Who Is Spotify Premium For?
Spotify is the dominant music streaming service, and Premium is its paid tier. Unlike many subscriptions we review, Spotify Premium is actually worth it for most people who listen to music regularly.
The ideal Spotify Premium subscriber:
- Listens to music daily — Commuting, working, exercising
- Hates audio ads — Spotify's free ads are frequent and jarring
- Wants offline access — Downloads for planes, subways, gym
- Uses mobile — Free mobile is crippled (shuffle-only)
If you listen to music once a week or mainly use YouTube, this isn't necessary.
Pricing Breakdown
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
|
| Individual | $11 | $132/yr |
|
| Duo | $15 | $180/yr |
|
| Family | $17 | $204/yr |
|
| Student | $6 | $72/yr |
|
Hidden Costs: None. Audiobooks require separate credits now.
Refund Policy: Cancel anytime. No refunds for partial months.
The Family Plan Math
| # of People | Cost Per Person | |-------------|-----------------| | 2 | $8.50/mo | | 3 | $5.67/mo | | 4 | $4.25/mo | | 5 | $3.40/mo | | 6 | $2.83/mo |
At $2.83/person with 6 people, Spotify Family is one of the best streaming deals available.
Time vs. Money Tradeoff
| Factor | Details | |--------|---------| | Setup Time | 5 minutes | | Learning Curve | None—same interface as free | | Time to Value | Immediate |
Premium is the same Spotify experience, minus the annoyances.
Free vs. Premium: Real Differences
The free tier is genuinely usable on desktop. On mobile, it's deliberately crippled:
| Feature | Free (Desktop) | Free (Mobile) | Premium | |---------|---------------|---------------|---------| | On-demand playback | ✅ | ❌ Shuffle only | ✅ | | Skip songs | ✅ | Limited | ✅ Unlimited | | Audio ads | Yes | Yes (more) | No | | Offline | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | | Audio quality | Good | Lower | Highest |
The mobile experience is the key. If you mainly listen at a desk, free works. If you're mobile, Premium is almost necessary.
Alternatives Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify Premium (This review) | — | — |
| Spotify Free | $0 | Desktop users, casual listeners |
| Apple Music | $11/mo | Apple ecosystem, lossless audio |
| YouTube Music | $11/mo | YouTube Premium subscribers (included) |
| Amazon Music | $9-11/mo | Prime members, Alexa users |
| Tidal | $11-22/mo | Audiophiles, artist payouts |
Spotify vs. Apple Music
Both are $11/month with similar catalogs. Choose based on:
- Spotify: Better discovery algorithm, more social features, cross-platform
- Apple Music: Lossless audio, Siri integration, Apple ecosystem
If you're deep in Apple's ecosystem with HomePods, Apple Music integrates better. Otherwise, Spotify's discovery and playlists are superior.
Already Have YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium ($14/month) includes YouTube Music. If you're paying for that, you don't need Spotify—you're doubling up on music subscriptions.
When Spotify Premium Is NOT Worth It
❌ Skip If:
- You listen occasionally — Once or twice a week doesn't justify $11/mo
- You have YouTube Premium — YouTube Music is included
- You mainly use desktop — Free tier is decent on desktop
- You don't mind ads — Some people genuinely tolerate them
- You're on a very tight budget — Free tier works, ads included
When Spotify Premium IS Worth It
✅ Buy If:
- You listen daily — Working, commuting, exercising
- You use mobile — Free mobile is intentionally bad
- You hate interruptions — Ads break flow significantly
- You want offline — Planes, subways, camping
- You can split Family plan — $3-5/person is a no-brainer
The Calculation
$11/month = $0.37/day
If you listen 30 minutes per day:
- That's 15+ hours/month of ad-free music
- About $0.73/hour of listening
- Cheaper than one coffee per month
For regular listeners, the math clearly works.
Final Verdict
BUY
This is one of the few subscriptions we recommend broadly. If you listen to music regularly—especially on mobile—Spotify Premium is worth $11/month. The ad-free experience, offline downloads, and on-demand playback make a real difference.
The Family plan ($17 for up to 6 people) is exceptional value if you can split it.
Bottom Line: Try the free tier for a week on mobile. If the shuffle-only and ads bother you, upgrade. For most regular listeners, the answer is yes.
FAQ
Is Spotify Premium worth it for students?
Absolutely. At $6/month (with Hulu included in the US), it's one of the best student deals in subscription services. Verify your student status and get it.
Is Spotify Premium worth it vs. Apple Music?
Both are equal in price and catalog size. Spotify wins on discovery and playlists. Apple Music wins on lossless audio and Apple integration. Try both free trials and see which fits your listening style.
Can I share my Spotify Premium account?
Individual plans are for one person. Family ($17/month) covers up to 6 people at the same address. Spotify occasionally verifies addresses, so casual sharing may get flagged.
Does Spotify Premium sound better?
Yes, slightly. Premium offers up to 320kbps streaming vs. 160kbps on free. Most people notice the difference on good headphones. It's not as dramatic as lossless (Apple Music, Tidal) but it's better than free.