VPN workarounds for cheaper YouTube Premium subscriptions failing (Replace: Google confirms)

Replace, June 20, 2024 (02:17 PM ET): Yesterday, we instructed you of stories that folks’s YouTube Premium subscriptions had been being terminated if that consumer had used a VPN workaround to get the service at a less expensive charge. Now, by way of TechCrunch, we’ve a press release from Google confirming that it’s clamping down on this apply:

To supply essentially the most correct plans and affords accessible, we’ve programs in place to find out the nation of our customers. In situations the place the signup nation doesn’t match the place the consumer is accessing YouTube, we’re asking members to replace their billing data to their present nation of residence.

Curiously, YouTube didn’t affirm or deny that it has canceled YouTube Premium subscriptions for this apply. A customer support rep did inform PCMag, although, that the corporate “initiated the cancellation of premium memberships for accounts recognized as having falsified signup nation data.” Whereas this isn’t an official assertion from Google, it does closely recommend that that’s what the corporate is doing.

The unique, unedited article continues after the break.

Unique article, June 19, 2024 (08:58 AM ET): A YouTube Premium subscription will be among the best subscriptions you should buy, particularly in case you are an avid consumer of the video streaming platform. The platform has made it clear that it doesn’t like advert blockers, and the quantity of adverts on it has additionally made it quite annoying to make use of. The one actual options are to cease utilizing YouTube or plop some cash down for a Premium subscription. Some customers have used VPNs to purchase YouTube Premium at cheaper charges, however it seems that Google is cracking down on such subscriptions and canceling them.

Reddit consumer Alopez1024 identified that YouTube seemingly canceled their YouTube Premium membership out of nowhere.

Different Redditors chimed in, claiming that their subscriptions had been canceled too. Nevertheless, the frequent thread seems to be that the customers used a VPN to subscribe to YouTube Premium at a less expensive charge than what is accessible for his or her house market.

YouTube presents completely different Premium charges to particular markets, probably to raised accommodate the buying energy of the native forex and align with native client expectations. Many individuals have used a VPN connection to masks their nation of origin and take undue benefit of YouTube Premium’s regional pricing.

For example, one of many frequent international locations for such workaround subscriptions is Ukraine, the place the subscription prices 99 UAH monthly (~$2.44) in comparison with $13.99 monthly within the US, and a global bank card would work. Premium would work usually after subscription, even with out a VPN, making it a profitable workaround. However not anymore, although.

If in case you have subscribed to YouTube Premium by way of a VPN, there’s a good probability that your membership has been canceled. When you had been scratching your head on the explanation, that is most likely it.

Redditors who have contacted customer support point out that the cancelation is as a result of the consumer “moved” to a special location than the one they signed up from. They’ve been suggested to enroll with an area card and tackle, which might inevitably deliver them the normalized regional costs.

To date, we’ve not but come throughout stories of people that have moved international locations being caught on this clampdown on VPNs. However there’s a chance that even they may very well be affected.

We’ve reached out to Google for a press release and can replace this text if and after we hear again.