YouTube Music

What it is

YouTube Music is a streaming app from Google LLC, listed under Music & Audio. It was released on Nov 12, 2015 and last updated on 2026-10-28. The app is free to install and rated Teen. A paid tier called Music Premium, available in select countries, adds extra features.

What it does well

The listing leads with content: live performances, covers, remixes and tracks that it says are hard to find elsewhere, along with curated playlists across many genres. Personalization comes next. There are mixes built around your favorite music, activity mixes for workouts, relaxing and focus, and curated options such as a Discover Mix and a New Release Mix.

For browsing, you can search by genre or mood, and the listing names choices from hip hop and country to sleep and party. Top charts from around the world are included. You can create playlists with song suggestions or build one together with other fans, and a library keeps your liked songs, playlists, artists and albums in one place.

Other features include song lyrics, switching between audio and video, and a Wear OS tile. The app is described as working on phones, desktops, smart speakers, TVs, cars and watches, and as compatible with Google Maps, Waze and Google Assistant.

What the ratings show

The score is 4.45 from 7,878,219 ratings, with 5,000,000,000+ installs. Five stars are 77.4% of ratings and four stars are 8.9%. Three stars take 3.3%, two stars 2.5% and one star 7.9%. Put the bottom two together and you get 10.4%, about one rating in ten. The data does not say what those people disliked.

Where it falls short

Some of the most wanted features cost money. The listing places ad-free listening, background play and access to downloads under Premium. Without it, the text implies you cannot play music in the background, though it does not say that outright. Premium is only offered in select countries.

The fine print adds that Premium members may still see or hear promotions embedded by creators, and that free trials and introductory prices go to first-time subscribers only. The listing gives no price.

Who it suits

It suits listeners who like personalized mixes and want music and video in one app. If you want to listen with the screen off or save songs offline, check whether Premium is available where you live.