What Is Spotify Premium Duo & How Does It Work?

Spotify Duo is the best choice if you share a room or flat with someone and don't want to pay for pricier Spotify plans, such as the Family plan. Just think about it: all Spotify premium features are available, you can share music with your partner or roommate (especially if you have similar taste in music), and it's less expensive! However, there's a tiny nuance that you should comply with: the two of you must live together.

In this explainer, we'll tell you how Spotify Premium Duo works, who is eligible to get the plan, how it's different, how to set it up, and how Spotify knows that the one you want to share Duo with lives with you.

What is Spotify Premium Duo?

Spotify Duo is a subscription plan offered by Spotify that allows two people living at the same address to have their individual premium accounts under a single billing.

Each person gets their own premium account, which means they can have separate playlists, recommendations, and listening histories.

With Spotify Premium Duo, users can enjoy all the benefits of a regular Spotify Premium subscription, such as ad-free listening, offline downloads, and unlimited skips. The plan is designed for couples, roommates, or any two people sharing the same household.

How much is Spotify Premium Duo?

The Premium Duo subscription for Spotify is priced at $14.99 per month.

Subscribers to the Duo plan can benefit from a cost savings of $3.5 each, paying $7.5 instead of the standard $10.99 for an individual plan. New or free Spotify users can even enjoy a one-month free trial upon subscribing to the Spotify Duo plan. Yet, existing users with access to the Duo plan premium account are not eligible for the Spotify Duo free trial.

How to set up Spotify Duo

Now that you know if you want it, here's how to set it up.

1. Ensure that both you and the person you want to invite to join your Duo account live at the same address. Spotify Duo is specifically designed for individuals sharing a household.
2. If you already have a Spotify account, log in using your credentials.

• If you're new to Spotify, sign up for a new account.

3. Visit the Spotify Duo webpage on the official Spotify site.

4. Select the "Get started" or a similar option.

5. Provide the required information, including your payment details. You will need to confirm your address to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.

6. After successfully subscribing, you'll be prompted to invite the other person to join your Duo account.

7. Enter their email address, and Spotify will send them an invitation.

8. The person you invited will receive an email with a link to accept the invitation.

9. Once accepted, they can log in to their existing Spotify account or sign up for a new one.

10. Once both accounts are linked, you can now enjoy the benefits of the Spotify Duo plan, including individual premium accounts and shared billing.

If you're not the primary account holder, ensure you're signed in to your Spotify account or create a new one if needed. This step is necessary to receive an invitation from your partner and access the Spotify Premium Duo plan.

How to set up Spotify Premium Duo with Alexa

Spotify integration with Alexa devices can vary based on region and service availability. Here's a general guide on how you might use Spotify Duo with Alexa:

1. Ensure you and your Duo partner are subscribed to Spotify Duo and have individual accounts.
2. Open the Alexa app on your mobile device.
3. Tap on the "More" option in the lower-right corner.
4. Select "Settings."
5. Choose "Music & Podcasts" and then "Link New Service."
6. Select "Spotify" and log in with your Spotify credentials.
7. In the Alexa app, go to "Settings" and select "Music & Podcasts."
8. Under the "Default Services" section, choose "Spotify" as your default music service.

💡 Use Voice Commands:

You can now use voice commands to control Spotify with Alexa. For example, say "Alexa, play my Duo Mix on Spotify" or "Alexa, play [specific song or artist] on Spotify."

If you have multiple Alexa devices, you can create groups using the Alexa app. This allows you to play music on multiple devices simultaneously. For example, you can create a group named "Everywhere" to play music on all connected Alexa devices.

Checking Spotify Duo eligibility

This is a vital step as Spotify conducts address verification for both Duo users to ensure similarity. When registering for Duo, you must provide your address. Both users need to reside at the same address to qualify for Spotify Premium Duo. The second person, using a link provided by the primary account holder, must input their address during registration. It's essential for the two addresses to match for Spotify Duo to function properly.

Periodically, Spotify may prompt you to re-enter your address. If Spotify determines that the terms of your Duo membership are not being adhered to, they reserve the right to suspend or terminate the account.

How does the Spotify Duo know if you live together?

According to Spotify, they "ask members to verify that they live with the plan manager by providing their full address: When they join. When the manager changes address. If we can't confirm their address."

Spotify Duo features: How’s it different from other Premium plans?

Spotify Duo offers various features to enhance your streaming experience and make it enjoyable for both you and your Duo partner, namely:

• Create customised playlists: You can tailor your playlists to match your musical preferences and share your personalised playlists effortlessly on your social media platforms.
• Ad-free listening: You can enjoy uninterrupted listening without ads, similar to other Spotify premium plans.
• Download and offline listening: With Spotify Premium Duo, you can also download your playlists for offline listening and listen to your favourite songs anywhere, anytime, without using mobile data or an internet connection.
• Discover new music: With the Music Discovery feature, you can explore fresh songs and albums tailored to your preferences. Based on your musical tastes and playlists, Spotify automatically recommends artists and tracks you might enjoy. One notable aspect of this is the creation of a weekly, two-hour playlist called "Discover Weekly" for both you and your Duo partner.

• Duo Mix exclusive feature: Duo Mix is a unique feature that sets the plan apart. It's a shared playlist exclusively between you and your Spotify Duo partner. Duo Mix combines the songs you and your partner have listened to, considering musicians, genres, and specific tracks. The playlist updates itself based on your continued use of the service. To find and play your Duo Mix playlist, navigate to the "Made for You" section on Spotify. Alternatively, use the search bar and enter "Duo Mix." Connecting to your Bluetooth speaker allows you to instruct your speaker to play your Duo Mix.

How do I know Spotify Premium Duo is right for me?

Basically, Spotify Duo is designed for individuals residing at the same address. If you share a household with someone and both want individual premium accounts, it could be a suitable option. Before switching to this plan or buying it, assess the cost savings offered by Spotify Duo compared to individual premium plans. If the reduced cost for two premium accounts aligns with your budget, it may be a cost-effective choice.

If you enjoy creating and sharing personalised playlists, Spotify Premium Duo provides a platform for collaborative playlist creation based on both users' music preferences.

Spotify Premium Duo: FAQ

If our piece above has not answered all of your questions, check our FAQ section.