YouTube is now locking access to experimental features behind its YouTube Premium subscription service.

Want Experimental YouTube Features? You Need Premium

Google is always experimenting with new features. It's not uncommon for these features to be tested on a small batch of users before rolling out to the public at large.

That's equally true of YouTube. Existing features like video chapters, picture-in-picture mode, and the Explore tab were all beta tested by seemingly random users first.

youtube experimental

Now, YouTube has changed how that works. While it's unclear if the change is permanent or temporary, the YouTube experimental features page now reads that "for a limited time, Premium members can try out new features".

YouTube Premium is an $11.99 a month membership service that removes ads, lets you store videos offline, and get access to YouTube Music Premium. You can also enjoy a decent range of YouTube original content.

Whatever happens, it's safe to assume that YouTube will still test some features on the general user base, simply because the audience and data will be different.

There are currently three experimental features that YouTube Premium members can try out, each available for a limited time:

  • Watch on your Home screen - iOS only, to watch with sound and seek within videos directly from the Home screen. Available until October 20th.
  • Voice search on web - Chrome only, use your voice to search for videos. Available until October 20th.
  • Filter by topic in additional languages- Find personalized topic filters in Spanish, French, or Portuguese. Available until October 27th.

Is YouTube Premium Worth It?

While it's unlikely that locking experimental features behind a subscription service is going to entice anyone, it's another added benefit to YouTube Premium. Whether it's worth the cost is another question entirely.