Key Takeaway:
Spotify Premium removes ads, unlocks offline listening, and lets you skip as many tracks as you like. But Spotify Free still offers access to the same full library, with limitations. If you're okay with ads and shuffle play, you may not need to upgrade.
Spotify Free vs Premium: Is It Worth Paying?
Spotify’s two main tiers, Free and Premium, offer very different listening experiences. One comes with ads and limits; the other unlocks full control, higher quality audio, and offline listening. But do you really need to pay for Premium, or is the free version good enough for most users? We break down the costs, features, and hidden trade-offs between Spotify Free and Premium to help you decide what’s worth your time (and money).
What is Spotify Free?
Spotify Free gives you access to the entire music and podcast library without paying, but it comes with strings. Expect ads, lower audio quality, limited skips, and shuffle-only playback on mobile. That said, over 551 million people still use it, and if you’re just casually streaming or mainly using desktop, it might be enough. The free tier exists because Spotify runs ads to cover costs. If those ads get on your nerves, that’s where Premium steps in. Spotify Premium starts at $11.99/month, but you can usually test it with a 30-day free trial, or even snag 3 months free during promo periods.
What is Spotify Premium?
Spotify Premium is the paid version of the app—and it’s where the restrictions drop off. No ads, no forced shuffle, no skip limits, and full offline listening. You can pick any track, adjust your sound quality, and download playlists to take on the go. All Premium plans also include 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month for the plan manager.
Spotify Premium Plans and Prices (U.S. – 2025)
| Plan | Price/Month | Accounts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | $11.99 | 1 | Includes 15 hours of audiobooks monthly |
| Duo | $16.99 | 2 | Shared Duo Mix + 15 audiobook hours for the plan manager |
| Family | $19.99 | Up to 6 | Separate accounts + 15 audiobook hours for plan manager |
| Student | $5.99 | 1 | Same perks as individual + Hulu (With Ads) |
Money-saving tip: If you split a Family plan six ways, you’re paying just $3.33/month per person.
Where is Spotify Premium Cheapest?
Spotify prices aren’t the same everywhere. If you’re in Denmark, Premium costs $14.39/month. In India? Just $1.58. Why? Spotify adjusts pricing based on the average income in each country. That means users in Asia or South America can access the same Premium features at a fraction of the price.
Top 5 Cheapest Countries for Spotify Premium
| Country | Premium Price | Avg. Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| India | $1.58 | $139.87 |
| Argentina | $2.06 | $1,030.49 |
| Vietnam | $2.54 | $162.39 |
| Philippines | $2.56 | $274.04 |
| Brazil | $2.87 | $699.76 |
Data: bit.ly/SpotifyPricesMap
Yes, you can change your Spotify region. Use a VPN, set your location to a cheaper country, and subscribe through the Spotify website. Just make sure your payment method aligns with your chosen region.
Data: SavingSpot
Content and Access
The Spotify library stays the same whether you’re paying or not. You’ll find the same songs, podcasts, and playlists on both Free and Premium plans. But Free users might miss out on early access to new releases. Some artists now delay their drops by two weeks for Free users because Premium pays more per stream. Here’s how Spotify royalties work, if you’re curious. So, if you're chasing new music the day it drops, Premium might be the better move.
Skips and Playback Limits
Spotify Free limits you to six skips per hour—and you can’t always pick the song you want. On mobile, it’s shuffle-only for most playlists. Premium removes that. You can skip tracks as much as you want, queue up songs, and play any track on-demand. On desktop or web browser, Free users get more flexibility, including direct song selection, but the skip limit still applies on mobile.
Ads
Free means ads. Every 15–20 minutes, you’ll hear a 15–30 second ad. You’ll also see banners and pop-ups across the app. Premium is 100% ad-free.
Sound Quality
Free users get a max audio quality of 160 kbit/s. Premium users get up to 320 kbit/s. On desktop, Free plays at 128 kbit/s, while Premium streams at 256 kbit/s by default. If you care about crisp sound or have good headphones, the difference is noticeable. Premium also gives you access to more audio control, EQ settings, Crossfade, volume leveling, and Data Saver mode.
Spotify HiFi (Coming Soon)
Spotify’s working on a new HiFi tier with CD-quality audio. It’ll likely be a higher-priced “Platinum” plan. No release date yet.
Offline Listening
Spotify Free doesn't support downloads. Premium lets you download music to your phone, tablet, or laptop and listen anywhere—on planes, trains, or with no data signal. Just free up some storage and go offline.
Can Spotify Premium work on a plane? Yes. Download your playlists before you fly and you’re good to go.
Can Spotify Free play offline? No. You’ll need a Premium plan for that.
Supported Devices
Both Free and Premium work on nearly all devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, tablets, web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), smart TVs, game consoles (PS/Xbox), and in-car systems like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay. The experience is similar, except Premium users can take full advantage of multi-device playback and syncing.
Personalized Playlists and Curated Content
Spotify Free still gives you Discover Weekly and Daily Mixes. Premium unlocks Duo/Family Mixes if you’re on those plans. Otherwise, the personalization algorithm stays the same, your listening habits shape the recommendations, no matter what you pay.
Sharing and Social Features
Free users can still create and share playlists, post tracks to social media, and use collaborative playlists. You can also connect to Facebook and see what friends are playing. Spotify Wrapped is also free.
Should You Get Spotify Premium?
If you hate ads, want better audio, or need offline listening—go Premium. It’s that simple. You don’t get exclusive songs, but you do get a smoother, more customizable listening experience. And if you share a Duo or Family plan, it becomes pretty affordable too.
PROS OF SPOTIFY PREMIUM
- Ad-free listening
- Offline playback
- Better audio quality
- Unlimited skips and no shuffle restrictions
- Cross-device syncing
- Exclusive features like Duo/Family Mix
- Early access to new releases
- 15 hours of audiobook listening/month (plan manager only)
Transfer Your Playlists to Spotify
Already using another music service? Free Your Music lets you move all your playlists, liked songs, and albums to Spotify without losing anything. Quick and easy. If you ever switch back, we’ve got you covered too.
