When will the Spotify price increases take effect?
The new pricing is effective immediately for anyone signing up to Spotify Premium for the first time. If you are an existing subscriber, the new price will apply from your first billing date in December 2025. Spotify has confirmed that current subscribers will get a one-month grace period. This means you will pay your old, lower price on your November billing date, and the new, higher price will only be charged on your following bill.
How to save money on your Spotify plan
With subscription costs adding up, this price rise is a good prompt to review your account and see if you can lower your bill.
- Use the Free tier - If you don't mind adverts and having less control, you can use Spotify for free. The free version does not allow offline music downloads and only permits shuffle play on mobile.
- Switch to a 'Basic' plan - If you are an existing subscriber and don't listen to audiobooks, you may be able to switch to a 'Basic' plan. This tier removes the audiobook allowance and means you can no longer download songs to your device, but you can keep listening ad-free. The Basic Individual plan costs £10.99, while Basic Duo costs £14.99 and Basic Family costs £17.99.
- Pay annually - If you have an Individual plan, you can buy a 12-month Spotify Premium gift card for £120 from retailers like Argos and Currys. This works out to just £10 per month, a significant saving on the new £12.99 monthly price. This option is only available for Individual plans.
- Share a subscription - Spotify's Duo and Family plans require all members to live at the same address. The new Duo plan at £17.99 works out to £9.00 per person. The new Family plan at £21.99, when split between six people, costs just £3.67 per person.
- Check your student status - If you are studying at an accredited higher education institution, you can get the Student plan for £5.99.
How Spotify compares to its rivals
Spotify's new £12.99 Individual price makes it one of the more expensive options for a standard music streaming plan, especially as rivals often include high-resolution audio for less. Below, we provide a quick comparison of the main streaming services' standard monthly costs and features.
| Streaming Service | Individual Plan (p/m) | Family Plan (p/m) - Up to 6 people | Offline Listening | Hi-Res Audio | Good to know |
| Spotify Free | £0.00 | N/A | No (Podcasts only) | No |
Only available with ads. Limited features, shuffle-only mode
|
| Spotify Basic | £10.99 | £17.99 | No | No |
Only available to those previously subscribed to the Premium plan. Ad-free music listening. No downloads
|
| Spotify Premium (New Price) | £12.99 | £21.99 | Yes | No |
Includes 15 hours of audiobooks
|
| Apple Music | £10.99 | £16.99 | Yes | Yes |
Includes Spatial Audio & Apple Music Classical
|
| Amazon Music Unlimited | £11.99 (£10.99 for Prime members) | £19.99 | Yes | Yes |
Includes Spatial/HD audio
|
| YouTube Music Premium | £10.99 | £19.99 | Yes | No |
Family plan includes ad-free YouTube
|
| Deezer | £11.99 | £19.99 | Yes | Yes |
Includes HiFi sound as standard
|
Should you stick with Spotify?
While Spotify is now one of the most expensive options, it might still be the right choice, particularly if you value its personalised playlists, user interface, ability to listen offline or the recent addition of 15 hours of audiobook listening. If you are happy with Spotify and simply want to pay less, you could consider downgrading to Spotify basic, saving £2 per month, however, you will no longer get an audiobook allowance or be able to listen offline. You could also consider buying a Spotify Premium Gift Card which gives you an annual membership at the equivalent cost of £10 per month; a saving of £3 per month.
However, if you are purely focused on music and cost, rivals like Apple Music and YouTube Music offer a similar library for £2 per month less. Additionally, if you are already an Amazon Prime member, you can get Amazon Music Unlimited for £10.99 per month, saving £2 per month. Those wanting higher-resolution audio (also known as hi-res or lossless audio), both Apple Music and Amazon Music include it in their standard plans, whereas Spotify does not.
Ultimately, the best service depends on your budget, which features you use, and what devices you use them on. Before your bill goes up, it is worth taking a few minutes to review your options and ensure you are on the best-value plan for your needs.
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