Spotify is making a major change to its free music streaming tier, unlocking new flexibility for its 433 million ad-supported users worldwide. The update removes the long-standing shuffle-only restriction on mobile, letting free listeners browse, search, and play songs just like Premium subscribers.
The new listening freedom comes through a set of features called Pick & Play, Search & Play, and Share & Play, which make it easier for users to directly choose the music they want.
What’s New for Free Spotify Users?
- Pick & Play – Users can tap and play any track directly inside the app.
- Search & Play – Free users can now search for a specific song, artist, or album and play it instantly.
- Share & Play – Tracks shared by artists or friends via social media can be opened and played immediately.
This upgrade eliminates the shuffle-only experience that many free-tier users found restrictive, giving them more control over what they listen to without upgrading to Premium.
Premium Still Has Advantages
Despite the upgrade, some Premium-exclusive features remain locked, including:
- Ad-free listening
- Offline playback
- Lossless audio quality
- AI-generated playlists and personalized Mixes
Free-tier users will continue to experience advertisements while streaming.
Spotify’s Strategy: Boosting Ad Revenue
Spotify currently has 696 million monthly active users, of which 276 million are Premium subscribers and 433 million are free listeners. While Premium accounts drive subscription revenue, the ad-supported service accounts for the majority of Spotify’s audience.
As of June 2025, advertising contributed about 11% of Spotify’s revenue, but the company aims to increase that figure to 20%. By allowing free users to spend more time in-app through direct song selection and social sharing, Spotify expects to deliver more ad impressions and grow its ad-supported revenue stream.
