Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Spotify Free may now work for listeners who mainly want playlists, discovery, and occasional song selection—but Premium can still be worth paying for if you want uninterrupted listening, offline downloads, lossless audio, or dependable control over playback. Spotify announced its Free-tier changes on September 15, 2025. They added more ways to start specific tracks, but did not make Free equivalent to Premium.
What changed in Spotify Free?
In its September 15, 2025 announcement, Spotify described three ways to play a particular track from the Free experience:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Google Play gift code | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Google Play gift code | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
$300 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $300.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Google Play Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Pick & Play: choose a song and start it.
- Search & Play: search for a track, then play it.
- Share & Play: open a track someone shared and play it.
The announcement also highlighted free playlists and discovery features, customizable playlist covers, daylist, and lyrics in the mobile Now Playing view when available. Spotify said the updates were rolling out globally, but did not give a market-by-market schedule or guarantee identical availability for every account and platform. If a control is missing, check the current Spotify app and support information for your market.
Spotify said playlist-cover customization was available in 128 markets at the time of the September 2025 announcement. That figure describes that feature’s availability then; it does not establish that every feature was available to every listener in those markets.
#1 Best Overall
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- New finds, old favorites, one card. Choose a unique gift card design featuring your favorite games or apps. This card can also be used for anything else on Google Play. There’s something for everyone, so find what’s yours. Go Play.
- To redeem, enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift code, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
Can you pick any song on Spotify Free now?
Spotify’s announcement says Free users can choose, search for, and open shared tracks using the new controls. That is a meaningful change for anyone who previously found it difficult to start a specific song. It does not establish that every account has the same controls, or that Free offers every Premium playback option. Availability can differ during rollout and by platform or market.
The update also did not make all Spotify features free. In the same announcement, Spotify described Messages and daylist as available across Free and Premium, while listing Lossless, AI Playlist, and Mix as Premium-only examples.
Rank #2
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift codes can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- New finds, old favorites, one card. Choose a unique gift card design featuring your favorite games or apps. This card can also be used for anything else on Google Play. There’s something for everyone, so find what’s yours. Go Play.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift code, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
What does Premium still add?
Spotify’s current U.S. Premium page advertises four practical differences: ad-free music listening, lossless audio up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz, offline downloads, and playback in any order with unlimited skips. These benefits matter most when they solve a recurring problem: interruptions, poor connectivity, a desire for higher-quality audio, or a need to control what plays next.
Lossless audio is a Premium feature; the September 2025 Free changes did not add it to Free. Whether it makes an audible difference to you depends on your listening setup and habits, so it is not automatically a reason to subscribe.
Rank #3
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
Spotify Free vs Premium: the decision points
| What matters to you | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Music ads | Ad-supported | Spotify advertises music listening without ads on its U.S. Premium page. |
| Starting a specific track | Pick & Play, Search & Play, and Share & Play were announced for Free; availability may vary. | Spotify advertises playback in any order. |
| Skips and playback order | The September 2025 announcement added direct track controls, but did not say Free gained unlimited skips or all-order playback. | Spotify advertises unlimited skips and playback in any order. |
| Listening offline | Offline downloads are not among the Free improvements described in the announcement. | Spotify advertises offline downloads. |
| Lossless sound | Not included in the Free improvements described in the announcement. | Spotify advertises lossless audio up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz on its U.S. Premium page. |
The Free and Premium descriptions above reflect Spotify’s September 2025 announcement and current U.S. Premium page, not a guarantee that every account or market has identical features. Spotify’s announcement does not specify every Free-tier rule for skips or playback order, so check the terms and app experience where you live.
How much does Spotify Premium cost?
Prices depend on country, plan, and eligibility. When Spotify’s U.S. Premium page was accessed for this article, it listed Individual at $12.99 per month, Student at $6.99 per month, Duo at $18.99 per month, and Family at $21.99 per month. The page also displayed a one-month $0 offer for eligible new subscribers on Individual and Student; that offer is not the recurring price, and eligibility and terms apply.
Rank #4
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
These are U.S. prices only, not prices for other countries. Spotify’s January 15, 2026 notice said U.S., Estonian, and Latvian Premium subscribers would receive emails about a price update, but did not itself provide a new price table. Check Spotify’s local Premium page for current amounts and terms before subscribing. Student eligibility and Duo and Family household rules also depend on the plan and market.
Recommended Free Tools
Is Spotify Premium worth paying for?
Stay with Free if ads are acceptable and the new controls, playlists, and discovery features cover how you listen. Consider Premium if you regularly want ad-free music, offline listening, lossless audio, or playback in any order—and the benefit is worth more to you than the local monthly charge. If you may qualify for Student, Duo, or Family, compare those plans and their rules before choosing.
Best Value
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards. Good for use on the US Google Play Store only. Terms apply - see below.
- Google Play gift cards can be used on the Google Play Store, the official app store for Android, to purchase apps, games, and more.
- To redeem, peel or gently scratch label and enter code in the Play Store app or play.google.com.
- Easy to use: With a Google Play gift card, you never have to worry about expiration dates or fees.
- Endless games to explore: Find and play old and new favorites – from mind-bending puzzles to epic quests and more.
There is no established representative statistic showing that the Free upgrade makes Premium unnecessary or that listeners generally consider Premium worth its price. The practical answer is personal: judge the subscription by the interruptions or limitations it removes for you, not just by the number of new Free features.
Do not confuse the Free playback update with managed accounts
Spotify’s 2026 expansion of managed accounts to Free is a separate development concerning family and parental controls, not part of the September 2025 playback-control upgrade. Spotify discusses that change in its 2026 managed-accounts announcement.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
