How to Get YouTube Premium Features for Free with This App

For some time now, YouTube has been actively encouraging users to subscribe to its Premium service, highlighting numerous perks such as uninterrupted viewing without ads, the ability to download videos for offline access, and the option to play videos in the background while using other applications.

While these features seem appealing, many individuals are hesitant to pay for ad-free streaming on YouTube. There are several reasons for this, including the tendency of companies like Google to increase subscription fees over time—currently, YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month, with the family plan priced at $22.99 for up to five users. With the current economic climate, many are reluctant to commit to that expense.

An alternative option could be YouTube Premium Lite, which is a more affordable way to access some of these premium features while still facing ads. Unfortunately, Premium Lite is not yet available in the United States or numerous other nations. So, what other options are available? You might be surprised to learn there are ways to enjoy premium-like features without a subscription fee.

Enjoy Premium Features Without the Cost

It’s possible to access YouTube’s premium functionalities without having to pay for them—thanks to an entirely legal method. You can utilize a free app called NewPipe, which is available for download on GitHub and the alternative app store F-Droid.

NewPipe mimics many of the features of YouTube Premium, allowing you to watch videos without ads, download them for offline viewing, play videos in the background, and lock your screen while continuing to enjoy content—all at no cost.

Moreover, if privacy is a concern for you, NewPipe is an excellent choice, as it operates without relying on Google APIs and only saves the data you choose directly on your device. This not only makes it lightweight but also enhances its speed.

The app is also more efficient in terms of battery usage when compared to the official YouTube app, while still providing all familiar features like comments, likes, and descriptions without compromising on user experience.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

While NewPipe sounds almost perfect, there is one limitation: it doesn’t allow you to log into your YouTube account, which means you’ll need to manually subscribe to channels and recreate playlists from scratch the first time you use it.

Visually, the NewPipe app has a more streamlined design compared to the standard YouTube app, but this is subjective—some users may actually appreciate the neater interface along with the luxurious premium features offered at no cost.

Additionally, NewPipe includes some unique functionality such as the ability to share data across devices. Therefore, even if you’re not interested in YouTube’s premium features, these additional capabilities might be compelling enough on their own.

Is NewPipe a Legal Option?

NewPipe functions as a straightforward media player, providing access to platforms like YouTube and Soundcloud without requiring user accounts. It streams content through either APIs or web scraping, making it legal to use.

Since NewPipe doesn’t connect with Google’s API, it isn’t available on the Google Play Store. However, downloading it via GitHub or F-Droid for Android devices is simple.

Although the app doesn’t violate any laws, it does present a challenge for Google, which may attempt to restrict access to options like NewPipe. Fortunately, open-source software tends to evolve, and these apps often return under different names or updates.