
Privacy
YouTube Music falls under Google's general Privacy Policy (effective 16 October 2026). It lists account data, search and watch history, device identifiers, IP addresses and location. Google says it does not share personal information outside Google except with consent, a domain administrator, service providers or for legal reasons. My Activity lets you review and delete activity, Google Takeout exports data, and auto-delete can be set.
YouTube Music alternatives
7.8/10Spotify
Music and podcasts with a free tier; Premium at $12.99/month in the US
7.6/10Apple Music
Apple's music streaming service: 100M+ songs, lossless and Spatial Audio
Frequently asked questions
How much is YouTube Music Premium?
YouTube's US sign-up page lists $11.99/month Individual (or $119.99 for 12 months), $18.99/month Family and $5.99/month Student.
Is there a free trial?
Yes, one month for eligible new members, with a reminder 7 days before the trial ends.
Do downloaded songs stay available forever?
No. Per Google's help page, downloads are kept for up to 30 days if the device does not reconnect.
How does the free version differ from Premium?
The free version has ads and, per Wikipedia, no audio-only background playback and a 128 kbit/s cap. Premium removes ads and adds background play and downloads.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.8
- Features
- 7.8
- Value for money
- 8.0
- Performance
- 7.2
- Support
- 6.3
- Privacy & security
- 6.0
Why this score
Mobile and web apps, sign-in with a Google account and an audio-only mode. The Vietnamese App Store rates it 4.7/5.
Why this score
Background play, downloads, casting to speakers or TVs, audio-only mode and Smart Downloads. The catalogue includes videos, covers and remixes. No source opened mentions lossless audio.
Why this score
Individual $11.99, family $18.99 and student $5.99 per month in the US, with a one-month trial.
Why this score
Google Play in Vietnam is 4.1/5 over nearly 7.9 million ratings; the App Store is 4.7/5. Premium audio is up to 256 kbit/s per Wikipedia.
Why this score
Google's help centre exists, but the sources reviewed list no dedicated chat or phone channel for YouTube Music.
Why this score
Google's general policy collects many data types (activity, location, device) but offers My Activity, Takeout and auto-delete.
What users say
- App Store (Vietnam) - YouTube Music4.7/5 · 13,830
- Google Play (Vietnam) - YouTube Music4.1/5 · 7,897,128
Sources
- Vendor-providedYouTube Music Premium sign-up page (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedYouTube Music Premium benefits (Google help)Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedGoogle Privacy PolicyNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- pressVnExpress International - YouTube Premium rolls out in Vietnam (2023-04-13)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia - YouTube MusicNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedYouTube Music Premium page (US, USD)Nov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Google LLC (YouTube)
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2015
- Category
- Entertainment
Capabilities
- Works offline
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
Integrations
- YouTube
- Google Assistant
- Chromecast
- Tesla
Support
- Help center
- Community forum
Change history
- Update.According to Wikipedia, the service had 125 million paid subscribers as of March 2025.
- Feature.YouTube Music becomes available in Vietnam. YouTube Premium launches there around the same time at 79,000 VND individual, 149,000 VND family and 49,000 VND student per month.
- Company.YouTube Music becomes Google's primary music streaming brand; Google Play Music shuts down in December 2020.
Full change history (5)
- Feature.A new version with a web player and a standalone US$9.99/month subscription rolls out first in five markets: the US, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and South Korea.
- Launch.YouTube Music launches alongside YouTube Red (now YouTube Premium).
About the author
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