Your February Spotify bill just got heavier. The streaming giant announced another round of US price hikes effective with February 2026 billing cycles, pushing Individual Premium from $11.99 to $12.99 monthly—the third increase since 2023. Family plan subscribers feel it most, jumping from $19.99 to $21.99, while even cash-strapped students lose their pricing sanctuary with a dollar bump to $6.99.
The Full Damage Breakdown
Every subscription tier takes a hit, with family users paying the steepest premium.
Here’s what your streaming habit now costs:
- Individual Premium climbs to $12.99 (+$1)
- Student to $6.99 (+$1)
- Duo to $18.99 (+$2)
- Family to $21.99 (+$2)
That Family plan increase stings—an extra $24 annually for the same playlist access you had last month.
Spotify will notify subscribers via email over the coming month, giving you time to mentally prepare for the billing cycle shock. These changes also apply to Estonia and Latvia, following similar tests in markets like the UK, Australia, and Switzerland.
Spotify’s Expensive Evolution
The platform now costs more than Apple Music while delivering long-promised features at glacial pace.
This marks Spotify’s aggressive pricing trajectory since breaking the $9.99 ceiling in 2023. Individual Premium has jumped 30% in three years—faster than inflation, slower than rent, but definitely faster than your salary increases.
The kicker? Spotify now charges more than Apple Music or YouTube Music’s $10.99 individual plans. You’re paying too much for a service that still hasn’t delivered the hi-res audio promised years ago, though they’ll gladly explain how podcast expansions and AI DJ features justify the cost.
Following the Money Trail
Wall Street loves the move, projecting massive revenue gains from subscriber loyalty.
J.P. Morgan analysts estimate this hike could generate over $500 million in additional annual revenue, assuming subscribers stick around. Spotify shares rose 3% post-announcement—investors clearly betting that playlist addiction trumps price sensitivity.
The company just reported its first profitable year in 2024 with €1.4 billion in earnings, yet still positions these increases as necessary for “maintaining the experience” and “supporting artists.” Translation: growth demands feeding the machine, and your wallet provides the fuel.
Your streaming loyalty faces its biggest test yet. With competitors offering comparable libraries at lower prices, February’s billing cycle might trigger the subscription shuffle you’ve been postponing.
