Spotify Increases UK Subscription Fees: Individual Plan Now £12.99 Per Month
Spotify has announced another rise in its UK subscription fees, with the Individual plan now set at £12.99 per month.
This represents a £2 increase over rival services such as Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music for Prime members.
The Stockholm-based streaming giant informed customers of the change via email, sparking immediate reactions online.
(“Now I’m wondering if it’s worth cancelling Spotify and getting YouTube,” one critic wrote on Reddit. “Update: Cancelled my Spotify.”)
The price hike follows Spotify’s growing trend of conforming subscription charges, a strategy that has been rolled out more extensively in the UK since April 2024.
Despite implicit subscriber churn, the platform appears unbothered by the widening gap with challengers. Apple Music and other rivals are reportedly keen to capitalise on this, offering three-month trials to allure frustrated listeners.
Spotify is also considering adaptations to its Basic and Family plans in the UK, although details remain scarce.
Judges anticipate that some druggies may switch to the announcement-supported league, which retains playlists and preferences but runs commercials.
With the company long focused on boosting advertising revenue, monetising this tier effectively remains a challenge.
Initiatives such as AI-powered features, a proprietary ad exchange, and an internal “Creative Lab” marketing agency have so far struggled to meet expectations.
Converting free users into profitable ad-supported accounts is proving trickier than anticipated.
The broader streaming landscape offers lessons. Video platforms like Netflix and Peacock charge for ad-supported tiers, demonstrating a successful revenue model.
Industry insiders have suggested Spotify may eventually implement similar charges for free users in established markets, although such a move is unlikely in the near term.
Meanwhile, future price increases in the U.S. may also be tempered by slowing subscriber growth. Between new features and an upcoming expansion into generative AI, Spotify faces an unpredictable year ahead.
For now, UK listeners are left to weigh the rising cost against the service’s catalogue and innovations, and whether the streaming giant remains worth the monthly outlay.
