Spotify, the world's most popular music streaming service, recently raised its price for individual plans to $11.99 per month. For many couples, roommates, or close friends living together, that makes the Duo plan a smarter choice. It's designed for two people at the same address. Each person gets their own Premium account, with separate access to all of Premium's features, libraries, and recommendations—under a single subscription.
There's also a more affordable option: the Basic Duo plan. It costs $2 less than Premium Duo and includes everything except audiobook access.
In this guide, we'll cover what Spotify Duo is, how it works, how to sign up, and how to make the most of your plan. If you live together and both love Spotify, Duo could be the perfect fit.
The Premium Duo plan is available in Denmark, Ireland, Poland, and nearly all Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) except Brazil.
Part 1. What Is Spotify Premium Duo?
Much like the Family plan, but Duo is made just for two users. Duo works by bundling two individual Premium accounts into one shared subscription at a lower price. While the Family plan offers up to six accounts, that can sometimes feel overwhelming—Duo is a simpler, more flexible choice.
Is the experience different from sharing a single Premium account? Definitely. When you share one Premium account, only one device can stream at a time through Connect, which often leads to interruptions. Even though Duo is a shared subscription, each person gets their own separate Premium account with individual logins and complete personal access. It's nothing like sharing an account that leads to mix-ups. The Duo plan solves this by giving each person their own music, listening history, and recommendations. It's a seamless and independent music experience.
The Duo accounts are exactly the same as regular Premium accounts, meaning you get the full Premium experience. We'll explain more in Part 2.
Part 2. How Does Spotify Premium Duo Work?
The Premium Duo plan costs $16.99 per month, which is recently raised from $14.99 (while the individual plan remains at $9.99 in the past), now somewhat between the $11.99 for an individual Premium account and $19.99 for the Family plan. Subscribing to Duo means you save about $7 a month compared to two separate individual plans. If you're new to Premium, you can even try Duo free for one month before deciding if it's right for you.
It requires both users to confirm they live at the same address, often by entering the same address during signup. Some users have mentioned that this location verification can be tricky if you don't actually live together, but as long as you're in the same country and share an address, it's usually straightforward.
So, is Duo worth it?
There are definite cost savings and the benefit of separate accounts. But let's be honest—after periodic price hikes, Duo is no longer as affordable as it once was, and the value doesn't always seem to match the increasing cost.
At $16.99, it's the same price as Apple Music's Family plan, which allows up to six accounts. So, while Premium Duo is an attractive option, you'll still want to think twice before subscribing if you're looking for the most cost-effective choice.
One key reason behind the price hike is the guaranteed audiobook access—but only one person, the Duo plan manager, gets specific access to audiobook listening time, while the other plan member does not. Like with any subscription, it's important to consider whether the features and savings make sense for your situation. If audiobook access isn't a priority, there's also the Basic plan for eligible U.S. users, which is cheaper at about $14.99 per month, close to the old price. However, it's not always easy to take advantage of this option.
Overall, Premium Duo offers a good balance between cost and personal streaming freedom.
Part 3. Spotify Premium Duo vs. Basic Duo
The Basic Duo plan is a more affordable alternative to Premium Duo but comes with some notable limitations. It includes ad-free music and offline downloads but excludes audiobook access, which is only available with Premium Duo. So, if you want the full library including audiobooks, Basic Duo might not be the right choice.
That said, Basic Duo's lower price point—around $14.99 per month—makes it an attractive option for those who mainly listen to music and podcasts without needing extra features. However, Basic Duo is only available in the U.S. and primarily for users who were already subscribed to Premium. Only existing Premium subscribers can see Basic Duo as an option on their account page.
Comparing the two, Premium Duo provides the complete experience with all the perks and personalized features, while Basic Duo covers most essentials at a lower cost. If you don't care about audiobooks and want to save a few bucks, Basic Duo could work well for you and your partner.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your listening habits and budget.
Part 4. How to Sign Up for Spotify Premium Duo
If you want to sign up for Premium Duo, both people need to live at the same address. During setup, you're asked to confirm this to make sure the plan is used correctly. They don't use GPS but ask for your address to protect your privacy. Only one person will pay for the plan, so make sure you agree on who will handle the bill, and also access the audiobooks listening hours as an extra perk.
Premium Duo is for two people only. If you have more family members, you might want the Family plan instead. If you're on a Family plan now, you have to wait until it ends before you can switch to Duo. Also, Premium Duo is not available everywhere, so check if it's offered where you live. If you move apart, you might need to switch to another plan, like the Individual plan. You can only change Duo plans once a year, so choose carefully.
- Go to Spotify: Open the Spotify website in a browser or launch the app on your phone or desktop.
- Log In or Create an Account: Use your existing Spotify account, or sign up for a new one if you're just getting started.
- Open Your Account Settings: Click your profile picture > choose Account > scroll to Your plan, then select Change plan.
- Pick Premium Duo (or Basic Duo): Choose Premium Duo for full features like ad-free music, downloads, and Duo Mix. If Basic Duo is listed, it's a lower-cost option (available only to some U.S. users) without audiobook access.
- Enter Payment Information: Select your preferred payment method—credit card, PayPal, or another local option—and complete the checkout.
- Invite Your Partner: Once you've subscribed, send your Duo invite via email or link. Your partner must accept and confirm they live at the same address.
Part 5. How to Manage Your Spotify Premium Duo Accounts
Once you're set up with Premium Duo, managing it is simple. Both people must live at the same address, and you'll be asked to confirm that when setting up or making changes. Spotify doesn't use GPS, but it does require address verification to keep things fair.
One person manages the plan—this includes sending invites, handling the monthly bill, and making changes if needed. The other just accepts the invite and confirms the same address. You can also explore features like Collaborative Playlists, a shared playlist based on both your music tastes. If needed, the manager can remove or switch members at any time.
- Log In to Your Account: Use the Spotify app or website to sign in as the Duo plan manager.
- Open the Duo Settings: Go to your account's page and scroll to the Manage Duo section.
- Invite or Remove a Member:
- To add your partner, click Invite Member, enter their email, and send the invite.
- To remove someone, click Remove Member.
- Confirm the Same Address: Your partner must accept the invite and confirm they live at the same address to join the plan.
- Access the Duo Mix: Open the app, go to Home or Your Library, and tap Duo Mix—a shared playlist based on both your listening habits.
- Make Collaborative Playlists:
- Create or open any playlist.
- Tap ... (More) and choose Make Collaborative.
- Share the link with your partner so both of you can add songs.
More Worth Considering:
Can people on a Duo plan live at different addresses?
No. Both people need to live at the same address to use Duo.
What if one person moves out?
They need to switch to an individual plan. Duo only works if you live together.
Can each person have their own playlists and recommendations?
Yes. Each person has their own music and recommendations. Collaborative Playlist is the only shared playlist.
How do I invite someone to join my Duo plan?
The plan manager sends an invite by email. The other person accepts and confirms the address.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. Just a monthly fee. Spotify may raise prices, but they'll tell you first.
Can I switch to a Family or Individual plan anytime?
Yes. You can switch anytime, but only once a year.
Can both people download music to listen offline?
Yes. Both get full offline downloads.
Part 6. Tips for Making the Most of Your Spotify Premium Duo
The Premium Duo plan is perfect for two people living together who want ad-free streaming and offline listening. However, it might not be the best long-term choice if you want full control over your music.
For that, try ViWizard Spotify Music Converter. It converts your Spotify songs into formats like MP3, WAV, or FLAC, so you can keep your favorite tracks forever—even without a Premium subscription. ViWizard removes DRM restrictions, preserves original sound quality, and keeps song info like titles, artists, and album art intact. Unlike slow recording methods, it works up to 15 times faster and automatically removes ads for free users.
It's simple to use and gives you full ownership of your music library, without needing to stay connected to the internet or worry about subscription fees. Just remember to use your converted files for personal listening only.
If you want more than streaming, ViWizard is a smart companion to your Premium Duo plan.
A brilliant Spotify music downloader designed to download and convert Spotify songs, playlists, albums, artists, podcasts, and audiobooks to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B losslessly. The sound stays as clear as the original, and all track details are preserved, offering a seamless experience to enjoy your Spotify music offline on any player or device.
Step 1Download and Install ViWizard
First, download ViWizard Spotify Music Converter for your computer—available for both Windows and Mac. Follow the setup prompts to install the software, then open the app to get started.
Step 2Log in to Your Spotify Account
Inside ViWizard, sign in with your Spotify credentials. This lets you access your playlists, albums, and saved songs directly. Browse or search for the music you want to convert, then click the "Add" button to queue your tracks.
Step 3Choose MP3 as Your Output Format
Go to the settings and pick MP3 as the output format for high-quality, lossless audio. You can also customize details like sample rate and bitrate if you want. Confirm your choices to proceed.
Step 4Convert and Save Your Music
Hit "Convert" to start the process. ViWizard works fast and removes any ads or DRM protections. When it's finished, your MP3 files will be saved to your chosen folder, ready to play anytime—no internet or subscription needed.
Conclusion
Spotify Premium Duo enables two people living together each to get their own Premium account for 1 discount price. With this feature, you can enjoy Duo Mix playlist in Spotify. And if you want to play and keep your Duo Mix playlist forever, then you can use ViWizard Spotify Music Converter. After that, you can import downloaded Spotify Duo Mix playlist to your phone or anywhere available for you to stream these songs.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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