Netflix is a dedicated streaming service for TV shows and movies with 282M subscribers and curated original content, while YouTube Premium removes ads from user-generated and music content with 100M+ subscribers across all YouTube videos. They serve fundamentally different purposes: Netflix for scripted entertainment vs YouTube Premium for ad-free browsing and music.
Netflix vs YouTube Premium — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Netflix if you want curated, professionally-produced TV shows and films with a deep library of originals and licensed content from studios worldwide. Choose YouTube Premium if you want ad-free access across all YouTube's user-generated content, music streaming (300M+ tracks), and don't want limitations on simultaneous streaming—it's more of a utility than entertainment-focused service.
Subscription video streaming service with original content and licensed films.
Ad-free subscription for YouTube videos, music, and background playback.
Monthly Subscription Price (Basic Ad-Supported)
Monthly Subscription Price (Premium Ad-Free)
Netflix vs YouTube Premium — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Netflix vs YouTube Premium with 340 attributes.
Original Content Releases in January 2026
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard Plan)
Maximum Simultaneous Streams (Standard Plan)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Standard/Ad-Free US Plan)
Maximum Simultaneous Screens (Base Plan)
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Monthly Subscription Price (US Individual)
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Netflix vs YouTube Premium — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Netflix vs YouTube Premium.
Yes, for most people who watch YouTube regularly. The value comes from three benefits: (1) No ads — YouTube's default ad experience is increasingly aggressive with unskippable ads and double ad slots; eliminating them entirely is worth $14/month for daily viewers; (2) YouTube Music Premium — a solid Spotify alternative included at no extra cost; saves $10.99/month if you'd otherwise pay for a music streaming service; (3) Background play — video/audio continues with the screen off, making YouTube useful for podcasts, lectures, and music on mobile. If you watch YouTube 30+ minutes per day and use any music streaming service: YouTube Premium costs less than a separate Netflix + Spotify subscription and covers both video and music.
Is Netflix better than YouTube Premium for movies?
Netflix is significantly better for movies and professionally produced TV. Netflix licenses major films and produces original films (Ryan Reynolds/action films, Oscar-contending dramas, animated features) with professional production quality and cinematic intent. YouTube has movies available through YouTube Movies (free with ads or rent/buy) but YouTube Premium doesn't add a film library — it just removes ads from standard YouTube content. YouTube's movie catalog is much smaller and less curated. If you want to watch new releases, Hollywood films, and Netflix Originals: Netflix is the clear choice. If you want ad-free YouTube videos, creator content, and YouTube Music: YouTube Premium is the choice. Most people have both.
How many people can share YouTube Premium?
Individual YouTube Premium ($13.99/month) is for one person only. YouTube Premium Family Plan ($22.99/month) covers up to 6 family members living in the same household — each gets their own Premium membership including YouTube Music Premium. This makes the Family Plan exceptionally good value: $22.99 / 6 members = $3.83 per person per month for ad-free YouTube + YouTube Music. Conditions: family members must share the same home location (YouTube verifies this occasionally); each member uses their own Google account. For households with multiple YouTube users, the Family Plan almost always beats Individual plans for 2+ people.
Not fully — they serve different content types. YouTube Premium gives you ad-free access to YouTube's 800 million user-generated videos, creator shows, vlogs, tutorials, podcasts, and live streams. It does not add a library of professionally produced TV series or films. Netflix provides curated, professionally produced original series (Stranger Things, Squid Game, Ozark) and licensed TV/films with cinematic production quality. YouTube Originals (professional scripted content) have been largely discontinued as a Premium exclusive, reducing that differentiation. The use cases: YouTube Premium for daily video consumption, YouTube Music, creator content; Netflix for binge-watching series, watching films, children's programming. Most streaming households pay for both — they rarely feel redundant in practice.