Spotify Brings New Feature Allowing Free Users to Choose Songs

Spotify has announced a major update to its free tier, giving non-premium users more control over their listening experience. With this upgrade, free users can now directly search and play specific songs, explore curated and personalised playlists, customise playlist covers, and enjoy expanded discovery features.

While Premium subscribers still enjoy exclusives like Lossless audio and AI Playlists, this update bridges the gap, making the free version more interactive and user-friendly.

Direct Song Selection: A Game-Changer for Free Users

Previously, free-tier listeners faced frustrating limitations—they couldn’t play a specific track directly. Instead, Spotify forced shuffle play with limited skips (six per hour). With the new update, those restrictions are gone.

• Pick and Play: Free users can now start any track instantly with a tap.

• Search and Play: Simply type the song name, and it begins playing right away.

• Share and Play: Songs shared by friends or artists on social media can now be played directly in Spotify.

This change marks one of the biggest upgrades to Spotify’s free experience since its launch.

Discover Playlists and Curated Collections

The update enhances playlist discovery, offering both curated and personalised options.

• Personalised Mixes: Based on listening habits and preferences.

• Editorial Playlists: Curated by Spotify’s music experts across genres and moods.

• User-Created Collections: Listeners can make their own playlists by selecting a few songs, after which Spotify automatically recommends additional tracks.

As users engage more with the app, the recommendation engine continues to refine suggestions, ensuring a tailored experience.

Custom Playlist Covers for More Personalisation

For the first time, Spotify free users in select regions can design custom playlist covers directly within the mobile app (iOS and Android).

• Add personal images, text, colours, and graphics.

• Only one cover design can be saved per playlist.

• Creating a new design will replace the previous one.

This feature lets users express their creativity while curating their playlists.

Spotify Daylist: Soundtrack Your Day

Another exciting addition is Spotify Daylist, a dynamic playlist that adapts to daily moods, habits, and routines.

• Updates throughout the day or week with new songs.

• Reflects listening behaviour for morning commutes, workouts, or late-night relaxation.

• Users can save Daylists as separate playlists for quick access.

This personalised soundtrack ensures your music fits your lifestyle.

Enhanced Music Discovery Features

Spotify’s new update focuses heavily on music discovery, making it easier for free users to find fresh tracks.

• Discover Weekly: Refreshed every week with songs tailored to personal taste.

• Release Radar: Spotlights the latest tracks from followed artists.

• Social Media Integration: Songs shared by artists on social media platforms can be played instantly on Spotify.

This seamless integration keeps users updated with new music and trending releases.

Real-Time Lyrics for a Better Listening Experience

Free-tier listeners now also benefit from Spotify’s lyrics feature.

• Lyrics appear in real-time within the Now Playing view.

• Listeners can swipe up on mobile to see the current line highlighted.

• This feature transforms casual listening into a karaoke-like experience.

Premium vs Free: What’s Still Exclusive?

While free users enjoy massive improvements, Premium members still get added benefits, such as:

• Lossless audio quality.

• Unlimited skips without restrictions.

• AI-generated Playlists and Mix.

• Offline downloads for music on the go.

Still, the free-tier upgrade significantly narrows the gap, making Spotify more competitive against rivals like YouTube Music and Apple Music.

Conclusion

Spotify’s decision to expand its free tier marks a huge step toward making music more accessible and enjoyable. By removing restrictions on song selection, introducing playlist customisation, and enhancing discovery tools, the platform ensures a richer experience for free users. While Premium remains the ultimate choice for audiophiles, casual listeners now have more control and creativity in how they enjoy music.