Recently, Google has started to cancel YouTube Premium memberships that were obtained using VPN services to take advantage of cheaper international pricing. Reports on Reddit, highlighted by Android Authority, show that YouTube is targeting accounts where the user signed up through a VPN to get a lower subscription rate.
In the United States, a single YouTube Premium account costs $13.99 per month, while a Family plan costs $22.99 per month. These plans offer several benefits, including ad-free playback, YouTube Music, and background and offline playback for up to six people. However, prices for YouTube Premium vary significantly by region. In some countries, a subscription can be almost 90% cheaper than in the US.
One popular workaround to save money on YouTube Premium has been using a VPN to connect to a country with lower pricing, such as Ukraine. In Ukraine, a personal account membership costs just 99 Ukrainian hryvnia, which is less than $2.50 per month. To successfully subscribe using this method, users also need an international payment card. This allows the subscription to continue working even after the initial signup, without needing to keep using the VPN.
However, it appears that the era of cheap YouTube Premium via VPN is coming to an end. In a Reddit thread discussing this issue, a user shared their experience with YouTube support. Their Premium subscription was canceled because they had "moved" from the region where they originally signed up. YouTube support informed them that their service would remain canceled until they signed up again using a local card and address. This happened after they had used the VPN workaround to subscribe from Ukraine.
Automatic Youtube Premium Cancellation?
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While there has been no official announcement from Google about this crackdown, it's not surprising that such workarounds are being blocked. Although using a VPN to get a cheaper YouTube Premium subscription is against the spirit of YouTube’s terms of service, it’s unlikely to lead to your account being banned. However, your subscription could be canceled if YouTube detects that you used a VPN to sign up from a different country.
This move by Google is understandable. Companies often set different prices for their services in different regions to match local economic conditions. Using a VPN to get a cheaper rate undermines this pricing strategy. Although it saves money for users, it potentially reduces revenue for the company.
In conclusion, if you're currently using a VPN to pay less for YouTube Premium, you might want to be prepared for your subscription to be canceled. The best way to avoid this issue is to subscribe from your actual location, even if it means paying a higher price. While it might be tempting to continue searching for ways to save money, Google is likely to keep finding and closing these loopholes.