Spotify has become one of the most popular music streaming platforms in the world, with over 600 million active users and 239 million Premium subscribers as of Q1 2025. But not everyone wants to keep paying for Premium forever. Whether you are switching to another music service, taking a break, or just want to downgrade to the free version, knowing exactly how to end a subscription on Spotify can save you time, money, and frustration.
In this guide, we’ll cover every detail: the cancellation process on desktop and mobile, what happens after you cancel, common issues people run into, and how to make sure your subscription is really gone.
Why You Might Want to End a Spotify Subscription
Ending your Spotify Premium subscription doesn’t always mean you dislike the service. In fact, many users cancel for practical reasons:
Budget cuts – Premium costs $10.99/month for individuals in the U.S. (family, student, and duo plans vary).
Switching services – Some prefer Apple Music, Amazon Music, or YouTube Music.
Temporary pause – Maybe you’re traveling or not using Spotify much.
Testing alternatives – Users sometimes try Tidal or Deezer for audio quality differences.
Understanding your reason helps because Spotify occasionally offers retention discounts (such as $9.99 for 3 months or a free month if you’ve canceled before).
How to End a Subscription on Spotify (Desktop)
The most reliable way to cancel your subscription is through Spotify’s official website—not the app.
Step 1: Log in to Your Spotify Account
Go to Spotify Account Overview. Log in with your email, username, or linked Facebook/Google/Apple account.
Step 2: Navigate to “Your Plan”
Once inside your account dashboard, look for “Your Plan”. This section shows if you are on Individual, Duo, Family, or Student Premium.
Step 3: Click “Change Plan”
Under “Your Plan,” you will see a button labeled “Change Plan.” Select it.
Step 4: Scroll to “Spotify Free”
Spotify lists available plans, including Premium Family and Duo. Scroll all the way down until you find “Spotify Free.”
Step 5: Confirm Cancellation
Click “Cancel Premium” under Spotify Free. Spotify will ask you to confirm. After clicking, your account will switch to free at the end of your current billing cycle.
How to End a Subscription on Spotify (Mobile App)
Surprisingly, you cannot fully cancel directly inside the Spotify mobile app. Instead, the app directs you to your web browser.
iOS (Apple Users)
If you subscribed via the App Store:
Open Settings on your iPhone.
Tap your name at the top > Subscriptions.
Find Spotify and tap it.
Select Cancel Subscription.
If you subscribed directly via Spotify (not Apple billing), you’ll need to open Safari or Chrome and follow the same steps as desktop.
Android Users
Open the Google Play Store.
Tap your profile icon > Payments & Subscriptions.
Choose Subscriptions and find Spotify.
Tap Cancel Subscription.
If your Premium is billed directly through Spotify, go to the Spotify website and follow the desktop method.
What Happens After You Cancel Spotify Premium
Understanding what changes after you cancel is important so you’re not surprised.
Access to Premium features continues until the end of your billing cycle. If you cancel on March 10 but your plan renews on March 25, you’ll still enjoy Premium until the 25th.
Your playlists and saved music remain intact. Nothing is deleted—you can still stream them on free tier.
Offline downloads disappear. Once Premium ends, downloaded songs become unavailable offline.
Ads return. Expect audio ads every few tracks and banner ads on desktop.
Lower audio quality. Premium streams up to 320 kbps, but free caps at 160 kbps (desktop) and 96 kbps (mobile).
Limited skips. Free users get 6 skips per hour per playlist, compared to unlimited skips with Premium.
Common Problems When Ending a Spotify Subscription
Even though Spotify tries to make cancellation simple, many users face issues:
1. Can’t Find the Cancel Option
This usually happens if:
You signed up through Apple or Google, not directly with Spotify.
You’re on a Family Plan but not the account owner.
Solution: Check your payment provider and log into the correct account.
2. You’re Still Being Charged
Sometimes users cancel but still see charges. Possible reasons:
Multiple Spotify accounts (you canceled one but not the one billed).
Delay in processing if canceled close to billing date.
Solution: Check your bank statement for which email/account is linked.
3. “Cancel Premium” Button Missing
If you don’t see the button, it often means your subscription isn’t billed through Spotify but through a third party like your mobile carrier.
Solution: Contact your carrier or third-party provider.
Data Snapshot: Spotify Subscription Trends
According to Spotify’s 2024 Annual Report:
239 million people pay for Premium.
Average revenue per Premium user: $4.34/month globally.
Churn rate (users canceling Premium): about 1.9% monthly.
This means nearly 4.5 million users cancel their subscription every month. You’re far from alone if you’re considering it.
Alternatives After Ending Spotify Premium
If you’re canceling but still want music streaming, here are alternatives:
Apple Music – Lossless audio and tight iPhone integration.
Amazon Music Unlimited – Affordable with Prime, large library.
YouTube Music – Includes ad-free YouTube videos with Premium plan.
Tidal – HiFi Plus tier with FLAC and MQA for audiophiles.
Deezer – Strong recommendation algorithm and Flow feature.
Exploring alternatives before canceling ensures you don’t miss features you care about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I pause my Spotify subscription instead of canceling?
No. Spotify doesn’t allow pausing, only canceling. However, you can re-subscribe anytime and your playlists remain safe.
Q: What if I want to cancel Spotify Premium Family but keep free accounts?
Canceling downgrades the entire Family Plan. Each user becomes a free Spotify account holder.
Q: Can I get a refund after canceling Spotify Premium?
Spotify generally does not offer refunds for partial months. You keep Premium until the end of your billing cycle.
Q: How do I confirm my subscription is canceled?
Go to your Account Page. If it says “Spotify Free,” your cancellation worked.
Conclusion
Learning how to end a subscription on Spotify is straightforward once you know whether you signed up through Spotify, Apple, Google, or another provider. The key steps are: log into your account, navigate to your plan, and switch to Spotify Free—or manage your subscription through the App Store or Play Store if applicable.
Remember, canceling doesn’t delete your account, playlists, or history. It simply reverts you to the free tier with ads and limited features. If you’re not fully satisfied with Spotify or just want to save money, following this process ensures you stop paying while keeping your music library intact.
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