Spotify launches new services

Spotify - new models, but what about the old ones?
Spotify - new models, but what about the old ones?

Spotify has announced two new levels of service – Spotify Unlimited and Spotify Open, but insists that the Spotify Free model will continue for now.

The new models – Unlimited offering a Premium level but only for the computer and not mobile, and Open offering 20 hours of listening – will inevitably lead to fears that the invite-only Spotify Free is going to be phased out.

Spotify Unlimited will offer all you can eat access to the tunes for £4.99 per month for the computer, while the Spotify Open model is a free ad-supported service offering the full music catalogue without Spotify Free's invite system, but only for 20 hours a month.

Not the end of free

Spotify insists that this does not spell the end of Spotify Free – stating that the two new services are being introduced to 'complement' Spotify Free and the Spotify Premium offerings.

Spotify Premium will continue to offer the full service on both PC and mobile.

"Spotify Free will continue to provide ad-supported music to our 7m+ users across Europe, with new users still able to sign up to the current Free service by obtaining one of the many millions of invites currently available."

Ek-ky thump

Daniel Ek, CEO and founder of Spotify, said: "Up until today, new Spotify users have had two options - either subscribe to the full Spotify Premium experience or receive a Spotify Free invite from a friend.

"Following Spotify's major upgrade, we wanted to give music fans new ways to enjoy the service.

"Now everyone who wants a great introduction to Spotify without an invite, or who wants to enjoy unlimited, ad-free music just on their computers, can do so."

So, those Spotify Free invites are beginning to look mighty valuable, unless you are happy with a 20 hours a month limit.

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.

Latest in Spotify
Spotify logo on a mobile device
Had Spotify problems recently? It's clamped down on Premium APK 'modded' apps – here's what's happening
A band playing live against a bright bank of lights, with the crowd in front of them
I'm a working musician, and as Spotify says it's not to blame for how little artists make from streaming, here's how you can really support your favorite bands
Spotify logo on a mobile device
Spotify's AI-narrated audiobooks have me worried for the future of music
A women wearing blue headphones against a pink tiled wall
More details of Spotify's new Music Pro plan have leaked – including the price
Spotify logo on a mobile device
Spotify HiFi: release date rumors, price predictions, and everything we know so far
Metalic Spotify Logo
Spotify seems to be gearing up for more expensive subscriptions, and I'm annoyed
Latest in News
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 resting on an RTX 5090 on a gray crafting mat.
Corsair tells us only one of its prebuilt PCs with an RTX 5000 GPU has suffered from chip-level fault, suggesting it’s as rare as Nvidia claimed
Fujfilm GFX 50R
First Fujifilm GFX100RF images leaked in build-up to expected reveal – here’s what they tell us about the unique premium compact camera
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 in blue
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could have a Motorola Razr-style full-sized cover screen – and I think it’s about time
Spotify logo on a mobile device
Had Spotify problems recently? It's clamped down on Premium APK 'modded' apps – here's what's happening
An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT made by Sapphire on a table with its retail packaging
Last-minute AMD RX 9070 XT stock rumors are making me hopeful for a much better launch than Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPUs – with just one snag
eSIM
Global eSIM shipment volume surpasses half a billion units as demand keeps on growing