YouTube Is Reportedly Testing a Two-Person Premium Plan in India — Is This Google’s Answer to Spotify Duo?

If you're someone who's ever hesitated to shell out ₹299 a month for YouTube Premium's family plan-or maybe you've just been using an ad blocker out of sheer principle-YouTube may finally be offering a middle-ground solution. The platform is now quietly testing a new subscription tier that lets two people share a Premium membership at a reduced cost.

This pilot program, which rolled out without much fanfare, is currently being tested in India, France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. And yes, it's already live for some users in India.

MoneyControl  

A Cheaper Way to Ditch the Ads-Together

Spotted first by Moneycontrol, this new plan is pretty straightforward: for ₹219 a month, two users can get all the core YouTube Premium perks-ad-free viewing, background play, and offline downloads-while keeping their accounts separate.

That's a solid deal considering the individual Premium plan costs ₹149 per user, which means you'd spend nearly ₹298 if two people signed up separately. It also undercuts the ₹299 Family plan, which supports up to five users but requires everyone to be in the same household (and let's be honest-most people don't need five spots).

Who's It For?

This new plan seems tailor-made for couples, roommates, or siblings-basically anyone who shares a roof and can agree on the benefits of Premium. Each person gets their own recommendations and history, but both must meet a few eligibility rules:

• Be 13 years or older

• Have a Google account

• Belong to the same Google Family group

• Live in the same household

• Not be part of another family group or have changed one in the last 12 months

Also, one person is designated as the "family manager," who pays for the plan and manages who stays in or out of the shared group.

Not Just for Video Junkies-Music Premium Gets It Too

The same idea is being tested with YouTube Music Premium, where two users can share a plan for ₹149/month. That's a nice option if you're more into playlists and podcasts than cat videos and cooking tutorials.

Again, the focus is on flexibility-especially for users who want something more affordable than a full family plan but don't want to give up the perks of Premium.

Will It Stick?

As of now, YouTube hasn't confirmed whether this two-person Premium tier will become a permanent offering or expand to other countries. But the pilot suggests Google is watching the success of similar models, Spotify Duo being the obvious comparison, and trying to adapt to how people actually use streaming services.

The key, as always, will be user adoption. If enough people jump on board, there's a good chance we'll see this plan become a regular part of YouTube's pricing lineup.

Via