What is Spotify?
Spotify is a digital streaming service that allows users to stream a vast selection of music, podcasts and select videos.
How much does Spotify cost?
Spotify offers multiple subscription tiers for users to select, with prices ranging from free through to $18.99 per month. Spotify subscription plans include:
- Spotify Free
- Spotify Premium Individual: $18.99/m
- Spotify Premium Student: $10.49/m
- Spotify Premium Duo: $25.49/m
- Spotify Premium Family: $29.99/m
Spotify Free
A Spotify Free account does not allow users to select songs, but will allow them to select albums, artists, moods and genres, as well as discover new music and share music with friends. Spotify then plays music on a shuffle mode based on these preferences. A Free account does come with advertising that will periodically interrupt the audio, adding up to about one to four minutes of ads per hour of audio. It’s important to note that you can’t download music on a Free plan, meaning you’ll need internet or mobile data access to listen to music.
Spotify Premium Individual
Users gain access to the full library of music, podcasts and audiobooks ad free, and can even listen to music offline. Users can choose any track, album or artist they want, and have the added ability to download music for offline listening, and even listen to music while overseas.
Spotify Premium Student
Users over the age of 18 who are studying at an accredited university can purchase a Spotify Premium account at a discounted price, for four years.
Spotify Premium Duo
Designed for two people living at the same address, users share a Spotify account but have separate libraries and playlists. In addition, Spotify offers Duo Mix, a regularly updated playlist combining the music tastes of both members.
Spotify Premium Family
All the benefits of Spotify Premium for up to six users. Spotify's Family account also comes with an option to download the Spotify Kids app, which enables parental control over children's playlists and features kid-friendly handpicked content.
What devices can I listen to Spotify on?
Spotify is compatible with a multitude of devices, including phones, computer desktops, smart TVs and car audio systems. Premium subscribers can listen on multiple devices, as well as offline. Devices that users can listen to Spotify on include:
- Smartphones
- Computers
- Smart TVs
- Gaming consoles
- Wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers
- Audio streamers
- Smart displays
- Wearables
- Car audio
If you prefer to play Spotify through a web player instead of an app, the web browser is supported by the following internet browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Firefox
- Edge
- Opera
Listen to Spotify on a smart TV
Spotify is compatible for download and use through these Smart TVs and casting dongles, with the Spotify app often coming pre-installed on select models:
- Samsung
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire series
- Sony Bravia
- LG
Note that most TVs will allows you to use Chromecast to stream Spotify music from another device to your TV.
Listen to Spotify on gaming consoles
Spotify is compatible for download and use through these gaming console models:
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
To listen to Spotify on gaming consoles, simply access the menu and look for the ‘Music’ option, with Spotify itself often a direct option from the menu. Click to access and you’ll be taken to a new screen where you can play music.
Listen to Spotify on wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers
Spotify is compatible with audio streamers and Hi-Fi systems, provided they have a compatible wireless or cord connection with your phone, tablet or computer. Compatible speaker and Hi-Fi brands include:
- Sony
- Microsoft
- Yamaha
- Asus
Listen to Spotify on smart displays
Spotify is compatible for download and use on smart displays, provided your Spotify account has been linked to your phone, tablet or computer. Spotify is compatible with select models of the followings smart display brands:
- Nest Hub | Nest Hub Max
- Amazon Echo Show
- Facebook Portal
- Facebook Portal TV
- Lenovo Smart Display
- Amazing Echo Spot
- LG WK9
Listen to Spotify on wearables
Spotify is available to download directly to most smartwatches so you can take your music wherever you go. Spotify is compatible with most models of the following smartwatch brands:
- Apple Watch
- Fitbit
- Garmin
- Samsung wearables
- Wear OS
Listen to Spotify on car audio
You can play Spotify in your car in a variety of ways, including through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, provided your car is new enough to have the compatible technology. This technology can often be accessed via the main infotainment unit, which can access your Spotify account – or connect to your phone – to play your music through the car’s audio system.
If both your device and car radio have a headphone jack, you can use an AUX cord to connect your device’s sound system to your car audio.
Spotify can also be integrated via a number of apps and assistants, meaning that you can ask Siri or Google to play you your favourite song, or integrate with your phone’s alarm to wake up to something a bit gentler or motivating, depending on your preferences.
How to listen to music on Spotify
To listen to music on Spotify, the Spotify app must be downloaded or installed on your device, where you’ll have to then create a profile. The process will depend on what type of device you’re looking to listen to Spotify on, such as a phone compared to a desktop computer, with steps for each listed below.
How to listen to Spotify on a desktop
To listen to Spotify via your desktop, visit the Spotify website and look to create an account. From here, download the Spotify program to your desktop, and then run the program to install Spotify. Once installed, open the program to create your Spotify account.
How to listen to Spotify on your desktop internet browser
To listen to Spotify via your desktop’s internet browser, visit the Spotify website and look to create an account. From here, click the option to run Spotify via your internet browser. After this, you’ll be asked to create an account online.
How to download the Spotify app on mobile
Depending on your device and operating system, you can download Spotify via the App Store or Google Play. Search for Spotify and click ‘install’, where the app will then be downloaded onto your mobile device. Once downloaded and installed, click on the app and you’ll be taken to the next step, which is creating an account.
How to create a Spotify account
To create an account, you’ll first have had to download and/or installed Spotify onto your device. Once this has been done, you’ll be prompted to create an account, which you can do so by entering your email address and a password, or by signing in through your Facebook account, if you have one.
If you choose to sign up with an email and password:
- Select the ‘Sign Up’ button
- Enter and confirm your email address
- Choose a password
- Enter personal information
If you choose to sign in through Facebook (on mobile):
- Select ‘Sign Up With Facebook’ or ‘Continue With Facebook (on mobile)
- If you’re not already logged into Facebook on the device, you’ll be directed to enter your Facebook details
- Allow Spotify access to your Facebook
Signing in with Facebook can also allow you to find friends easier, which allows you to see what music they listen to.
How to create a playlist on Spotify
Playlists are the backbone of any musical taste, with Spotify also allowing you to share and collab with other users to create a playlist for any occasion. To create a playlist on Spotify, you’ll have to:
- Tap the library icon in the bottom right hand-corner
- Click on the + sign in the top right-hand corner
- Click on ‘Playlist’
- Enter a title for your playlist and click ‘Create’
To add a song to a playlist
- Tap the three-dot icon located next to the song. If you are on an Apple device, the icon will appear as three horizontal dots, while Android devices will show three vertical dots.
- From this, select ‘Add to Playlist’
- Choose the playlist you’d like to add the song to
To edit a playlist:
- Tap the three dotted icon next to the playlist
- Press the minus icon to remove media files if you wish to delete a song
- Re-order media by tapping on the selected audio file. Hold it and drag to where you would like it to go. This feature is only available to Premium users
To delete a playlist:
- Tap on the three dotted icon on the playlist title
- Tap ‘Delete Playlist’
What can you listen to on Spotify?
You can listen to a huge range of media on Spotify including music, podcasts and shows. Spotify has amassed a library of over 80 million songs, albums and artists, and includes a huge range of genres, eras and moods, allowing you to curate your own playlist, or let Spotify do the hard work and make specialised playlists (such as Daily Mix and Discover Weekly) for you.
How much data does Spotify use?
Spotify uses between 40MB and 150MB of data per hour, although this will ultimately depend on the audio quality you select.
- Automatic: dependent on your network connection
- Low: 24kbit/s
- Normal: 96kbit/s
- High: 160kbit/s
- Very high: 320kbit/s*
*Note that very high audio quality is only available with a Spotify Premium plan.
Is a Spotify subscription worth it?
Spotify has a huge range of music, podcasts and shows available with a variety of payment options to accommodate different groupings of listeners. It may not have what every person is looking for, but it does attempt to strike a balance between diehard music lovers and those who just like a tune. Add in features such as new weekly playlists and the ability to collaborate with friends to curate the perfect playlist will be sure to tick a few boxes for those who like to bring the party with them, while also offering something for those who aren’t looking to pay to listen to music. When it comes to music streaming, it is hard to go past Spotify, but with plenty of options available in the sphere, researching into what artists feature on each service, as well as costs and features can help you find the best fit for your musical tastes and budget.
