I’ve been thinking about whether YouTube Premium is still worth it in 2026. On the plus side, the ad-free experience, background play, and ability to download videos make watching content way more convenient, especially for podcasts, interviews, and long videos. The YouTube Music subscription is also a nice bonus for anyone looking to replace other streaming services. However, the subscription price has increased over time, and some creators still include sponsorships in their videos, which can lessen the ad-free appeal. I’m curious to hear from others: do you feel like YouTube Premium is worth it, or have the costs started to outweigh the benefits?