The fundamental reason why YouTube with ads isn’t worth it – even if it’s free


YouTube is the only streaming service I pay to skip ads - here's why

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • YouTube Premium removes ads and bundles in YouTube Music
  • Long-form videos don’t work well with ads
  • Downloading videos can be problematic when you’re a phone reviewer

As a tech writer, I use YouTube as a regular part of my job. I also occasionally listen to some music while I work. Put those things together, and it turns out that YouTube Premium is a wonderful choice for me. 

YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month for individuals (or $139.99 annually), $7.99 for students, and $22.99 for families with up to six users. The latter is the plan I subscribe to, and I share it with my wife and two kids.

Also: YouTube Premium cost me 30% extra for months until I noticed – check your plan ASAP

YouTube Premium gives you a number of benefits, like removal of ads, offline viewing — though there’s a glitch in that mechanism I’ll discuss later — and the ability to continue playing music and movies even when your device’s screen is off. 

There are other benefits, too, like stopping a video on one device and picking it up on another, enhanced audio and video quality, Picture-in-Picture viewing (YouTube in a small floating window), and more.

YouTube is not built for ads (even if it’s free)

Personally, just getting rid of ads is enough for me, and there’s a specific reason for that. Most of the YouTube videos that I watch are created as one long, continuous piece of content. Ads breaking into that content are jarring on the best of days. And with YouTube’s uptick in unskippable 30-second ads, it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to feel they’re diminishing the platform’s overall quality.

I don’t subscribe to any other ad-free services; all of my other streaming services include ads. That’s because I mostly watch TV programs on those services, which are already broken up into segments for broadcast TV. Breaking up movies — which is really annoying, by the way — and breaking up long-form YouTube videos is too disjointed an experience.

Speaking of which, while this isn’t a YouTube Premium exclusive, if you haven’t checked out YouTube’s free movie selection, go right now. It’s just banger after banger. You’ll thank me later.

Also: There’s an easy way to skip YouTube’s new unskippable ads, but you may not like it

But the other reason I love YouTube Premium is because it includes YouTube Music in the package. That’s basically like getting Spotify for free, along with removing ads. 

Of course, my family would disagree with that point. My wife and daughter both use Spotify (free, with ads), despite the fact that they both have access to YouTube Music. I may delve into that phenomenon in another feature, but for now, it’s a bit confounding.

There’s just one problem (for me)

One speed bump that I run into almost every year is the fact that YouTube Premium members are only allowed to download videos onto 10 devices at a time. If you run into that cap, the service will automatically swap out your oldest device up to four times. After that, you are forever locked to those 10 devices. 

Well, that’s fine, right? Surely a normal person won’t have more than two phones, a couple of tablets, and maybe a few TVs, right?

I review phones for a living. You can probably see where this is going.

Also: YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Premium Lite: Are the upgrades worth the $6 difference?

So, once per year, I can email customer support, patiently explain what I do for a living, and get told that it will reset my devices as a one-time courtesy. It’s a stupid problem to have; I get it. But I have it all the same.

But overall, YouTube Premium is an absolute no-brainer for me. I’m smitten with it. YouTube Music works pretty well for me, though the algorithm has bad days like anyone else from time to time. But the real killer feature is removing ads on videos that were never designed to have them in the first place. That’s why I will keep coming back every time.





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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