YouTube Cracks Down on VPN Users Exploiting Global Premium Subscription Price Differences

YouTube is now intensifying its efforts to curb users who employ virtual private networks (VPNs) to obtain a more affordable premium subscription, according to user reports on social media. In recent months, the video-streaming platform has primarily focused on addressing the problem of third-party ad blockers that breach its terms of service. However, it now appears to be shifting its attention to another revenue source – YouTube Premium subscriptions.

In a discussion thread on the YouTube subreddit, user @Alopez1024 posted a screenshot showcasing an alleged email from the streaming service about canceling the premium subscription. The email detailed the loss of YouTube Premium benefits and provided instructions on regaining them.

In the subsequent comments, multiple users indicated that this might occur to those using a VPN to secure a cheaper subscription. Significantly, YouTube Premium, like many other subscription services, does not have uniform pricing across different regions. For instance, the Individual plan starts at $13.99 monthly in the US. Conversely, the same plan costs Rs. 129 monthly in India, almost 10 percent of the US price.

This disparity has led some users to access the YouTube website through a VPN, choosing regions where the premium subscription is less expensive. YouTube is reportedly addressing this issue with its recent initiative.

In correspondence with TechCrunch, a YouTube spokesperson mentioned that they have systems to determine users' countries to provide the most accurate plans and offers. When there's a mismatch between the signup country and where the user is accessing YouTube, members are asked to update their billing details to reflect their current country of residence.

Streaming services have recently experienced occasional price increases. For example, Spotify Premium's subscription price rose for the second time within a year. Similarly, YouTube Premium's subscription rates were elevated in July 2023 to $13.99 per month, up from $11.99.