Spotify Revamps Premium Plans in India With Lossless Audio and AI Features

Spotify finally refreshed its lineup of premium plans in India, featuring lossless audio streaming for the very first time. Following hikes in subscription prices across this year, the platform rolled out three paid tiers, instead of the earlier two-tier system, but starting at the familiar ₹139 per month. This time around, though, the offerings - and limitations - vary significantly.

Here's a detailed breakdown of all the new Spotify Premium plans, features, how they compare to what existed so far, and whether the new ₹299 Premium Platinum plan justifies its price in a highly competitive market for music streaming.

Spotify Premium Lite

Spotify’s entry-level paid plan remains priced at ₹139 per month, but it now carries the “Premium Lite” label and the name says it all.

Unlike earlier, when the ₹139 Individual Premium tier allowed offline downloads and provided 320kbps streaming, the new Lite plan has been stripped down significantly. Users now get:

• Ad-free listening

• 160kbps audio quality

• No offline downloads

• No high-res or lossless streaming

This makes Premium Lite the most basic Spotify paid plan to date. It also feels like a downgrade because the previous Individual Premium plan (before the price hike) cost ₹119/month and included offline listening.

For many users, losing downloads at the same ₹139 price may feel like a step backward.

Spotify Premium Standard

The next tier, Premium Standard, is priced at ₹199/month and restores the essential features users previously enjoyed at a lower cost. This plan offers:

• Offline downloads

• 320kbps high-quality streaming

• Ad-free music listening

Essentially, this is what Spotify earlier offered for ₹139 before the price hike. For most mainstream users who simply want offline listening and dependable audio quality, the Standard plan should cover all essentials.

Spotify Premium Platinum

The biggest upgrade in Spotify’s new tier lineup is the introduction of Premium Platinum, priced at ₹299/month. This plan brings:

✔ Lossless Audio for the First Time in India

Lossless music preserves every detail from the original recording by avoiding compression. The result is:

• Richer audio

• Higher clarity

• Better depth and detail

• Ideal for audiophiles using quality headphones or speakers

While casual listeners may not notice a dramatic difference, those who value sound fidelity will appreciate the upgrade.

✔ Advanced AI Features

Spotify Platinum also includes:

• AI DJ for curated real-time music sessions

• AI-generated playlists

• AI mood and preference-based recommendations

✔ Other Premium Benefits

• Support for DJ software like rekordbox and Serato

• Multi-account sharing for up to 3 household members

• Lossless streaming across supported devices

At ₹299/month, Platinum is now Spotify’s most premium and most expensive plan in India, even higher than its ₹229 Family plan, which still lacks lossless audio and AI features.

How Spotify Compares to Apple Music, Amazon Music, JioSaavn & Gaana

Apple Music

Apple Music continues to dominate in terms of pure sound quality and affordability.

• ₹119/month (Individual)

• ₹179/month (Family)

• Lossless audio + Hi-Res Lossless

• Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at no extra cost

• ₹59 Student plan

Apple offers lossless + Spatial Audio at less than half the price of Spotify Platinum, making it the best price-to-performance choice for sound enthusiasts.

Amazon Music

Amazon Music is bundled with Amazon Prime, making it practically free for Prime members.

However:

• No HD or Ultra HD (lossless) tiers are available in India

• Audio quality remains behind Apple Music and Spotify

Great for everyday listening, but not ideal for audiophiles.

JioSaavn & Gaana: Affordable but No Lossless

These Indian streaming platforms are popular for their:

• Regional music libraries

• Affordable yearly plans starting around ₹600–₹1,080

• Offline downloads

However, no true lossless audio is offered.

These services remain a good pick for budget-focused listeners.

Which Plan Should You Choose?

🎧 For the Best Sound Quality (Lossless + Spatial Audio) at the Lowest Price:

Apple Music (₹119) wins clearly.

🎶 For Spotify Fans Who Want AI DJ + Lossless + Shared Accounts:

Spotify Platinum (₹299) is worth it only for users deeply invested in Spotify’s ecosystem, playlists, and interface.

📱 For Offline Downloads at a Reasonable Price:

Spotify Standard (₹199) offers everything most casual users need.

💰 For Prime Members Who Don’t Care About Lossless:

Amazon Music is a value-packed free add-on.

Spotify seems to aim at premium audio quality and AI functionalities with its tier revamp to position itself as a more premium streaming experience in India. However, this steep pricing compared to Apple Music may just force sound-focused users onto the ecosystem of Apple.

In the end, Spotify will have to rely heavily on superior recommendations, AI features, and interface appeal to convince users to pay almost three times more than Apple Music charges for lossless audio. For most listeners, the ₹199 Spotify Standard plan remains the sweet spot. Meanwhile, the introduction of lossless audio finally gives audiophiles in India more choices and a reason to reconsider their streaming loyalties.