In the US, Spotify has implemented its most recent pricing increase, raising individual plans from $10.99 to $11.99. Family plans now cost $19.99 ($3 increase) and dual plans increased to $16.99 ($2). With the addition of audiobook capability, which grants premium customers access to 15 hours of audiobook listening each month, the streaming behemoth used this as justification for raising prices.

Spotify is reportedly aware that not everyone would be interested in its audiobook selection, as seen by the launch of a new "Basic" plan in the US. For $10.99 a month, you can get ad-free, limitless access to music and podcasts. It is essentially the same as the previous Premium plan, but renamed.

Since Spotify automatically converted everyone to the more costly plan and now takes direct intervention to switch back, which many won't do for one reason or another, there is no doubt that this is still a cunning move.

It is noteworthy that we are now awaiting the release of an even more costly Spotify plan, which is supposed to bring lossless Hi-Fi streaming at last. On average, the plan is anticipated to cost $5 more. The goal is to make Spotify's service more comparable to competitors like Apple, who now provide their whole repertoire in lossless quality. However, Apple Music does not charge more for the higher quality.