Spotify's new price increase: how the changes might affect Spain

The news has caught us off guard once again: Spotify has decided to raise the price of its services again. Premium subscriptions In several countries, this has reopened the debate about how far music streaming prices can go. For now, the direct impact is being felt most acutely by users of United States and parts of Eastern EuropeBut in Spain, many are already eyeing their next bills warily, fearing another adjustment.

This new round of changes comes just a few months after the last global increasewhich has already been noticeable in Europe, Latin America, and other regions. Although the company now insists that the change only affects some markets, the pattern of recent years makes it quite clear that What starts in the US usually ends up reaching the rest of the worldincluding Spain.

How much is Spotify raising its prices and in which countries will the new prices apply?

Spotify has confirmed a generalized price increase in their Premium plans for United States, Estonia and LatviaThis is not a one-off adjustment to a single payment method, but a complete review of the entire payment offering, from individual plans to family plans. Duo plan and the one intended for students.

In numbers, the Swedish audio platform has opted for increases that range between $1 and $2 per month depending on the type of plan subscribed to. It may seem like a moderate change if you only look at one bill, but added to the increases of recent years, the annual cost starts to become significantly higher for the most loyal users.

These are the New official Spotify Premium prices in the United States after the latest update:

• Individual Plan: goes from $11,99 to $12,99 per month.
• Student Plan: increases from $5,99 to $6,99 per month.
• Duo Plan: it increases from $16,99 to $18,99 per month.
• Family Plan: increases from $19,99 to $21,99 per month.

En Estonia and LatviaThe company has also confirmed the increase, although It has not yet detailed all the figures in local currency.What he has made clear is that, just like in the US, The price increase affects all Premium subscription options., without exception.

A history of increases that points to Spain and the rest of Europe

Although the price doesn't change immediately in Spain, The experience of recent years suggests that these tariffs will eventually have repercussions in Europe.Spotify itself has been consolidating a clear strategy: first it updates prices in its main market, the United States, and then it gradually rolls out those changes to other countries.

You don't have to go far to find examples. The previous service price increase in Spain was preceded by an almost identical adjustment in North America.First, it was the American customers who saw their individual plans become more expensive, and months later, the increase was repeated in euros, with an almost direct equivalence.

Currently, the Premium Individual plan in Spain costs 11,99 euros per monthIf the company maintains its current strategy, it is likely that the price will settle around [price range missing] in the near future. 12,99 euros per monthThis mirrors the US price of $12,99. For Spanish users, this would mean an extra euro each month for the same plan.

In the case of the Duo and Family plans, the equivalence is also easy to imagine: 18,99 and 21,99 eurosrespectively, very much in line with the figures already announced across the Atlantic. Although there is no official date yet, Analysts point to a horizon of a few months, probably around half a year.so that the price increase can spread to more European markets.

The situation is particularly worrying because Spain already saw Spotify become more expensive in 2025After another round of global adjustments, a further increase in such a short time would send a clear message that the service is entering a more aggressive phase in its pricing policy.

Spotify's reasons: more revenue, more features, and market pressure

In its statements, the company insists that The “occasional price updates” aim to reflect the value offered by the serviceIn other words, Spotify argues that what it charges should be aligned with what it delivers: catalog, features, audio quality, and additional content such as podcasts.

Among the arguments that have been repeated in the different advertisements, the following stand out: the need to maintain and improve the user experience, as well as Increase support for artists and creators that fill the platform with content. This discourse connects with a long-standing demand from the music industry, which has been lobbying for years for a more generous distribution of revenue from streaming.

Furthermore, the rise comes after the arrival of new technical features, such as high definition or lossless music for Premium usersThis feature, which until recently was one of the platform's biggest promises, will now be integrated with the technological infrastructure, along with the development of algorithm-based and recommendation-driven tools. This represents a cost that the company tries to offset with a higher ARPU (average revenue per user)..

Nor can the general economic context be ignored: inflation, rising music licensing costs, and increased competition in the streaming marketSpotify competes with direct rivals such as Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music or TidalMany of these providers have also adjusted their prices in recent years. In this scenario, the Swedish company seems to assume that its users are willing to pay a little more as long as the service remains attractive.

In parallel, Financial markets have reacted positively to the new riseAfter announcing the price changes, Spotify's shares rose by around 3% in pre-market trading, a sign that investors see these measures as a further step towards consolidating the profitability of the subscription model.

All plans affected: not even students are spared

One of the most striking new features of this round of adjustments is that No Premium plan is exempt from the price increaseIn the past, the company had opted to affect only certain account types, leaving, for example, student accounts untouched. This time, however, The increase also extends to that theoretically more protected segment..

In the United States, the Student plan goes from 5,99 to $6,99 per monthThis is an unusual change in the tech industry, which typically tries to keep prices lower for these types of users. Even so, the reality is that The price difference with the individual plan remains relatively small, probably to continue considering it an attractive option for young people.

The Duo plan, designed for two people living under the same roof, goes up to $18,99 per monthwhile the Family plan, which allows up to six Premium accounts, reaches $21,99 per monthThese shared packages have been key to Spotify's growth in recent years, offering a more economical way for several members of the same household to access the platform.

Finally, the Individual plan is the one that sets the reference for the rest of the markets. Its rise from $11,99 to $12,99 has become the indicator that many European users rely on to make their own predictions. If the usual trend continues, The euro equivalents could follow a practically 1:1 conversion, without too many adaptations for local purchasing power.

To report the change, Spotify has begun sending emails to subscribers in the affected countriesThe message explains that the price increase will be applied to your next billing cycle starting in February. It reiterates that these adjustments are necessary to continue providing "the best possible experience" and to "benefit artists," without going into much further detail.

How does Spotify compare to other music streaming platforms?

With this new round of price increases, Spotify is approaching and even surpassing the price of some of its main competitors in the music streaming market. In the United States, for example, platforms such as Apple Music or Tidal They have been offering rates of $10,99 for their individual plans with high-quality music included for some time.

By placing your Individual plan in $12,99Spotify risks becoming one of the most expensive options in the sector If you only look at the monthly fee. However, the company is confident that the added value of its personalized playlists, podcast catalog, and new audio features will keep users within the green ecosystem despite the price difference.

The company also competes indirectly with combo packages that mix video and music. Services such as YouTube PremiumThese services, which include YouTube Music, are priced around €13,99 per month in some markets, offering not only ad-free music but also an uninterrupted experience on the video platform itself. In this context, The user ends up comparing not only prices, but also the set of services they receive for a similar fee.

Despite this competition, various studies indicate that Spotify subscribers are among the least likely to cancel their account compared to users of other streaming services, whether for music or video. The years of work creating playlists, saving albums, and setting up personalized recommendations generates a high “switching cost”Leaving the platform implies, to some extent, starting from scratch somewhere else.

In parallel, The streaming market in general is experiencing a cycle of rising prices.Netflix, Disney+ and other video platforms have also been increasing their rates, and although the public protests on social networks and forums, the reality is that a significant part of the user base ends up accepting the new conditions if they feel they are still getting enough value in return.

For Spotify, the strategy is clear: increase revenue per subscriber without triggering a wave of cancellations that would harm its growth. For now, stock market movements and loyalty data seem to support the strategy, although it remains to be seen how European users will react if another round of price increases occurs in such a short period.

With this new price movement, Spotify is consolidating the trend of gradually increasing the price of its Premium service. While reinforcing the message that it does so to improve the user experience, sustain profitability, and support creators. For now, the direct impact is concentrated in the United States, Estonia, and Latvia, but, given what happened in previous price increases, it is very likely that Spain and the rest of Europe will see their tariffs reviewed again in the coming monthsThose who rely on the platform daily to listen to music, podcasts, or personalized playlists will have to consider whether that extra euro per month is worth everything the service offers, in a scenario where alternatives like Spotify Lite and the competition keeps growing.