Source-backed analysis12

Spotify Review

Name: Spotify
Author: Spotify AB

Music and podcasts with a free tier; Premium at $12.99/month in the US

Editorial Team7.8/10 Write the first review

By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated Nov 10, 2026

Web
iOS
Android
Windows
macOS
Linux

Freemium · $6.99/mo

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Our verdict

Spotify suits daily music and podcast listeners who want a huge catalogue across thousands of device types, with a free tier to start. The trade-offs: ad removal, downloads and free skipping cost $12.99/month in the US, listening data feeds personalised ads, and its Google Play rating in Vietnam is 3.8/5.

Best for: Daily music and podcast listeners across devices (cars, speakers, watches, TVs)

Skip it if: People who want ad-free listening and downloads without paying

Pros

Free tier; Premium at $12.99/month in the US, and in Vietnam a 1-year prepaid option at 650,000 ₫ with no auto-renewal
A student plan at $6.99/month in the US
Over 100 million songs and 6 million podcast titles per the App Store description

Cons

The free tier has ads and limited features
In Vietnam the pricing page lists only Individual and Student; no Duo or Family plan appears

All pros and cons · Who is it for?

Pros

Works with over 2,000 devices; 4.8/5 from over 1.4 million ratings on the Vietnamese App Store

Cons

Google Play rating in Vietnam is 3.8/5, lower than the App Store
Data is used for interest-based ads; many types are kept until you delete them

Best for

Students who want Premium at $6.99/month (US price)
Listeners who enjoy personalised features such as Wrapped, daylist, Jam and Blend

Skip it if

Users who are strongly concerned about privacy and interest-based advertising

Problems it solves

Experience & key features

What is Spotify?

Spotify is a music and podcast streaming service from Spotify AB of Sweden. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 23 April 2006 in Stockholm by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon and launched on 7 October 2008 in several European markets. Its company page cites 788 million users and 306 million Premium subscribers across 184 markets. In Vietnam, Tuoi Tre reported that it became available on 12 March 2018.

Key features

Per the App Store description the catalogue has over 100 million songs and 6 million podcast titles, plus audiobooks in select markets. The Premium page lists ad-free listening, audio up to about 320 kbps, offline downloads with automatic Offline Backup, any-order play, repeat and unlimited skips, plus Wrapped, daylist, Jam, Blend, Peloton-powered classes and compatibility with over 2,000 devices including cars, watches, smart speakers and TVs.

Pricing and value

Spotify's US Premium page lists Individual at $12.99, Student at $6.99, Duo at $18.99 and Family at $21.99 per month, with a free trial on Individual and Student. The Vietnam pricing page lists only Individual and Student, with Vietnam-only offers: new Premium users get 2 months for 65,000 ₫ (33,000 ₫ for students), and one-time prepaid options without auto-renewal cost 195,000 ₫ for 3 months, 390,000 ₫ for 6 months and 650,000 ₫ for a year. At its 2018 Vietnam launch the price was 59,000 ₫/month after a 30-day trial. The current price is reasonable for frequent listeners.

More analysis

Who it's for and how it compares

Spotify suits frequent music and podcast listeners using several devices. YouTube Music and Apple Music make sense if you already live in the YouTube or Apple ecosystem; Zing MP3 and NhacCuaTui focus on Vietnamese music. You can start on the free tier before paying, and privacy-minded users should switch off tailored ads in their account settings.

Screenshots

Spotify iPhone app screenshot from the App Store listing (1)

Spotify iPhone app screenshot from the App Store listing (2)

Spotify iPhone app screenshot from the App Store listing (3)

Plans & pricing

Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026

Official US prices (USD)

FreePersonalFree
Premium IndividualPersonal$12.99/mo
Premium StudentPersonal$6.99/mo
Premium DuoPersonal$18.99/mo
Premium FamilyPersonal$21.99/mo

Sources

Free

Personal

Free

Free listening with ads. Per the Premium page, downloads, unlimited skips and full playback control are paid features. When Spotify launched in Vietnam (Mar 2018), Tuoi Tre reported the free tier came with limited songs and features.

Premium Individual

Personal

$12.99/mo

$12.99/month in the US, with a 1-month $0 trial for people who haven't tried Premium. In Vietnam, new Premium users get 2 months for 65,000 ₫, and one-time prepaid options without auto-renewal are offered there: 3 months 195,000 ₫, 6 months 390,000 ₫, 1 year 650,000 ₫ (54,167 ₫/month equivalent, saving 130,000 ₫). Ad-free, up to about 320 kbps, offline downloads, unlimited skips.

Premium Student

Personal

$6.99/mo

$6.99/month in the US after a free trial. Requires verification as a student at an eligible accredited institution. In Vietnam, new users get 2 months for 33,000 ₫, and a prepaid 1-month option at 33,000 ₫ is also offered.

Free plan limits: The free plan plays with ads; downloads, unlimited skips, repeat and any-order playback and ad-free listening need Premium.
Free trial: No free trial

Cancellation & refunds

The support pages say you can cancel anytime and keep Premium until the billing period ends, then move to Free; cancelling during a trial drops you to Free immediately. Payments made through a partner must be refunded by that partner. Audiobooks may be refunded within 7 days of payment.

Privacy

Spotify's Privacy Policy (US version, effective 1 July 2026) covers account data, listening history, searches, playlists, IP addresses, device IDs and general location; precise location and voice data only with your permission. Data feeds personalised recommendations, feature improvement (including AI) and tailored ads, and ad partners may supply inferred interests about you. You can download, correct and delete data, switch off tailored ads, use private sessions, and Spotify honours Global Privacy Control. Some data has a stated schedule (search queries 90 days), but many types are kept until you delete them or close your account.

Official pricing page

Spotify alternatives

Spotify vs Apple Music

7.6/10

Apple Music

Apple's music streaming service: 100M+ songs, lossless and Spatial Audio

Free trial

7.2/10

SoundCloud

Streaming and uploads for independent music: 400M+ tracks from 30M+ artists

Freemium

All alternatives

Frequently asked questions

How much is Spotify Premium?

Per Spotify's US page: Individual $12.99, Student $6.99, Duo $18.99 and Family $21.99 per month. In Vietnam, Spotify also sells prepaid Premium: 3 months 195,000 ₫, 6 months 390,000 ₫, 1 year 650,000 ₫.

Is Spotify free?

Yes. The app has a free ad-supported tier. Downloads and ad-free listening need Premium.

How do I cancel Spotify Premium, and are refunds available?

Go to Manage your plan and choose Cancel subscription; Premium stays until the billing period ends, then you move to Free. Payments through a partner must be refunded by that partner.

Can I download my Spotify data?

Yes. The Account Privacy page lets you download your data, manage tailored ads and see connected apps.

Review evidence & sources12

Scores

Ease of use: 8.7
Features: 9.0
Value for money: 8.0
Performance: 8.0
Support: 6.8
Privacy & security: 6.0

What users say

App Store (Vietnam)4.8/5 · 1,425,426
App Store (United States)4.8/5 · 43,041,251
Google Play (Vietnam)3.8/5 · 36,621,609

Sources

Vendor-providedSpotify Premium (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
Vendor-providedSpotify Privacy Policy (US, effective 2026-07-01)Nov 10, 2026
Vendor-providedSpotify Support: cancel PremiumNov 10, 2026
Vendor-providedSpotify Support: refund policyNov 10, 2026
Vendor-providedSpotify Newsroom: company infoNov 10, 2026
storeApp Store listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
storeiTunes Lookup API (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
storeApp Store listing (United States)Nov 10, 2026
storeGoogle Play listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
pressTuoi Tre News (2018-03-13): Spotify challenges Apple Music in VietnamNov 10, 2026
Community-reportedWikipedia: SpotifyNov 10, 2026
Vendor-providedSpotify Premium plans (US, USD)Nov 11, 2026

Specs & compatibility

Developer: Spotify AB
Headquarters: Sweden
Launched: 2008
Category: Entertainment

Capabilities

Works offline
Integrations
Mobile app

Platforms

Web
iOS
Android
Windows
macOS
Linux

Interface languages

English
Vietnamese
Japanese
Chinese
Spanish
French
Korean
German
Portuguese
Russian
Thai
Indonesian

Integrations

Peloton
Cars
Smart speakers
TVs
Smartwatches

Support

Help center
Community forum

Change history

Jul 1, 2026Update.The US Privacy Policy takes effect, listing data from AI feature prompts and transcripts.
Apr 1, 2018Company.Spotify lists on the NYSE via a direct listing.
Mar 12, 2018Launch.Spotify becomes available in Vietnam: Premium at 59,000 ₫/month after a 30-day trial, with a free ad-supported tier.

Full change history (6)

Jul 14, 2011Launch.Spotify launches in the United States.
Oct 7, 2008Launch.Spotify launches in several European markets.
Apr 23, 2006Company.Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon found Spotify in Stockholm.

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