Spotify has just unveiled a new subscription tier in the US called “Basic,” catering to users who don’t use the audiobook feature on the platform. Priced at $10.99 per month, this plan offers all the core benefits of Spotify Premium, including ad-free listening, offline downloads, and unlimited skips, without the 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening time.
This move comes on the heels of Spotify raising the price of its Premium plan to $11.99 per month due to the addition of audiobook support. The Basic plan is designed for users who primarily enjoy music and podcasts on Spotify, providing a more affordable option.
In addition to the individual Basic plan, Spotify quietly introduced a Family version for $16.99 per month. This allows families to enjoy ad-free music at a lower cost. Existing Premium subscribers can easily switch to the Basic plan to save a dollar each month if they don’t need audiobooks.
It’s important to note that Premium Duo and Premium Family plans still include access to audiobooks at $15.99 and $19.99 per month respectively. Couples or families not utilizing this feature may find potential savings by switching to the Basic plan. Audiobooks are also available separately as an add-on for $9.99 per month.
These new plans are currently only available as downgrades for existing US subscribers eligible for the offer. New subscribers can sign up for Premium plans on Spotify’s website, but it remains unclear if they will have access to the Basic plan during a free trial period.
With the introduction of the Basic plan, Spotify now competes with Apple Music’s individual plan and YouTube Music Premium, both priced at $10.99 per month. This added flexibility gives users more options for their music streaming subscriptions in today’s competitive market.
