The headline refers to a reported plan from April 2024, not a new Spotify price announcement. Ars Technica, citing Bloomberg’s unnamed sources, reported that Spotify was expected to raise monthly prices by about $1 for individual plans and $2 for multi-member plans, while adding a music-and-podcast tier without included audiobook hours. Spotify declined to comment to Ars. Those reported figures are historical, not current prices.
What the April 2024 report said
Ars Technica reported on April 3, 2024, that Spotify was expected to make the following changes. The details came from Bloomberg’s unnamed sources; Spotify did not confirm them to Ars.
| Reported change | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Individual plan | An increase of about $1 per month. |
| Multi-member plans | An increase of about $2 per month. |
| Timing and markets | Changes were expected to start in several markets, including Australia, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, with the United States later in 2024. |
| Audiobook-free tier | A planned music-and-podcast tier without included audiobook listening hours. |
These were expectations described in a news report, not a price schedule Spotify announced directly. The report also did not establish Spotify’s internal reason for considering the changes.
Why audiobook access was part of the story
In 2024, Spotify Premium included up to 15 hours of audiobook listening per month in eligible markets. The reported plan changes would have separated that benefit from a lower-feature music-and-podcast tier, making audiobook access relevant to what subscribers received for their money. The reported information does not show that every Premium plan or market had the same audiobook terms.
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For readers asking whether they would “lose audiobook perks unless they pay extra,” the 2024 report described a proposed tier without included hours; it did not establish that existing subscribers everywhere would lose their audiobook benefit. The report’s anonymous sourcing and Spotify’s lack of comment leave that specific outcome unconfirmed.
What Spotify says about audiobooks now
Spotify’s October 7, 2026 announcement concerns expanding audiobook access and add-on options, not confirming the 2024 reported price increases. Spotify said access would expand from 22 markets to more than 180 by the end of 2026, potentially reaching more than 750 million people. In newly served markets, it said catalogs would include more than 350,000 titles in over 120 languages. This was a planned rollout; it does not mean access was live in every target market on October 8, 2026. Spotify’s October 7 announcement.
Spotify said eligible Premium subscribers receive 12 audiobook hours per month. It described Audiobooks+ as an option for Premium users to buy additional listening time, and as a recurring add-on that gives Premium Family and Duo members 15 hours monthly. Spotify also reported that Audiobooks+ had more than one million subscribers and exceeded $100 million in annual recurring revenue since launch. Those subscriber and revenue figures are Spotify’s own, dated to the October 7, 2026 announcement; they do not establish the price or availability of an add-on in every country. Spotify’s announcement.
Check the terms for your country and plan
Spotify’s US support page describes a US-only Audiobooks Access plan with 15 hours per month from its audiobook subscriber catalog, alongside ad-supported music and podcasts. It notes that some devices are unsupported. The page’s terms are specific to the United States and may not match a subscriber’s market or account. Spotify Audiobooks Access support page.
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For a dated reference point rather than a current price list, Spotify’s May 2026 Investor Day remarks listed US Premium Individual at $12.99 per month and Student at $6.99 per month. Those figures apply to the US plans as presented then; they do not establish October 2026 prices or prices in other markets. Spotify Investor Day materials.
What to compare before paying for audiobook hours
Subscription terms can differ by country, plan, eligible member, and device. Before switching tiers or adding audiobook access, check these details in Spotify’s offer for your account:
- Total monthly cost: Compare the price in your own country, including any recurring audiobook add-on.
- Hours and eligibility: Confirm the included monthly hours and which plan members can use them.
- Unused time: Check whether unused hours roll over; the cited announcements do not establish one universal rollover rule.
- Catalog and buying options: See which titles are included in the subscription catalog and whether individual titles can be purchased separately.
- Device compatibility: Review supported devices, especially if you listen through a speaker, car system, or older phone.
Print books and switching formats
For readers who prefer a physical copy, Spotify announced on April 15, 2026, that printed-book sales were going live in the United States and United Kingdom through Bookshop.org. It also described Page Match, a feature for moving between an audiobook and a physical book. The announcement is limited to those markets and does not change the price or audiobook hours attached to a Spotify plan. Spotify’s April 15, 2026 book announcement. Spotify reported that Page Match users listened to an average of 55% more audiobook hours per week than other listeners; that is a company-reported comparison, not evidence that Page Match caused the difference.
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