Spotify — An audio streaming service for music, podcasts, and audiobooks with a free ad-supported tier and paid Premium plans starting at $12.99/month.
By Noahlast updated pricing verified
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Spotify in 20 seconds
Best for: listeners who want algorithmic playlist discovery and a bundled podcast/audiobook catalog across every major platform
Pricing: Free with ads, or Premium Individual from $12.99/month; Family plans cover up to 6 people for $21.99/month.
- Spotify Premium Individual costs $12.99/month; Duo is $18.99/month; Family (up to 6 accounts) is $21.99/month; Student is $6.99/month.
- The free tier is ad-supported and limited to shuffle playback on mobile.
- Premium plans include a 15 hours/month audiobook allowance, not unlimited audiobook listening.
- Native apps exist for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Spotify holds a 4.7/5 rating from 584 reviews on Product Hunt.
Limitations: Audiobook listening is capped at 15 hours/month even on paid tiers.; No lossless or hi-res audio tier, unlike Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal.; Free tier on mobile only allows shuffle playback, not on-demand track selection.; Duo and Family plans require members to live at the same address.
Top alternatives: Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Tidal — full list
What is Spotify?
Spotify is an audio streaming service that gives users on-demand access to a large catalog of music, podcasts, and audiobooks, playable on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The free tier is supported by ads and, on mobile, limited to shuffle play within playlists and albums. Premium subscribers get ad-free listening, offline downloads, unlimited skips, and on-demand track selection on every device. Spotify's recommendation engine builds personalized playlists (Discover Weekly, Daily Mix, Release Radar) from listening history, and the platform also hosts exclusive podcasts and a growing audiobook catalog with a monthly hour allowance included on paid plans. Spotify is a closed, proprietary service; artists and labels license content to the platform rather than hosting it themselves, and payouts to rights holders are a recurring point of criticism from the artist community.
Spotify is an audio streaming platform from Stockholm-based Spotify Technology that gives listeners on-demand access to a catalog of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across web, desktop, and mobile apps. The free tier is ad-supported with shuffle-only playback on mobile; Premium Individual removes ads and unlocks offline downloads and on-demand playback for $12.99/month, with Duo at $18.99/month for two people at one address, Family at $21.99/month for up to six, and a discounted Student plan at $6.99/month that bundles Hulu. Spotify differentiates on music discovery, with algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix that recommend tracks based on listening history. It is the largest music streaming service by paying subscribers, competing directly with Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
Standout feature: Discover Weekly and Daily Mix, personalized playlists rebuilt weekly from listening history, widely credited as the strongest music-discovery engine among streaming services.
Biggest weakness: Only 15 hours/month of audiobook listening is included on Premium plans, and only the account holder gets that allowance on Duo and Family plans; going over requires buying audiobooks a la carte, and per-stream artist payouts remain a recurring complaint from the music industry.
Pros
- Discover Weekly and Daily Mix surface new music based on listening habits without manual curation.
- Native apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android with offline downloads on Premium.
- Family plan covers up to 6 accounts at $21.99/month, cheaper per person than most rivals' family tiers.
- Podcasts and audiobooks are bundled into the same app as music, no separate subscription needed for basic access.
Cons
- Free tier on mobile is shuffle-only with no on-demand track selection and frequent ads.
- Audiobook access is capped at 15 hours/month even on paid plans; going over requires separate purchases.
- Duo and Family plans require members to share the same address, which Spotify verifies periodically.
- No lossless or hi-res audio option, unlike Apple Music and Amazon Music at the same price point.
Spotify pricing
Free tier · paid from $6.99/mo · verified from the vendor's pricing page
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Ad-supported, shuffle-only playback on mobile, no offline downloads. |
| Premium Individual | $12.99/mo | 1 account, ad-free, offline downloads, 15 hours/month audiobooks; new subscribers get 3 months free through a limited-time offer. |
| Premium Student | $6.99/mo | Verified enrollment at an accredited institution required; includes Hulu access. |
| Premium Duo | $18.99/mo | 2 Premium accounts at the same address; only the plan manager gets 15 hours/month of audiobooks. |
| Premium Family | $21.99/mo | Up to 6 accounts at the same address, parental controls, and Premium access for kids under 13; only the plan manager gets 15 hours/month of audiobooks. |
What reviewers say
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