If you're a Spotify Premium subscriber, be prepared for a price hike in early 2026 that could hit your wallet.
Currently, an individual Spotify Premium plan in the US costs $12 a month. Spotify last raised its subscription price in July 2024, when it increased from $11 to $12.
The reason behind Spotify's decision to hike prices in the US in the new year is reportedly tied to market pressure, as the company aims to improve its stock and demonstrate signs of profitability. Spotify's stock price has grown by 30 percent this year, and Wall Street analysts see a US price increase as "critical to Spotify's stock," as reported by The Financial Times.
Spotify has already increased prices in countries around the world earlier this year, including in Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. In many European markets, Spotify's price rose by €1 to €12 a month. The US avoided this price hike, but it seems its turn is coming in 2026.
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Spotify has only increased its price in the US twice
Spotify is also facing pressure from major record labels to increase prices
Spotify originally launched in the US 14 years ago at $10 a month, and during its time operating in the US, it has only increased prices twice: once in July 2023 by $1 to $11 per month, and, as I mentioned earlier, once in July 2024 by $1 to $12 per month.
Compared to video streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, which have constantly increased their prices, I have to admit that Spotify's $2 monthly increase over 14 years is quite surprising. To be clear, I'm not complaining about it; I enjoy my $12 Spotify Premium.
Looking at Disney+, for example, it only launched in 2019, yet in six years, its price has already risen several times, and quite significantly. Disney+ originally cost $7 a month and was ad-free. Now, for its ad-free plan, it's $16 a month, and for its ad-supported plan, it's $8 a month. I know music streaming and video streaming aren't exactly the same, but it's still interesting to see how quickly video streaming prices have increased while music streaming prices haven't moved much.
...given the pressure Spotify is under, and how it's already raised prices around the world, it's hard to see the US, its biggest market, not getting hit with a price hike in the new year.
This leads to another reason Spotify might raise prices next year: it is reportedly under pressure from major record labels to increase prices, as they argue the cost of music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and others has fallen behind inflation and that "subscriptions remain cheap" compared to video streaming services like Netflix, according to the Financial Times.
In its Q3 2025 earnings call earlier this month, Spotify's co-president and incoming co-CEO, Alex Norström, spoke about US pricing, saying the company "will act when the time is right for each specific market, and we'll do it at the appropriate price based on those market dynamics."
Spotify hasn't commented on the Financial Times report, and no US price increase has been officially announced by the company. However, given the pressure Spotify is under, and how it's already raised prices around the world, it's hard to see the US, its biggest market, not getting hit with a price hike in the new year.