Hundreds of millions of Spotify users were impacted by the company’s announcement of its second annual price increase for Premium subscriptions, which infuriated users.
Launched in 2008, the app claims 615 million users globally, most of whom utilize the site’s free services. However, according to the firm, 236 million users choose to pay for its premium subscription, Spotify Premium.
In addition to a new AI playlist function, Premium offers a number of other benefits, but its primary benefit is that it keeps annoying commercials out of your music.
However, like other entertainment subscriptions like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple Music, it does include a monthly deduction of an ever-larger amount from your bank account.
Given the current state of the cost of living, it seems sense that many will be carefully weighing their options before making any new purchases, while other current customers may be debating whether or not to save money.
So, what exactly does Spotify Premium cost? And what do you get for your money?
How much is Spotify Premium?
Spotify Premium will soon cost £11.99 per month in the UK for an Individual account, going up by £1 from £10.99 per month.
The Duo subscription will now cost £16.99 and offers two accounts.
There’s also a Family option that goes up to £19.99 per month and gives you six Premium accounts.
If you’ve never had one before, you can see if you like it with a three-month free trial that can be cancelled anytime.
The Student account for people attending university remains the same at £5.99 per month.
I think I'm losing my mind slightly because Spotify emailed saying they were raising the price of premium by £1 so I cancelled my subscription and included a three paragraph long rant about the horrors of late stage capitalism and its central place in the downfall of humanity.
— Danny C. (@DannyColclough) April 17, 2024
Spotify has not confirmed exactly when the price increases will come into effect, but said: ‘Existing Spotify Premium plan subscribers will be notified via email and given a one-month grace period before the new price becomes effective, unless they cancel before the grace period ends.’
Those already on a free trial will be given one month at the original advertised price, before also being moved onto the higher rate.
What do you get with Spotify Premium?
Spotify Premium essentially allows you to use Spotify as your own music library.
The Free version lets you listen to albums and playlists on shuffle mode – but generally speaking, you only get six opportunities per hour to skip songs you don’t like.
Ads play during listening sessions, which is the price you pay for the free music.
The price of spotify premium is changing again????
— ʟɪᴢᴢɪᴇ ☾ 🍉 (@L1zz1ee) April 25, 2024
Spotify Free also doesn’t allow you to download your favourite tracks for offline listening.
With Premium, you can listen to whatever song you like, and can download any tracks to your ‘Liked Songs’ and listen to them offline as well as on, without any ads at all.
If you’re listening to an album or playlist, you have ‘unlimited skips’ so you can find a song you like.
Both options allow you to discover new music, with a homepage on the app that provides a variety of curated playlists.
Don’t care about music all that much, but just want Spotify for the podcasts?
Both options allow you to listen to podcasts, but unfortunately it’ll be tough to escape ads for Free or Premium users – if the host embeds ads or sponsorship messaging into their content.
Spotify Premium also now comes with an AI DJ tool, which picks songs for you, based on its knowledge of your favourites.
The tool also provides commentary in a ‘stunningly realistic voice’.
Is Spotify Premium worth the cost?
Overall, it’s up to you how much you want to spend on Spotify if anything.
If you’re a casual listener, are happy to listen to any songs it plays for you, and regular ads won’t make you burn up in a fiery rage, then Free should work fine for you.
If you want to listen offline, skip songs you don’t enjoy, and often find that ads interrupting your entertainment DO make you burn up in a fiery rage, then Premium might tempt you.
