The Spotify Index

Spotify Premium held at $9.99/month in the US from its 2011 launch through 2022 — over a decade of stable pricing. That changed in 2023. The company raised the Individual plan to $10.99 in July 2023, then to $11.99 in mid-2024, and to $12.99 in January 2026. Three hikes in three years.

The drivers are familiar: licensing costs from labels and publishers, investment in audiobooks and other content, and pressure to improve margins after years of growth-first pricing. Spotify is not alone — Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music have all raised prices in the same window.

For consumers, the ad-free music subscription that stayed under $10 for so long has joined the rest of the "quiet inflation" club. The ad-supported tier remains a lower-cost option, but the premium experience has clearly repriced.