Spotify subscribers are about to feel another squeeze on their monthly bills. The company has confirmed that prices are going up once again, and the changes will affect nearly every paid tier. Over the next few weeks, users can expect an email explaining how the updated pricing will apply to their specific subscription.
According to Spotify, the increase is part of an effort to continue delivering a “great experience.” While the service didn’t point to any single new feature as the reason, the higher rates will roll out across Premium, Student, Duo, and Family plans. Individual Premium subscriptions are increasing from $11.99 to $12.99 per month, while Student plans rise from $5.99 to $6.99. Duo and Family users will see steeper jumps, with Duo moving from $16.99 to $18.99 and Family climbing from $19.99 to $21.99 per month. Spotify’s free tier remains available, but paid plans still offer perks like ad-free listening, offline downloads, and greater control over playback.
This change will take effect on your next billing cycle. It also marks Spotify’s third price increase in a relatively short period of time, following hikes in July 2023 and June 2024. Before that, the company had gone more than a decade without raising prices after launching in 2011, making the recent pattern especially noticeable to long-time users.
For those looking to pay less, there are still a few ways to reduce costs. Beyond qualifying for Student, Duo, or Family plans, Spotify users can buy an annual gift card for $99, which works out to about $8.25 per month. The downside is that the cost is paid upfront and can’t be refunded midyear, but for committed listeners, it can be a meaningful discount.
If the latest increase is the final straw, switching services is also an option. Apple Music and YouTube Music both cost $10.99 per month for individual plans and offer similar features to Spotify Premium. Tidal is another alternative, especially appealing to audiophiles thanks to its high-quality audio formats like lossless and HiRes FLAC, and it’s priced at the same $10.99 monthly rate. While rebuilding recommendations takes time, these platforms can become solid replacements with regular use.