YouTube Premium hits 150 million users while free tier ads concerns rise
Ads in YouTube's free version are only becoming more prevalent, users on Reddit say.
YouTube has reached a significant milestone, with 150 million subscribers across its Premium and YouTube Music platforms, according to the company's Q3 earnings release. Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai announced this figure, which represents a 25 million increase from March 2025's 125 million subscribers. YouTube's ad revenue grew to over $11.2 billion, up from $10.3 billion in the previous year.
Google's Chief Business Officer, Philipp Schindler, emphasized the benefits of subscriptions, stating that they support creators and fuel platform growth. While YouTube has become a serious competitor in the streaming space, outpacing Netflix in TV viewing popularity, the platform's free tier is facing criticism for increasingly intrusive ads.
Users have reported that the free version is becoming unbearable, with some even opting for ad-blocking methods like Brave browser to avoid disruptions. Despite the growing popularity of YouTube Premium, the rising cost of the service, now at $15.99/month, coupled with existing streaming subscriptions, is causing some users to consider alternatives.
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