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Music & Audio Apps · head to head

YouTube Music vs YouTube TV

YouTube Music logo

YouTube Music

Music & Audio Apps

A new music streaming service from YouTube

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Y

YouTube TV

Music & Audio Apps

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube Music has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: YouTube Music free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening; YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which YouTube Music and YouTube TV actually diverge.

Attributes where YouTube Music and YouTube TV differ
AttributeYouTube MusicYouTube TV
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWeb
CategoryMusic & Audio AppsUnknown
Founded2005Unknown

Identical on both: 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 YouTube Music

  • Music streaming
  • Music videos
  • Live performances
  • Personalization
  • Google services
  • Smart speakers
  • Android Auto
  • Google account security

Only in YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that YouTube Music does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

YouTube Music

  • Music streamingnot YouTube TV
  • Video watchingnot YouTube TV
  • Discoverynot YouTube TV

YouTube TV

No use cases recorded yet. See the YouTube TV review.

Where each one falls short

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

YouTube Music

  • Free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
  • User-uploaded content creates inconsistent audio quality and metadata compared to official releases
  • Limited music discovery and recommendation features compared to Spotify's AI-powered algorithms

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

Pricing, plan by plan

YouTube Music

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Music videos
  • Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Offline downloads
    • Background playback
  • Family$18.99/month
    • Up to 6 accounts
    • Parental controls
  • Student$5.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • YouTube Premium included

YouTube TV

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the YouTube TV review.

Which should you pick?

Choose YouTube Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want music videos.
YouTube Music review

Choose YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from YouTube Music on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is YouTube Music or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. YouTube Music starts at Free and YouTube TV at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, YouTube Music or YouTube TV?
YouTube Music has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for YouTube Music and On request for YouTube TV.
Does YouTube Music or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
YouTube Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. YouTube TV runs on Web.
Can I use YouTube Music for free?
Yes. YouTube Music has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YouTube TV starts at On request.
What is YouTube Music best used for?
YouTube Music is most often used for music streaming, video watching, discovery. Of those, music streaming and video watching are not what YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can YouTube Music do that YouTube TV cannot?
YouTube Music covers Music streaming, Music videos, Live performances, Personalization.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

YouTube Music: How much does YouTube Music Premium cost?

YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for individual subscriptions, $18.99 per month for family plans (up to 6 accounts), and $5.99 per month for students.

Source
YouTube Music: Does YouTube Music have a free tier?

Yes, YouTube Music offers a free version with access to music and music videos but includes occasional unskippable ads. Free users can create playlists and discover music but lack premium features like offline downloads.

Source
YouTube Music: What makes YouTube Music different from other streaming services?

YouTube Music uniquely provides access to official songs, music videos, live performances, remixes, and user-uploaded content not available on other platforms. Users can seamlessly switch between audio and official music videos.

Source
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Related pages

More on YouTube Music

More on YouTube TV

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