YouTube Is Testing Charging for Speeding Up Videos. Here's How Much It Costs.

YouTube Is Testing Charging for Speeding Up Videos. Here's How Much It Costs.

You come across a way-too-long video on YouTube, such as instructions on how to assemble an IKEA table, and hit the playback button to speed up the video. You’re not exactly watching Pride and Prejudice, so what do you care if the movements are cartoonishly sped up a little? If Google pushes through a change, one it seems to be trialing right now, it might be that only YouTubers who shell out $14 per month for YouTube Premium get to speed up and…

This popular free YouTube function could be locked into its paid Premium plan — and I won't be happy if I have to sign up for another subscription service

A new YouTube experiment shows that its free-to-use playback-speed tool could be locked into the YouTube Premium plan.

YouTube is experimenting with paywalling this popular free feature (Update: Statement)

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR YouTube appears to be running a new experiment The test involves paywalling its popular playback speed feature. The test separates users into two categories: one where the feature is still free and the other where playback speed is a Premium feature. Update: January 27, 2026 (9:47 AM ET): A Google spokesperson has informed Android Authority that it’s unclear what the exact situation is for this speci…

YouTube's Playback Speed Controls could be hindered by a paywall

YouTube has long included playback speed controls as a free feature, giving people the ability to skip long tutorials or slow down long-form...