Spotify just hiked prices again. There are cheaper options

Yep, it’s time for another Spotify price hike—meaning it’s also time to look for better music-streaming deals.

Starting next month, the price for an individual Spotify Premium subscription in the U.S. will rise to $12.99 a month, up $1/month from the previous $11.99-a-month rate. 

Spotify Premium Duo plans for two people are going up to $18.99 a month, up from $16.99/month, while Premium Family plans are getting hiked from $19.99 a month to $21.99/month. Even Premium Student plans are going up, from $5.99 a month to $6.99/month. 

Existing Spotify subscribers will soon get emails that details the new rates, which will likely kick in after the next billing period, according to Variety. New subscribers hoping to sign up for Spotify’s Duo or Family plans will have to pay the new prices immediately, while those opting for individual or student plans will get a month free before the new rates kick in. 

The last time Spotify raised its prices was back in June 2024, when it boosted individual rates from $10.99 a month to $11.99/month, and prices for other Premium plans also got went up. The June 2024 increase was Spotify’s second price hike in a year. 

It’s worth noting that music streaming prices aren’t soaring at the same rate as those of video streamers like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max. For now, individual music-streaming rates are still hovering within a few bucks of $10 a month, which was pretty much standard for a decade. 

Still, there are plenty of cheaper music-streaming options than Spotify for those who are willing to export their playlists. 

Amazon Music Unlimited 

Individual plan: $11.99/month (non-Prime), $10.99/month (Prime) 
Family plan: $19.99/month 

Amazon’s unlimited music service boasts more than 100 million songs, right up there with Spotify, and it also offers lossless and high-resolution tracks, spatial audio, and one audiobook a month via Audible. 

Apple Music 

Individual plan: $10.99/month 
Student plan: $5.99/month 
Family plan: $16.99/month 

Like Amazon and Spotify, Apple serves up more than 100 million songs in its streaming catalog, plus lossless and high-resolution tracks along with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. There’s also the specialty Apple Music Classical app that curates classical tracks with proper classical-music metadata. Finally, Apple Music’s Student plan includes Apple TV access for free. 

Tidal 

Individual plan: $10.99/month 
Student plan: $5.49/month 
Family plan: $16.99/month 

One of the pioneers of high-quality music streaming, Tidal tees up heaps of music tracks in lossless and high-resolution quality, and it was an early adopter of Dolby Atmos mixes. There’s also a track-mixing DJ Extension available for the Individual and Student plans for an additional $9/month. 

YouTube Music Premium 

Individual plan: $10.99/month 
Student plan: $5.49/month (first month free) 
Family plan: $16.99/month 

Yes, there’s still a music-only YouTube streaming plan, although it’s worth noting that the streamer doesn’t offer lossless audio tracks yet.