Skip the Ads With YouTube Red

As expected, YouTube on Wednesday debuted its long-awaited subscription service, which will be known as Red.

The service will launch on Oct. 28, and let YouTube fans watch any video they want without ads. The $10 monthly service will also let you save videos to watch on your phone or tablet when you don't have an Internet connection, as well as play videos in the background — so you can listen to the audio while you do something else on your device.

Those who sign up for YouTube Red will be able to take advantage of these features across all their devices, anywhere you can sign into YouTube — including the recently launched Gaming app and a new Music app set to arrive "soon."

Also announced today, the new YouTube Music app is designed to make it easier to discover, watch, and listen to tunes on the site. The free app is launching sometime in the near future but YouTube didn't announce an exact date.

"Any song or artist you choose on YouTube Music will start you on a personal journey through one of the richest music catalogs; just sign in, tap a track you love, and see where your music takes you," YouTube Product Manager Matt Leske wrote in a blog post.

If you're not all about paying for YouTube, don't worry. The free, ad-supported version isn't going anywhere, and you'll still be able to use YouTube Kids as well as the new Gaming and Music apps free of charge.

"But with YouTube Red, you'll be able to support the people who make your favorite videos while watching what you want, when you want, on any device you want, uninterrupted," Leske wrote.

Starting next year, YouTube Red will be getting some excusive content, including new, original shows and movies from some of the site's top creators. U.S. users can get a one month free trial of Red when it launches next week. Red will also work with Google Play Music, so you can subscribe to one and automatically get access to the other.

For more on YouTube Red, check out the video below.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read the latest from Angela Moscaritolo

Read full bio