YouTube TV 4K Plus costs an additional $19.99 per month on top of the cost of the base subscription but subscribers can currently save on the monthly price for the first year. YouTube TV offers access to a number of additional add-ons which either increase the number of channels or add more features. The YouTube TV 4K Plus add-on is an example of one that adds features, but it might not be worth it for all existing subscribers.
YouTube TV first announced the new 4K Plus add-on in June 2021. As the name suggests, the primary purpose of the 4K Plus add-on is to open up access 4K content. However, the add-on also adds some additional support features including the ability to stream on more devices at the same time and also watch recordings offline. Both the additional streams and offline DVR access do come with some additional caveats which may impact on their usefulness for some homes.
In terms of the price, the YouTube TV add-on costs $19.99 per month. Once added to the price of the base subscription, this results in a minimum monthly cost of $84.99 per month. However, those new to the add-on have the option of signing up and only paying an additional $9.99 per month for the first 12 months. After the twelve months have come to an end, the 4K Plus add-on will automatically be charged at the higher $19.99 per month rate unless it’s removed from the subscriber’s package.
It is worth noting that the $9.99 is a promotional price and this means it could come to an end at any time or be replaced with a different offer or promotion. To sign up to 4K Plus, and presuming a base subscription is already set up, simply visit the YouTube TV website, sign in, and click on the profile photo. From here, click on Settings followed by Membership. The subscriber will then be able to see their current package and can add the 4K Plus add-on by clicking on the box next to 4K Plus and confirming the changes. The subscriber will also be able to confirm the current price of the add-on before selecting and adding 4K Plus.
Is It Worth Upgrading To 4K Plus?
There are reasons to upgrade to 4K plus, but the add-on might not be suitable for every home. Even for those that do see value in the additional features, it still may not be exactly what they are expecting or need. For example, although 4K Plus unlocks 4K content, not everything available to watch on YouTube TV will be available in 4K. To check which networks are available in 4K, navigate to the Membership section of the YouTube TV website again and this time click on 4K. Alternatively, subscribers can actually search for “4K” to find available programs or look for the 4K icon next to a channel in the Live tab.
It is also worth keeping in mind that the ability to watch YouTube TV in 4K is not available on all supported devices. In other words, even after signing up and paying for the add-on, some subscribers may still find they don’t have access to 4K content.
The other benefits of the 4K Plus add-on encounter similar limitations. For example, while the add-on unlocks ‘unlimited streams’, this only applies to when watching YouTube TV in the home area. If outside the home area, then users won’t gain access to an unlimited number of similar streams. Likewise, while the 4K Plus add-on also unlocks the option to download DVR recordings, this is primarily designed for watching when away from an internet connection, and only applies to mobile devices. Furthermore, devices where recordings are stored on will need to ‘check in’ with YouTube TV at least once every 30 days to retain access to the recordings. All recordings are also automatically deleted nine months after they were originally recorded.
In terms of whether it is worth upgrading to 4K Plus, it depends. Of course, if neither 4K, additional streams or offline recordings are of value, then there’s no point in paying for the upgrade. Furthermore, while the add-on does improve the YouTube TV experience, it also comes with additional restrictions. For example, it is unlikely to solve any issues with watching YouTube TV in two different homes. In reality, the only way to be sure that it’s worth the additional monthly payment is to test out the add-on and confirm the limitations don’t reduce the add-on’s usefulness too much.
Thankfully, YouTube TV does offer a 30-day free trial for 4K Plus, so existing subscribers are able to test-drive the add-on before having to make the first payment. This should give them enough time to properly decide whether YouTube TV’s 4K Plus add-on is worth the extra cost or whether it’s better to stick with just the base plan and save the money.
YouTube TV 4K Plus summary
4K Plus costs $19.99 per month but YouTube TV is currently offering those new to the add-on the option to sign up and only pay $9.99 per month for the first 12 months. The add-on also comes with a 30-day free trial to test out the features. Automatic billing is in effect, so regardless of whether a subscriber is still enjoying the free trial or the discounted $9.99 monthly rate, they will automatically be charged the higher rate once the promotional period comes to an end. The only way to ensure this automatic billing doesn’t take effect is to remove the add-on before the end of the free trial or the end of the final discounted month.
The 4K Plus add-on does improve various aspects of the YouTube TV experience but it won’t solve all issues that existing subscribers might have with the service The add-on can be a useful upgrade for those in need of watching 4K, adding more simultaneous streams, or watching recordings without an internet connection. However, each of these upgraded features do come with their own limitations and restrictions.
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