If you listen to music with wired headphones while working or have a top-quality speaker that supports Spotify Connect, there’s a lot to enjoy about Spotify’s lossless audio technology. It won’t be a stretch to say it changes the way music is consumed. Where does India fit into the plan? Spotify is introducing a new subscription portfolio pilot in five markets: India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE for new intake.

The company’s new subscription strategy in India will now include three Premium plans: Premium Lite, Premium Standard and Premium Platinum, allowing a good deal of flexibility. So instead of choosing between a free or a Premium subscription, users have a greater choice.

What could be of interest to audio enthusiasts is Spotify Premium Platinum. Indian subscribers can gain access to lossless audio, which has been a long-requested feature from the music streaming service. It allows streaming in full, uncompressed quality. This tier also comes with several benefits, such as AI DJ, third-party DJ integrations, mixing tools and access to options like AI Playlist.

Spotify has become quite a force when it comes to its user base. It has over 700 million monthly active users and 281 million paying subscribers across 184 markets. The latest development is expected to push the benchmark higher.

The freemium philosophy is not going away. The ad-supported free tier is something many users don’t mind. In fact, 60 per cent of Spotify’s subscribers once started out on the ad-supported tier. Monthly time spent on Spotify rivals top entertainment platforms worldwide.

Spotify Premium Lite (₹139) is for those who are starting their streaming journey with affordable, ad-free music listening.
Next comes Premium Standard (₹199), which could be the best option for most people who want an ad-free experience. It also offers offline access to favourite tracks, playlists and podcasts.
In the Premium Lite plan, sound quality is 160 kbit/s. In Standard, it becomes 320 kbit/s.

At the top is Premium Platinum (₹299). Lossless audio, here we come. With Lossless, you can stream tracks in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, unlocking greater detail across nearly every song available on Spotify. So you can enjoy new releases and your favourite tracks in the highest quality, while being immersed in the music.

Amarjit Singh Batra, general manager, South Asia, Middle East and Africa, and managing director, Spotify India, said: “We are evolving our Premium subscription portfolio from the one-size-fits-all model to reflect the diverse ways people listen to music in India. Every listener is different, so we’re offering more choice, flexibility and control from Lite to Platinum, ensuring everyone can experience Spotify in a way that fits their lifestyle and deepens their connection to the music and creators they love.”