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Music · head to head

iHeartRadio vs YouTube

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: iHeartRadio covers Live radio, YouTube covers Video hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and YouTube actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and YouTube differ
AttributeiHeartRadioYouTube
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryMusicEntertainment
Founded20082005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in iHeartRadio

  • Live radio
  • Custom stations
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security
  • Smart-speakers support

Only in YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

iHeartRadio

  • Streaming live AM and FM radio stations over the internetnot YouTube
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot YouTube
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot YouTube

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot iHeartRadio
  • Content marketingnot iHeartRadio
  • Educationnot iHeartRadio
  • Entertainmentnot iHeartRadio
  • Live streamingnot iHeartRadio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

iHeartRadio

  • Ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • Unlimited skips and unlimited playlist creation require a paid subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live radio
    • Podcasts
    • Ads
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited skips
    • Offline playlists

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

Which should you pick?

Choose iHeartRadio if

  • You need live radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want custom stations.
iHeartRadio review

Choose YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or YouTube?
iHeartRadio starts at Free and YouTube at Free.
Does iHeartRadio or YouTube run on more platforms?
iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iHeartRadio best used for?
iHeartRadio is most often used for streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet, listening to podcasts and live sports commentary, building music playlists on a paid tier. Of those, streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet and listening to podcasts and live sports commentary are not what YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that YouTube cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iHeartRadio: How much does iHeartRadio cost?

iHeartRadio does not publish pricing on their website. The service offers free podcast streaming with optional premium content for certain shows. A reference to 'Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content' is mentioned, but no pricing is provided. Customers must visit linked premium content pages for pricing information.

Source
YouTube: Does YouTube offer a Premium subscription?

Yes. YouTube offers a Premium subscription tier, but specific pricing details are not available in the main website footer and require visiting YouTube's dedicated Premium page.

Source
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Related pages

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