You may have wondered whether Spotify is free. We’ll tell you how the free version differs from the premium subscription.
Spotify free use: Features at no cost
You can sign up for Spotify using your Facebook account, email address, or Google or Apple accounts. Once you have registered, you can either download the software for Windows or Mac, or listen to music via the web app without downloading anything. Of course, you can also use Spotify on your smartphone or tablet running Android or iOS.
- Spotify is free for you if you are willing to live with a few restrictions. You can listen to as much music as you want. However, you have to put up with advertisements and ads, such as audio spots and visual banners.
- Spotify withholds some features in the free version. You listen to music in lower audio quality (max. 160 kbps).
You cannot download music to listen to offline. However, you can enjoy podcasts offline.
The option to read song lyrics while listening to a song is no longer available in the free version.
You cannot listen to music in any order you like, only in shuffle mode. Accordingly, the song queue function is also not available in free mode. - Another feature that Spotify only makes available to its premium users is real-time streaming with other people. With a premium subscription, you can play songs together through a speaker and edit the queue from multiple devices.
Trial subscription: Free Spotify for new customers
If you would like to try Spotify without restrictions, you can test the music provider’s Premium offer.
- Students get a one-month trial period, and individual subscribers get two months free.
- There are no ads and you get the full range of features offered by the platform. However, you must provide your payment details when signing up for the trial month.
- If you do not want a Spotify subscription after the trial period, you must cancel Spotify Premium before the trial period expires.
- Make sure you cancel in time, otherwise the trial period will automatically convert to a monthly subscription.
The individual version of Spotify: these are the features
For a monthly fee of $12.99, you can use Spotify Individual and get rid of the ads. Students pay only $6.99 per month for the same plan.
- With the Individual version, you can listen to music on your smartphone without shuffle mode.
- You can also save playlists offline so you can listen to them on the go. And you can stream in high quality.
- You can listen to your own music that is already on your computer without restriction if you connect your media library to Spotify.
Spotify Duo: The plan for couples
Two people living under the same roof can share this plan. The monthly fee for this plan is $14.99.
- This plan also has no commercial breaks while listening.
- Music can be played offline and is available on demand.
- There is also a playlist for two that is updated regularly.
Spotify Family: What’s behind it
The Spotify Family subscription is the music service’s most expensive offer. However, the price is put into perspective because several people can use the offer.
- Spotify Family costs $17.99 per month. The same terms and conditions apply to this offer as to the Premium subscription.
- If you subscribe to Spotify Family, five other family members besides yourself can use the music service.
Spotify subscription for students: these are the terms
Students enjoy a generous discount on Spotify.
- As a student, you pay only $5.99 for the Premium subscription. However, you must present your student ID.
- If you are still enrolled at a university after one year, you must present a new certificate of enrollment. You will then be entitled to use the rate for another year. This process can be repeated up to three times.
- The maximum duration of the subscription is therefore 4 years. After this period, the student subscription will convert to a normal premium subscription.
