Spotify is expensive. It's been getting more so over the last few years, eventually landing on the current $11.99 monthly plan that most users pay for. Unfortunately, it looks like users will end up paying even more come the first quarter of 2026.
According to The Financial Times, "three people close to the matter" say Spotify is preparing to raise its prices again, following those in other territories. If it does, that will make it one of the most expensive music streaming services on the market.
How much extra is it going to cost?
Apparently, we're looking at a $1 per month price rise, taking the final price up to $12.99 per month. That's more than Apple Music ($10.99), Tidal ($10.99), and the same price as my personal favorite streaming pick, Qobuz ($12.99).
You do, of course, get all of Spotify's extra features like its AI DJ, excellent curation and music suggestions, along with podcasts and audiobooks — but this is likely going to be a tough pill to swallow for users of the most popular streaming service on earth.
As everything gets more expensive, from your bread flour to the gas you put in your car, a dollar a month can make more of a difference. Spotify will likely point to the addition of Spotify Lossless to explain why it needs an extra dollar every month, but that doesn't make the rise sting any less.
There's still the free option, which now provides more than ever, thanks to a recent update that lets you choose the music you listen to, but I can see how this price hike might make users consider switching to one of the other best music streaming services.
As yet, there's no official announcement from Spotify itself – and we've still got Spotify Wrapped to look forward to later this year. But the potential for price hikes will loom large in the coming weeks.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
