Spotify has introduced major improvements to its free service, allowing users without a paid subscription to search for and play individual songs, create playlists and access personalized recommendations. The update marks a shift from earlier restrictions, which only allowed free users to play albums and playlists in shuffle mode.
“Instead, albums and playlists could only be played in a random order. This is now changing, as it is now possible to search for and play songs specifically without a subscription,” the company said in a statement outlining the changes. Free users will also be able to open links to individual tracks, add custom artwork to playlists and arrange tracks in any order.
Other new features include access to automatically generated daily and weekly playlists tailored to each user’s listening habits, as well as the ability to share tracks and view song lyrics. Spotify said the upgrades are intended to increase engagement on the free tier, exposing listeners to more advertising and in turn driving revenue.
The free service still has limitations, including ad interruptions and audio quality capped at 160 kbps. Spotify’s $11.99 monthly premium plan continues to offer benefits such as lossless audio, offline downloads, audiobook streaming and the ability to create AI-powered playlists.
Spotify, the world’s largest music streaming platform, has long relied on its free tier to draw in new listeners. By giving non-paying users more control over playback and personalization, the company aims to increase time spent on the app while maintaining a clear incentive to upgrade to premium.
Source: Spotify