Spotify launches lossless audio in India but it comes at a price: should you upgrade?
After raising prices of its plans earlier this year, Spotify is introducing lossless audio streaming on its platform in India as part of another revamp of its premium plans lineup. The music streaming service now offers three paid tiers compared to the earlier two, but still starting at Rs 139 per month. The Premium plan has now been split into two tiers but the biggest upgrades – lossless streaming and AI-powered features – only come with the highest-priced plan.
The introductory Premium Lite plan at Rs 139 per month is now only good for the basics: ad-free listening at 160kbps without offline downloads. This is in stark contrast with Spotify’s earlier Rs 139 Individual Premium plan that included downloads, so Lite could feel more limited for users at the same price. This erstwhile Individual Premium plan was earlier priced at Rs 119 per month before Spotify raised prices earlier this year.
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Next is the Premium Standard tier at Rs 199 monthly, restoring offline listening and boosting audio quality back to 320kbps, basically what used to come for Rs 139 earlier.
The most significant change comes with Premium Platinum at Rs 299 monthly, which introduces lossless audio on Spotify for the first time in India. Lossless audio retains all details of the recording by not compressing it in any way, meaning that you get richer, clearer sound with quality headphones or good speakers. Casual listeners may not notice much difference, but audiophiles often prefer lossless formats because of higher fidelity.
The Platinum plan also includes AI DJ, AI-created playlists, compatibility with DJ-software (like rekordbox, Serato), multi-account sharing for three household members, plus lossless streaming. This makes it Spotify’s most expensive plan in India, even pricier than the existing Family plan, which offers up to six accounts at Rs 229 but doesn’t include lossless audio or AI features.
What about the competition?
Lossless isn’t new to India, though. Apple Music already offers lossless and Spatial Audio on its entire catalog for Rs 119 per month for individuals and Rs 179 per month for families. Apple’s Student plan is also cheaper at Rs 59. So, with offline downloads and high-resolution audio, Apple Music is a strong value proposition for users who care about sound quality.
Amazon Music comes bundled with Amazon Prime in India. Although Amazon offers HD and Ultra HD (lossless) tiers globally, true lossless streaming is not available in India yet. Amazon Music is a value-focussed option for Prime subscribers, but behind Spotify and Apple when it comes to audio fidelity.
Among Indian services, JioSaavn and Gaana focus on affordability and regional music. Both are offering ad-free listening and offline downloads, with yearly plans starting around Rs 600 and going up to Rs 1,080, but neither offers true lossless audio. They remain cost-effective for listeners who do not need studio-grade sound.
For those looking for the best music quality available without overspending, Apple Music provides the best price-to-performance ratio as of now. Its Rs 119 plan includes both lossless and Spatial Audio at a much lower price compared to Spotify Platinum. The Rs 299 Spotify Platinum plan may seem worth the upgrade for those deeply invested in the streamer’s curated playlists, interface, and recommendations, along with new AI features and family-sharing for up to three members. With Apple offering lossless audio at a little more than one-third the cost, Spotify will have to rely on the strengths of its interface and algorithm to convince users in India to upgrade.
For casual listeners who want offline downloads at a moderate price, Spotify Standard at Rs 199 should suffice. Listeners who do not need the highest audio quality and have an Amazon Prime membership may find Amazon Music sufficient without having to pay anything extra.
