Spotify Premium vs YouTube Premium
Quick answer
Choose YouTube Premium if you watch a lot of YouTube and want the ads gone, since it also includes YouTube Music Premium; choose Spotify Premium if music and podcasts are what you care about and you value Spotify's playlists and recommendations. Spotify does nothing about YouTube's video ads. YouTube Music covers most listening needs, but moving years of Spotify playlists and listening history is a real cost to weigh.
LicenceBase sells both products, so this page is not neutral. Features are set by each brand and change over time. LicenceBase prices are read live from the store; brand list prices show the date they were checked on the brand's own site.
Prices in Canadian dollars
| Product | LicenceBase price (CAD) | Lowest per month | Brand's own price (reference) | Product page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify Premium |
|
$4.95 on 6 Months | Premium Individual: CA$13.99/monthChecked Oct 2026 on Spotify's site | View plans |
| YouTube Premium |
|
$4.13 on 4 Months | Premium Individual: CA$12.99/monthChecked Oct 2026 on YouTube's site | View plans |
Brand prices are what the brand charges on its own Canadian site, shown for reference on the date given, before any tax the brand adds; follow the link for today's price. They are not LicenceBase prices: LicenceBase is an independent store, not the brand, and its plans are one-time payments for a fixed term, sold on different terms from the brand's own subscription. A brand price appears only where we have matched our product to the brand's plan.
Which should you choose?
Choose Spotify Premium if
- Music and podcasts make up most of what you listen to
- You rely on Spotify's personalized playlists and discovery
- You already have years of playlists and saved music on Spotify
- You rarely watch YouTube or do not mind its ads
Choose YouTube Premium if
- You watch YouTube daily and want ad-free videos
- You want videos to keep playing in the background
- You want to download videos to watch offline
- You are happy to use YouTube Music for your listening too
Key differences
| Feature | Spotify Premium | YouTube Premium |
|---|---|---|
| What it upgrades | Spotify: music and podcasts | All of YouTube, plus YouTube Music |
| YouTube video ads | No effect | Removed |
| Music app | Spotify with unlimited skips and high-quality audio | YouTube Music Premium, ad-free |
| Offline | Download music and podcasts | Download videos and music |
| Stand-out strength | Playlists, discovery and podcasts | Live versions, covers and remixes from across YouTube |
| Plans at LicenceBase | 1, 3 or 6 months | 1 or 4 months |
A music service versus a YouTube upgrade
These two are often compared as music apps, but they are different products. Spotify Premium upgrades Spotify: ad-free music, unlimited skips, offline downloads and higher-quality streaming, alongside the podcasts and playlists Spotify is known for. YouTube Premium upgrades YouTube as a whole: no ads on videos, background play, offline downloads, and YouTube Music Premium bundled in. So the real question is how much YouTube you watch. If the answer is a lot, YouTube Premium solves two problems with one plan. If the answer is very little, its biggest benefit goes unused.
How the listening experience differs
As music apps, both handle the basics: ad-free playback, offline listening and a personal library. Spotify's strength is discovery, with personalized playlists and recommendations, along with a deep podcast section. YouTube Music draws on YouTube itself, so alongside official albums you can find live performances, covers, remixes and rare uploads that may not be on other streaming services. For mainstream albums, either will do. For obscure live recordings, YouTube Music has the edge; if you live in podcasts and curated playlists, Spotify does.
Switching has a cost that is easy to underestimate. Playlists, liked songs and years of listening history shape what each app recommends, and starting fresh in a new app means teaching it your taste again. Third-party tools can copy playlists between services, but recommendations take a while to catch up.
Plan lengths at LicenceBase
Spotify Premium comes in 1, 3 or 6 month plans, and YouTube Premium in 1 or 4 month plans. Each is paid once in Canadian dollars and simply ends when the term is up, so a short plan is a low-commitment way to try YouTube Premium before deciding whether it can replace Spotify for you. Orders are prepared by hand and delivered by email with activation steps. If a detail such as how the account is set up matters to you, email the store before buying.
Pros and cons
Spotify Premium
Pros
- Strong playlists, recommendations and discovery
- Music and podcasts in one app
- Unlimited skips, offline downloads and high-quality audio
Cons
- Does nothing about ads on YouTube
- No video downloads or background play for YouTube
YouTube Premium
Pros
- Removes ads across YouTube videos
- Background play and offline downloads for videos
- YouTube Music Premium included
Cons
- Moving an established Spotify library takes effort
- Less useful if you rarely watch YouTube
Verdict
If you watch YouTube most days, YouTube Premium covers more in a single subscription because it removes video ads and includes a full music service. If music and podcasts are your priority and you rarely watch YouTube, Spotify Premium remains the stronger listening app. Heavy users of both sometimes keep both, which is reasonable when each one fixes a different annoyance.
Frequently asked questions
Does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music?
Yes. YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium, so ad-free music, background listening and downloads in the YouTube Music app are part of the plan.
Does Spotify Premium remove ads on YouTube?
No. Spotify Premium only affects Spotify. Ads on YouTube videos are removed by YouTube Premium.
Can I listen to podcasts with YouTube Premium?
Yes. YouTube hosts many podcasts, often as video, and Premium lets you play them without ads and in the background. Spotify has a long-established podcast section, so which feels better is largely personal preference.
Which plan should I start with if I am unsure?
A one-month plan of either is the lowest-commitment test. If you find yourself mostly watching rather than listening, YouTube Premium is likely the better long-term fit.
