With Its Free Tier Upgrade, Spotify Gives Users More Control While Premium Sound Promises Loom
Free users finally get more control over what they listen to, but the journey toward perfect sound is still unfolding
Spotify has expanded what its free tier can do, giving listeners the ability to pick and play specific tracks instead of relying solely on shuffle. The update, known as Pick & Play and Search & Play, rolls out globally and marks the most significant change to the Spotify free tier experience in years. Free users can now directly play songs they search for or those shared by friends and artists on social media. Previously, this level of control was reserved for Premium subscribers.
Why the free tier upgrade matters
The change goes beyond convenience. Out of Spotify’s nearly 700 million monthly active users, around 433 million rely on the free, ad-supported version. These users represent the largest share of the platform’s audience, and their engagement is critical to Spotify’s long-term growth. By making the free tier more user-friendly, Spotify encourages longer listening sessions, which in turn drive its advertising business. Ad revenue is an area where the company has publicly admitted it wants to grow, aiming for 20% of total income but currently sitting closer to 11%.
Rivals have already raised the bar on sound
Even with the free tier upgrades, Spotify lags behind competitors on one key front: audio quality. Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal already offer lossless streaming at no extra cost to subscribers. Spotify, by contrast, announced its own HiFi option back in 2021 but has yet to make it available. This gap is becoming harder to ignore. While free users benefit from new playback freedoms, Premium subscribers are still waiting for the promised upgrade in sound — a feature that has increasingly become a standard expectation rather than a luxury.
Free features vs. premium promises
Spotify’s balancing act highlights the company’s global strategy. By focusing on free users in markets like Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the platform strengthens its reach and builds a pipeline of future paying subscribers. But the longer it delays on Spotify lossless audio, the more it risks alienating the paying audience who fund its growth. Premium subscribers are not only looking for algorithm-driven playlists or AI-powered discovery tools; they also expect the very best sound quality available.
What’s next for Spotify?
The company is walking a fine line. Free tier users are finally getting more control, advertisers stand to benefit from higher engagement, and markets with cost-sensitive audiences are being catered to more directly. Yet, Spotify’s reputation with audiophiles and loyal Premium subscribers may hinge on how soon it delivers on the Spotify HiFi lossless streaming promise. With rivals treating high-resolution sound as the new baseline, Spotify’s next move could determine whether it keeps pace or risks losing credibility with its most valuable customers.
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