How to Get Started with Onthespot Spotify Downloader

Part 1. What Is OnTheSpot?

Downloading music shouldn’t be complicated — and sometimes it can even be free. OnTheSpot is an open-source downloader made just for Spotify users, with a simple graphical interface that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unlike command-line tools, it makes downloading music easier for everyday users.

You can search Spotify’s library or paste links to songs, albums, or playlists to get MP3s or other popular formats. During our review, we found that Reddit and other communities praise onthespot for balancing downloads at 160 kbps for Free accounts and 320 kbps for Premium users, all while keeping ease of use. What we really love is the wise decision to provide ready-to-use Windows builds bundled with everything needed—no extra installs like ffmpeg, Python 3, Git, or others required. Linux users, however, will need a terminal emulator to run commands.

Once you learn how to use it, the batch processing and automatic download features become yours, saving time and helping grow your music library with little effort. Eventually, you'll be glad you gave it a try.

Part 2. How Does Onthespot Work?

While a bit of technical setup is needed, onthespot offers users control without complexity. For those willing to spend a little time, it’s a free and practical way to download Spotify music offline on their own terms.

How to Use Onthespot to Download Spotify Music on Windows

1. Go to the official onthespot GitHub Releases page and download the latest Windows ZIP file—it includes everything you need.
2. Right-click the downloaded ZIP file and select “Extract All” to a folder of your choice.
3. Open the extracted folder and double-click OnTheSpot.exe to launch the program.
4. When prompted, enter your Spotify account information.
5. Paste Spotify song, album, or playlist links into the app, set your preferences (such as format and output folder), and click Download.

How to Use Onthespot to Download Spotify Music on macOS

1. Open Terminal and paste the following command, then press Enter (This installs Homebrew, the macOS package manager.):
   
   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
   

   
   
   
2. In Terminal, install Python 3 and FFmpeg:
   
   brew install python3 ffmpeg

   
3. Download the onthespot source code by either downloading the ZIP from GitHub or running:
   
   git clone https://github.com/casualsnek/onthespot.git
   cd onthespot

   
4. Install required Python packages:
   
   pip3 install -r requirements.txt

   
5. Start the app:
   
   python3 main.py

   
6. Sign in with your Spotify account and begin downloading music.

How to Use Onthespot to Download Spotify Music on Linux

1. Open Terminal and install necessary packages based on your distribution:
   

   For Ubuntu/Debian:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install python3 python3-pip ffmpeg git

   

   For Fedora:

   sudo dnf install python3 python3-pip ffmpeg git

   
2. Clone the onthespot repository and enter its directory:
   
   git clone https://github.com/casualsnek/onthespot.git
   cd onthespot

   
3. Install Python dependencies:
   
   pip3 install -r requirements.txt

   
4. Launch the app:
   
   python3 main.py

   
5. Log in with your Spotify credentials and start downloading.

Part 3. Is Onthespot Safe, Legal, and Worth Using?

Onthespot can be a great tool if you don’t mind spending some time on setup in exchange for powerful features and benefits. Being open-source, it’s actively maintained and updated by the community. Occasionally, Spotify updates break the login process, but fixes usually come soon after. Most users report these issues promptly. There’s no official mobile app, though some tech-savvy users run it on Android with workarounds. Still, we recommend keeping things simple with other designated options like Spowlo.

That said, it’s not without challenges. Setup can be tricky, and sometimes users face moral concerns. Illegal? Yes, technically. Using onthespot to download Spotify content violates Spotify’s Terms of Service. Spotify can, and has, taken action against accounts that break these rules—including blocking or banning users. While many rely on onthespot downloader for personal offline use, there’s always some risk involved.

Part 4. Top Onthespot Alternatives for Downloading Spotify Music

If onthespot feels complicated or unstable, ViWizard Spotify Music Converter is a solid alternative for Windows and Mac users. Unlike OnTheSpot’s technical setup, ViWizard offers a mature, user-friendly app that runs smoothly without extra dependencies or command-line use. Best of all, you don’t need a Premium account to use it.

ViWizard lets you log into your Spotify account directly, giving you easy access to your entire library. You can select specific songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, or audiobooks to download—no need to search or match tracks manually. This makes the process faster and more accurate compared to OnTheSpot’s link-based approach. Files are saved in popular formats like MP3, M4A, or WAV, preserving full metadata, album art, and sound quality. After downloading on your computer, simply transfer the files to any device, including smartphones and car stereos, via USB.

ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

Download Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks as MP3 and more. Keep full sound and listen offline anytime.

Available on:

Free Download

Free Download

Secure Download

Step 1Launch ViWizard and Log Into Spotify

Start by opening ViWizard Spotify Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Inside the app, you’ll find a built-in Spotify Web Player. Use it to log into your Spotify account—this works for both free and Premium users. Once logged in, look for the “Add Music” button, usually at the bottom right. When it becomes active, you’re ready to add songs, albums, or playlists to your download list.

Step 2Set Your Output Preferences

Before downloading, customize how your music will be saved. Click the menu icon (top-right) and open Preferences or Settings. Under the conversion options, choose your desired audio format—options include MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, or AIFF. You can also tweak quality settings like bitrate and sample rate to get the sound you want. Don’t forget to check the box to save lyrics if you want them embedded in your files. Once done, save your settings.

Step 3Add Music and Start Downloading

Go back to the main screen and browse your Spotify library through the app. Select the tracks, playlists, albums, podcasts, or audiobooks you want to download. ViWizard supports all these content types as long as your Spotify account has access to them. After making your choices, click the Convert button to begin downloading and converting your music.

Step 4Access and Use Your Downloaded Files

When the process finishes, open the History tab in ViWizard to see your completed downloads. Click Open Folder to find your DRM-free music files on your computer. From here, you can transfer the music to any device, or play it directly using ViWizard’s built-in player.

Conclusion:

ViWizard is a great choice if you want reliable downloads without complicated setup. While it requires a computer to run, the process is straightforward. Once your music is downloaded, it’s DRM-free, well-organized, and ready to play anytime, anywhere—without restrictions.