What Spotify Premium costs and what it includes

Spotify Premium is a paid tier of the music streaming service that removes ads, lets you read songs to listen offline, and gives you higher audio quality than the free version. The monthly cost varies by country and plan type — in the United States, a single-user plan runs $11.99 per month as of 2024, though Spotify adjusts prices periodically. The company also offers a Student plan at a lower rate for people enrolled in accredited colleges and universities, a Duo plan for two people, and a Family plan for up to six household members.

The core difference between Premium and Spotify's free tier is that Premium removes all advertisements between songs and lets you skip as many tracks as you want. Free users see ads and have limited skips. Premium also lets you read entire playlists or albums to your phone or computer so you can listen without an internet connection — useful on flights, commutes, or places with poor signal. The audio quality on Premium maxes out at 320 kilobits per second, which is noticeably better than the 96 kbps free tier, though the difference matters most if you use high-end headphones or speakers.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify Premium removes ads, allows unlimited skips, and enables offline downloads, with pricing that varies by plan type and country.
  • Student, Duo, and Family plans offer lower per-person costs than a single Premium subscription, but each has specific may be able to access or household requirements.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time without penalty, and your access ends at the end of your current billing cycle.
  • Spotify Premium works across phones, tablets, computers, and some smart speakers, but you can only play music on one device at a time on a single-user plan.
  • Payment methods include credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and gift cards, and Spotify stores your payment information securely on their servers.

How to set up a Premium subscription

To start a Premium subscription, go to Spotify.com or open the Spotify app on your phone or computer and tap the "Go Premium" button. You will be asked to choose which plan fits your situation — Individual, Student, Duo, or Family. Spotify will then ask for your payment method. You can use a credit card, debit card, PayPal account, or a Spotify gift card. After you enter your payment details, your subscription begins when ready, and ads disappear from your account.

If you already have a free Spotify account, you do not need to create a new one. straightforward upgrade your existing account by selecting a Premium plan. Your playlists, saved songs, and listening history stay with you. If you are signing up for the first time, Spotify will ask you to create an account with an email address and password, then choose your plan and payment method.

Some Premium plans come with a trial period — typically one or two months at no cost — though this varies by region and current promotions. During the trial, you get full Premium features. When the trial ends, your payment method is charged the regular monthly price unless you cancel beforehand.

Student, Duo, and Family plans explained

The Student plan costs less than Individual Premium but requires proof that you are enrolled in an accredited college or university. Spotify uses SheerID, a third-party verification service, to confirm your student status. You will need to provide your school email address or upload a photo of your student ID. The Student plan includes all Premium features and also adds a Hulu ad-supported subscription and a discount on Spotify's audiobook service. Once you graduate or are no longer enrolled, you lose access to the Student plan and must switch to a different tier.

The Duo plan covers two people in the same household and costs less per person than buying two Individual subscriptions. Each person gets their own account, recommendations, and offline downloads. You can play music on both accounts at the same time, unlike the Individual plan, which locks you to one device at a time. To set up Duo, one person creates or upgrades to the plan, then invites the second person via email or a link.

The Family plan covers up to six household members and is the lowest cost per person if you have multiple listeners. Like Duo, each person gets their own account and can play music simultaneously. The Family plan also includes a feature called Family Mix, which creates a playlist combining songs liked by all family members. Family plans require that all members live at the same address, and Spotify may ask for verification if accounts appear to be in different locations.

How billing and cancellation work

Spotify charges your payment method once per month on the same date your subscription started. If you signed up on the 15th, you will be charged on the 15th of every month. You can see your next billing date and payment method in the Account section of your Spotify settings. If your payment fails — for example, if your card is declined — Spotify will retry the charge a few times over several days. If payment continues to fail, your Premium access pauses until you update your payment information.

To cancel your subscription, go to your Account settings, find the "Premium" or "Subscription" section, and select "Cancel Premium." Your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle, so if you cancel on the 10th of the month but your billing date is the 25th, you keep Premium until the 25th. After that date, your account reverts to the free tier. You can resubscribe at any time without losing your playlists or history.

If you are on a trial and want to cancel before it ends, the same process applies — your trial access ends when ready when you cancel, not at the end of the trial period. Spotify does not offer refunds for partial months or unused trial time.

Devices and simultaneous listening limits

Spotify Premium works on phones (iOS and Android), tablets, computers (Windows and Mac), web browsers, and some smart speakers and connected devices like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod. You can install the Spotify app on as many devices as you want and log in with the same account. However, the number of devices you can play music on at the same time depends on your plan type.

On an Individual Premium plan, you can play music on only one device at a time. If you start playing a song on your phone and then try to play a different song on your computer, Spotify will stop playback on the phone and start on the computer. On Duo and Family plans, each person can play music on their own device simultaneously — so two people on a Duo plan can listen to different songs at the same time without interrupting each other.

Offline downloads work on phones and tablets but not on computers or web browsers. When you read a song or playlist for offline listening, it takes up storage space on that device. Downloaded content expires after 30 days if you do not reconnect to the internet, which refreshes your license to listen offline.

Payment methods and account security

Spotify accepts credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Spotify gift cards as payment. When you enter a credit or debit card, Spotify does not store the full card number on its servers. Instead, it uses a payment processor to securely handle the transaction and stores only a token that represents your card. This means Spotify cannot see your complete card details, which reduces the risk if Spotify's systems were ever breached.

If you use PayPal, Spotify charges your PayPal account instead of your card directly. You can change your payment method at any time in your Account settings. If you want to use a gift card, you redeem it by entering the code in your account, and the credit is applied to your next billing date. Gift cards do not auto-renew — once the credit runs out, you must add a new payment method if you want to continue your subscription.

If you notice a charge you do not recognize or believe your account has been compromised, contact Spotify Support through the Help section of your account. Spotify can review charges, reverse unauthorized transactions, and help you find your account if someone else has accessed it.

Common issues and troubleshooting

If your Premium features suddenly disappear, the most common cause is a failed payment. Check your Account settings to see if your payment method is expired or if there is an error message. Update your payment information and Spotify will usually restore your access within a few minutes. If the issue persists, try logging out of the Spotify app completely, restarting your device, and logging back in.

If you are on a Family plan and cannot see other family members' accounts, make sure everyone is logged into the same WiFi network or has invited each other properly. Spotify may also flag accounts that appear to be in different geographic locations and ask for verification. If you are traveling, this can trigger a temporary block — contact Spotify Support to confirm your household setup.

If offline downloads are not working, check that you have enough storage space on your device and that you are connected to the internet at least once every 30 days. Downloaded content requires periodic online verification to remain playable. If you have not connected to the internet in more than 30 days, your offline downloads will stop working until you reconnect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Premium account with someone who does not live with me?

Spotify's terms of service state that Premium accounts are for personal use only and should not be shared outside your household. While the Individual plan does not technically prevent sharing, Spotify monitors for accounts used in multiple locations and may ask for verification or suspend the account. Duo and Family plans are specifically designed for sharing and have built-in household verification to prevent abuse.

What happens to my playlists and saved songs if I cancel Premium?

Your playlists and saved songs stay with your account even after you cancel. If you resubscribe later, everything is still there. The only thing you lose is the Premium features — ads return, offline downloads stop working, and you can only skip a limited number of times per hour on the free tier.

Can I use Spotify Premium on multiple devices at the same time?

On an Individual plan, you can only play music on one device at a time. On Duo and Family plans, each person can play on their own device simultaneously. You can install the app on as many devices as you want, but only one can be actively playing at any given moment on an Individual subscription.

Do I have to pay for Premium if I only want to listen offline?

Yes, offline downloads are a Premium-only feature. The free tier does not include the ability to read songs. You must have an active Premium subscription to read and listen offline.

What should I do if I am charged twice in one month?

Contact Spotify Support when ready through your account settings. Provide them with your billing dates and the charges you see. Spotify can review your account history and issue a refund if there was a duplicate charge or billing error. Keep screenshots of your bank or credit card statement as proof.