What subscriptions are there and how can I use the music app for free?

The range of music streaming services has been growing continuously for years. And apps like Spotify have seen a significant increase in usage figures: the number of people using Spotify has more than doubled since 2018. In the first quarter of 2021, the company announced that 356 million users were active on Spotify every month. 158 million of them used the paid subscription Spotify Premium.

Almost every twelfth person in Germany uses Spotify. The app can be downloaded for free. Spotify was founded in Sweden in 2006. In 2018, the streaming service even went public in New York.

All Spotify subscription periods currently start with a free trial month. But how do you use Spotify permanently for free? What are the downsides to that? And which paid subscription at Spotify is the cheapest? All possible uses of the streaming app at a glance.

Spotify Free: Listening to music with restrictions

If you download the app, you can simply create an account and use the app for free. There are no hidden costs to using Spotify. However, there are some restrictions when it comes to enjoying music:

• They can be annoying frequent commercial breaks be.
• Music stream is in the free version only with internet connection possible.
• Spotify Free is free, but you don’t have a free choice of music you want to listen to: If you call up an artist, the songs can only in shuffle mode (Random play) be listened to.
• The ability to skip tracks is not unlimited.

In addition to the many disadvantages, there is at least one advantage: Compared to all subscription variants, Spotify Free is complete free.

Spotify Premium Individual: music subscription for one person

Who Spotify without commercial breaks would like to use, could be interested in Spotify Premium. With the subscription you can Music offline too can be listened to, which means that no extra data volume is used on the go. You can also play the Songs completely freely selected songs can also be skipped indefinitely. The restrictions of the free version do not apply to Spotify Premium. However that is Individual subscription the most expensive Spotify subscription offer: It currently costs in Germany 9.99 euros per month, so almost 120 euros a year! Cheaper subscription options are listed below.

Spotify Duo: The music subscription for couples

Spotify Duo is intended as a music subscription for couples. The subscription variant can be used by two people at the same time a common address need to specify when registering. There are two differences compared to the individual subscription: The couple subscription currently costs 12.99 euros per month, so per person is about 3.50 euros cheaper as Spotify Individual. The app also creates a Playlist with the music preferences of the two users, which is continuously updated.

Studiabo: Spotify for students

Students enrolled in Germany can use an even cheaper version of Spotify Premium: the student subscription. The eligibility for the student discount only needs to be proven. This can be about a log in at the relevant university or an uploaded one Immatrikulationsbescheinigung happen. The cost of the studio subscription is half the regular price for Spotify Premium: students currently have to 4.99 euros per month numbers. Otherwise the student subscription is identical to Spotify Premium Individual.

Family subscription: Spotify for up to six people from one household

The cheapest Spotify Premium subscription is Spotify Family. The price is currently with 14.99 euros per month the highest. This subscription can be up to six people at the same time use. This reduces the price per person to up to 2.50 euros. Even if only four people use the family subscription and share the costs, it is the cheapest subscription per person.

Theoretically, however, not every group of people can use Spotify Family just like that: When registering, all users must given a common address become.

The app creates one Familymixwhich is updated regularly and contains music that is heard by family members. There is also a separate app for children Spotify Kids with compiled child-friendly content.

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