According to Spotify’s email, the higher subscription fee will support ongoing product innovation, service upgrades, and improved user experience. The adjustment means subscribers will pay an additional VND 6,000 (USD 0.25) per month.

This move follows Spotify’s August announcement of Premium price hikes across several global markets starting September. The decision is part of the company’s strategy to boost profit margins, after combined cost-cutting and pricing adjustments helped Spotify record its first profit in 2024.

In Q2 2025, Spotify reported growth in both monthly active users and paid subscribers, despite pressure from higher staff-related taxes. CEO Daniel Ek highlighted that Apple’s recent allowance for Spotify to display pricing and external payment links in the U.S. App Store drove “clear positive growth.” He added that similar regulations in Europe and the UK would bring even greater benefits.

Free users see more features

Alongside the price rise, Spotify has been upgrading the experience for its 433 million free-tier users out of a total 696 million monthly users. New features like “Pick & Play,” “Search & Play,” and “Share & Play” allow free users to select specific songs and play them directly via social media links such as Instagram Stories.

Previously, free accounts were restricted to shuffle mode with limited skips. Now, Spotify offers “on-demand listening time,” after which users revert to hourly skip limits. The company has not disclosed the exact allowance, but Premium users remain unaffected.

Spotify expects these changes to boost engagement among free users and grow advertising revenue, which currently accounts for just 11% of its income, well below its 20% target. Premium-exclusive features such as lossless audio, AI Playlists, and AutoMix remain key differentiators.

Du Lam