According to GSM Arena, Spotify is preparing to raise subscription prices in the United States during the first quarter of 2026. The Sweden-based music streaming giant already implemented price increases across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific back in August. Currently, Spotify’s individual premium plan costs $11.99 per month in the US, with student, duo, and family plans priced at $5.99, $16.99, and $19.99 respectively. The Financial Times reports this information comes from three people familiar with the matter. This would be the second US price increase following the company’s last hike in June 2024.
The profitability squeeze
Here’s the thing about Spotify – they’ve been under intense pressure from investors to actually make consistent money. For years, the company operated with razor-thin margins despite having hundreds of millions of users. Now they’re finally getting serious about profitability, and price increases are the most direct way to make that happen. But it’s not just internal pressure – major record labels have been pushing streaming services to raise prices to keep up with inflation. Basically, everyone in the music industry wants a bigger slice of the pie.
Why 2026 makes sense
The timing here is actually pretty strategic. Think about it – they just raised US prices in June 2024. Waiting until Q1 2026 gives subscribers nearly two years to adjust before hitting them with another increase. That’s smart business psychology. It also aligns with Spotify’s pattern of gradual, predictable price adjustments rather than sudden shocks. And let’s be honest – by 2026, inflation will have likely made today’s $11.99 feel like a bargain anyway.
Where this leaves consumers
So what does this mean for your wallet? Well, we don’t know the exact new pricing yet, but looking at recent global increases, expect another dollar or two per month across the board. The real question is whether competitors like Apple Music and YouTube Music will follow suit. They typically match Spotify’s moves within months. For now, if you’re happy with Spotify Premium, you’ve got about a year and a half at current rates. After that? Get ready to pay up for your daily soundtrack.
