Spotify Is Increasing Price Again; Here’s Why YouTube Music Premium Might Be a Better Choice
Another year in, and another price hike for us Spotify Premium users.
If you haven’t been clued in, Spotify has announced that a price hike for its Premium plans will take place across several regions globally. So widespread is the implementation that Spotify didn’t even bother listing the countries affected, choosing instead to mention that the hikes will impact “multiple markets across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region.”
Why, you ask? Well, according to the abrupt announcement posted on the official newsroom page, the price increase is so the streaming service “can continue to innovate on our product offerings and features, and bring you the best experience.”
If you were hoping for some clarity on what these upcoming innovations and product offerings are, you’ll be left to guesswork. Spotify didn’t mention anything beyond what was stated above, making the whole thing feel like a “we will because we can” smack to the face.
Anyway, the new prices are already reflected on Spotify Malaysia’s website and can be viewed below:
- Premium Individual – RM17.50/month (up from RM15.90)
- Premium Family – RM27.90/month (up from RM24.90)
- Premium Duo – RM24.50/month (up from RM21.50)
- Premium Student – RM9.50/month (up from RM8.50)
The last time Spotify initiated a price hike was in September 2023, exactly two years ago from when the current hike will take place. No bumps occurred in 2024, but Spotify did quietly reduce the maximum number of Premium accounts allowed under the Family plan from six to four.
Spotify Premium vs YouTube Music Premium
Spotify’s latest price hike now puts the streaming service at a more premium price point than YouTube Music Premium. Prior to the September 2025 hike, Spotify’s prices were ever so slightly lower than YT Music’s, which at least made sticking with Spotify somewhat justifiable.
Now, though, it looks like we’ll have to re-evaluate whether the more sound financial decision would be to switch to YT Music Premium.
YouTube Music Premium offers three plans, similarly structured to Spotify’s: Individual, Family, and Student. These are priced at:
- YT Music Individual – RM16.90/month (vs. RM17.50/month on Spotify)
- YT Music Family – RM25.90/month (vs. RM27.90/month on Spotify)
- YT Music Student – RM8.90/month (vs RM9.50/month on Spotify)
It’s a price difference that warrants some attention, especially if you plan to stay subscribed for the long haul. There are additional benefits to YT Music Premium as well. The family plan, for instance, is cheaper than Spotify’s and allows five members (instead of four). Moreover, YT Music is said to boast a larger music library, leveraging YouTube’s vast content database.
If you see fit, you can also subscribe to YouTube Premium, which includes YouTube Music along with ad-free content on YouTube. This will cost more, naturally, but you get the best of both worlds.
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