YouTube Raises Premium Subscription Price by 25% in Israel Starting September

YouTube has announced a 25 percent price increase for its Premium subscription in Israel, effective next month. Subscribers will see their monthly fee rise from 23.90 to 29.90 shekels, an increase of 6 shekels. The company justified the hike as necessary to maintain high-quality service, valuable features, and to support creators on the platform without reducing subscriber benefits. This move follows a similar pattern seen with other digital services like Spotify and Netflix, which gradually raise prices after building a loyal user base.

In comparison, YouTube Premium costs significantly more in the US and Europe. In the US, the price increased in April from $13.99 to $15.99 (over 46 shekels), while in Italy it jumped to 20.99 euros (about 74 shekels). The Israeli price remains relatively lower but is expected to rise further in the future.

Separately, YouTube recently changed its view-counting method starting August 24, now counting views as soon as a video begins playing, similar to Instagram and TikTok. This change has drawn criticism from content creators, including Nas Daily, who argued that most videos have a completion rate of 5% or less, meaning view counts may not reflect genuine engagement.

Additionally, the Chinese video platform Bilibili, often called the Chinese YouTube alternative, is expanding internationally by relaunching its Android app without requiring identity verification. The company aims to attract Western creators and viewers, planning to launch an English version of its site and recruit staff globally. However, this expansion could subject Bilibili to scrutiny similar to what TikTok faced in the US over national security concerns.