A Long Time Coming
If you’re an audiophile, you know the frustration: Spotify has long promised a “HiFi” or lossless audio tier, teasing us since 2017 and officially announcing “Spotify HiFi” in early 2021. But delays (notably licensing and technical hurdles) have pushed the release back many times.
As of 10 September 2025, Spotify has officially launched its Lossless audio feature for Premium users in over 50 markets, including the UK & US.
I received this notification on my iPhone Spotify App today! The wait isn’t quite over for me.
What to Expect: Audio Quality, Formats & Bit-Rate
| Aspect | What Spotify Offers | How It Compares / What Audiophiles Want |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Lossless FLAC — uncompressed in terms of data retention. | Rivals (Tidal, Amazon Music HD, Qobuz, Apple Music) offer similar or higher tiers using FLAC or ALAC; some go up to 24-bit / 192 kHz. |
| Bit Depth & Sample Rate | Up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz. That exceeds CD quality (16-bit / 44.1 kHz), placing it just into the realm of “hi-res” (depending on how you define that). | Many hi-res purists consider 24/96 or 24/192 kHz to be more clearly “hi-res.” But 24/44.1 is a solid upgrade if your rig (DACs, speakers, headphones) can reveal the difference. |
| Library Coverage | Spotify claims “nearly every song” will have a Lossless-labelled version once rollout is complete. | Some tracks (especially older, less popular, or those with licensing restrictions) may lag behind. Also, mastering quality still matters; hi sample rate ≠ great master. |
| Device & Connection Requirements | Lossless works via Spotify Premium, on mobile, tablet, desktop, and via Spotify Connect. Best quality will likely require wired output or high-quality DACs. Bluetooth, unless using high-quality codecs, tends to compress. | Device compatibility (headphones, DACs, receivers) is crucial. If your playback chain can’t reproduce the extra resolution, benefit will be marginal. |
Release Date & Pricing in UK & US
- Release / Roll-Out Date: Spotify Lossless officially launched on 10 September 2025 and is rolling out to the UK, US, and more than 50 other markets throughout autumn.
- Pricing Model: Unlike many earlier rumours suggesting a separate “HiFi” or “Music Pro” tier, Spotify has made Lossless streaming included in all Premium plans at no extra charge. That means whether you’re an individual subscriber or on a family/student plan, you’ll have access to FLAC quality automatically.
UK Pricing (2025)
- Premium Individual – £11.99/month
- Premium Duo (two people at the same address) – £16.99/month
- Premium Family (up to 6 accounts, parental controls included) – £19.99/month
- Premium Student – £5.99/month (50% discount on the Individual plan)
US Pricing (2025)
- Premium Individual – $11.99/month
- Premium Duo – $16.99/month
- Premium Family – $19.99/month
- Premium Student – $5.99/month
All of these tiers now include access to Spotify Lossless, so there’s no extra upgrade path needed. For families especially, this makes Spotify one of the most cost-effective options for streaming in CD-quality or better — particularly compared to hi-res rivals that often charge extra per account.
What’s Still Missing (for True Audiophiles)
- Spotify’s launch version does not appear to support the higher sample-rates (96 kHz, 192 kHz) that some rivals offer.
- No indication of immersive audio formats (Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio) or spatial audio at higher sample rates at launch.
- The quality of streaming depends heavily on your end-to-end setup: master quality, DAC/preamp, wired vs Bluetooth, etc. Even 24-bit/44.1 kHz can be bottlenecked by low quality gear.
Should You Switch Platforms Now, Or Wait On Spotify?
As an audiophile and current Spotify user, here’s a comparison of the pros & cons:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Stick with Spotify | – You retain all your playlists, interface, discovery features. – Now you get lossless for no extra cost. – Familiar UI, ecosystem. – For many, the improvement (from ~320 kbps to FLAC 24-bit/44.1) will already feel substantial. | – You won’t (at least initially) get hi-res beyond 44.1 kHz. – Spatial/immersive audio may not match what other services offer. – Some catalogue content may still be of lower quality masters. |
| Switch to another Hi-Res service (e.g. Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, Apple Music) | – Higher sample-rate options (96-192 kHz) to explore. – Some offer spatial audio, which adds another dimension. – These services have had more time refining their hi-res offerings. | – Cost: often more expensive, or needing extra hardware to get full benefit. – Switching hassle: migrating playlists, learning new UI. – You may already get “good enough” improvement with Spotify that satisfies most of what you care about. |
My Recommendation
If I were in your shoes:
- I’d try Spotify’s Lossless now. Since it’s included in Premium, there’s zero downside. Audit your rig: ensure you have decent DAC/headphones or wired output to hear the difference.
- At the same time, keep tabs on other hi-res services. If you have or plan to get very high-end gear (amplifiers, speakers, DACs), pushing for a service that gives 24/96 or 24/192 kHz (and immersive audio) might be worth the extra outlay.
- If after testing Spotify Lossless you feel like there are ceiling effects in your system that demand more, then consider switching. But for many, Spotify’s new offering may bridge the gap enough to stay.
Conclusion
Spotify’s long wait is over: lossless audio (up to 24-bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC) is now rolling out to Premium users in the UK, US and dozens of other markets. For no extra cost beyond what you already pay, you get a meaningful upgrade from lossy/320 kbps. But it doesn’t yet reach into the ultra hi-res territory that some competitors occupy.
If you value every detail and already have a rig capable of revealing those subtleties, keep your options open. But there’s strong reason to believe that for many audiophiles, Spotify’s Lossless will be “good enough” for now.
For readers curious about how Spotify compares to other hi-res streaming options, check out my piece Is Spotify Enough? Exploring Hi-Res Audio Streaming Services for True Music Lovers for in‐depth comparisons.