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Spotify vs YouTube Music pricing
YouTube Music is cheaper to start: $5.99 per month, verified students against $6.99 per month, 1 verified student account for Spotify. Spotify has changed its listed prices 5 times since 2011. YouTube Music has changed its listed prices 3 times since 2018.
Spotify vs YouTube Music at a glance
Current list prices as last read from each pricing page.
Spotify
- Starts at
- $6.99 per month, 1 verified student accountPremium Student, USD per month
- Top listed plan
- $21.99 per month, up to 6 accountsPremium Family
- Priced by
- Flat per account
- Free plan
- Yes
- Price history
- since 2011
- Price changes
- 5
YouTube Music
- Starts at
- $5.99 per month, verified studentsStudent, USD per month
- Top listed plan
- $18.99 per month, up to 6 peopleFamily
- Priced by
- Flat per account
- Free plan
- Not recorded
- Price history
- since 2018
- Price changes
- 3
Exhibit 1
Spotify vs YouTube Music price history
Both histories on one chart. The default line is each product's cheapest paid plan.
Show the data as a table
| Observed | Spotify Premium Student | YouTube Music Student |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2019 | $4.99 | |
| Jan 1, 2021 | $4.99 | |
| Jul 21, 2023 | $4.99 | |
| Jul 24, 2023 | $5.99 | |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $5.49 | |
| Jan 14, 2026 | $5.99 | |
| Jan 20, 2026 | $6.99 | |
| Oct 24, 2026 | $5.99 | |
| Nov 2, 2026 | $6.99 |
Plans side by side
Every plan currently listed, with the price it started at where we have it.
SpotifyUSD per month
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Individual | $12.99was $9.99 in 2011 | Jul 2011 |
| Premium Student | $6.99was $4.99 in 2019 | Dec 2019 |
| Premium Duo | $18.99was $12.99 in 2020 | Sep 2020 |
| Premium Family | $21.99was $14.99 in 2016 | Oct 2016 |
YouTube MusicUSD per month
| Plan | Price | Listed since |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $11.99was $9.99 in 2018 | Jun 2018 |
| Family | $18.99was $14.99 in 2018 | Jun 2018 |
| Student | $5.99was $4.99 in 2021 | Jan 2021 |
What changed, and when
Every dated price move we have on record for either product, newest first.
- Oct 2026YouTube Music raised the Individual, Family and Student prices. Individual went from $10.99 to $11.99 (+9%). Family went from $16.99 to $18.99 (+12%). Student went from $5.49 to $5.99 (+9%).
- Jan 2026Spotify raised the Premium Individual, Premium Student, Premium Duo and Premium Family prices. Premium Individual went from $11.99 to $12.99 (+8%). Premium Student went from $5.99 to $6.99 (+17%). Premium Duo went from $16.99 to $18.99 (+12%). Premium Family went from $19.99 to $21.99 (+10%).
- Jan 2026YouTube Music raised the Individual, Family and Student prices. Individual went from $9.99 to $10.99 (+10%). Family went from $14.99 to $16.99 (+13%). Student went from $4.99 to $5.49 (+10%).
- Jun 2024Spotify raised the Premium Individual, Premium Duo and Premium Family prices. Premium Individual went from $10.99 to $11.99 (+9%). Premium Duo went from $14.99 to $16.99 (+13%). Premium Family went from $16.99 to $19.99 (+18%).
- Jul 2023Spotify raised the Premium Individual, Premium Student, Premium Duo and Premium Family prices. Premium Individual went from $9.99 to $10.99 (+10%). Premium Student went from $4.99 to $5.99 (+20%). Premium Duo went from $12.99 to $14.99 (+15%). Premium Family went from $15.99 to $16.99 (+6%).
- May 2021Spotify raised the Premium Family price. Premium Family went from $14.99 to $15.99 (+7%).
- Jan 2021YouTube Music added the Student plan. Student listed at $4.99.
- Sep 2020Spotify added the Premium Duo plan. Premium Duo listed at $12.99.
- Dec 2019Spotify added the Premium Student plan. Premium Student listed at $4.99.
- Oct 2016Spotify added the Premium Family plan. Premium Family listed at $14.99.
- Jan 2016Spotify dropped the Unlimited plan. Unlimited no longer listed, was $4.99.
Spotify vs YouTube Music pricing questions
- Is Spotify or YouTube Music cheaper?
- YouTube Music starts lower at $5.99 per month, verified students, Spotify at $6.99 per month, 1 verified student account. Prices are as shown on each pricing page when it was last read.
- Has Spotify or YouTube Music raised prices?
- Spotify: Premium Individual has been listed since Jul 2011, starting at $9.99. It went up to $10.99 by Jul 2023 (+10%), then went up to $11.99 by Jun 2024 (+9%), and finally went up to $12.99 by Jan 2026 (+8%). Unlimited has been listed since Jul 2011, starting at $4.99. It was no longer listed by Jan 2016. Premium Student appeared by Dec 2019 at $4.99. It went up to $5.99 by Jul 2023 (+20%), and finally went up to $6.99 by Jan 2026 (+17%). Premium Duo appeared by Sep 2020 at $12.99. It went up to $14.99 by Jul 2023 (+15%), then went up to $16.99 by Jun 2024 (+13%), and finally went up to $18.99 by Jan 2026 (+12%). Premium Family appeared by Oct 2016 at $14.99. It went up to $15.99 by May 2021 (+7%), then went up to $16.99 by Jul 2023 (+6%), then went up to $19.99 by Jun 2024 (+18%), and finally went up to $21.99 by Jan 2026 (+10%). YouTube Music: Individual has been listed since Jun 2018, starting at $9.99. It went up to $10.99 by Jan 2026 (+10%), and finally went up to $11.99 by Oct 2026 (+9%). Family has been listed since Jun 2018, starting at $14.99. It went up to $16.99 by Jan 2026 (+13%), and finally went up to $18.99 by Oct 2026 (+12%). Student appeared by Jan 2021 at $4.99. It went up to $5.49 by Jan 2026 (+10%), and finally went up to $5.99 by Oct 2026 (+9%).
- Do Spotify and YouTube Music have a free plan?
- Spotify lists a free plan. We have not recorded one for YouTube Music.
- How are Spotify and YouTube Music priced?
- Spotify: flat per account, USD per month. YouTube Music: flat per account, USD per month.