Spotify Launches Lossless Audio Streaming for Premium Users

Spotify has finally introduced lossless audio streaming for its Premium users, a feature highly anticipated and long promised by the company. After teasing the high-quality streaming option back in 2021 and facing multiple delays, Spotify began rolling out lossless audio in early September 2025 to Premium subscribers in over 50 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and several European nations.

Lossless audio means that the music streams without any loss of quality from the original recording, preserving the full detail and richness of the sound. Spotify’s lossless streams use a format called FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) at 24-bit/44.1 kHz, which is comparable to CD-quality audio. This improvement means listeners can experience their favorite songs more clearly and richly, closer to what the artists intended.

The feature is included at no extra cost for Premium subscribers, which sets Spotify apart from some competitors that either charge extra for high-fidelity streaming tiers or segment them differently. Users will receive a notification in the Spotify app when lossless audio becomes available for their account. They then need to manually enable the feature on each device where they want to use it, including mobile, desktop, and tablets. Supported hardware brands currently include Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser, with compatibility for Sonos and Amazon devices expected soon.

From a data perspective, streaming lossless audio can use around 1GB of data per hour, so Spotify allows users to control whether to stream lossless over Wi-Fi, cellular data, or only on downloads. This flexibility helps users manage data consumption based on their internet plans and listening habits.

Spotify’s introduction of lossless streaming is a significant upgrade for audiophiles and music lovers who value sound quality. It closes a long-standing gap in Spotify’s offerings, as rival platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal have long offered hi-fi or lossless audio options. Unlike Apple Music or Tidal, which offer higher resolution than Spotify’s current 24-bit/44.1 kHz cap, Spotify’s initial rollout prioritizes broad availability and ease of use rather than extreme audiophile-level features. This might satisfy most casual listeners, while serious audiophiles may still look for higher-end options elsewhere.

The delay in releasing this feature—about four years after the initial announcement in 2021—has been a source of frustration and speculation. Spotify explained the wait by emphasizing their focus on building lossless streaming in a way that balances audio quality, user experience, and clarity of usage. This cautious approach seems designed to avoid technical pitfalls and ensure that users understand what lossless streaming means and how it impacts data use.

For Spotify, this move is also strategic in competing with other major music streaming services and in keeping Premium users engaged by continuously enhancing the value of their subscription. It adds to other recent Spotify innovations, such as AI-powered playlists, DJ mode, and collaborative listening features, signaling that the platform is evolving to offer more than just basic music streaming.

For Spotify Premium users, the ability to stream lossless audio without an extra fee could be a game-changer in how they enjoy music daily. It will especially appeal to those with good quality audio devices who can notice the difference between compressed and uncompressed sound. However, the actual experience depends on hardware support, network conditions, and individual hearing sensitivity.

The rollout has so far excluded some markets, such as India, but Spotify is expected to expand availability gradually. Managing data use when streaming lossless will be important for users with limited mobile data plans, but Spotify’s flexible settings allow them to customize their experience. Overall, lossless streaming on Spotify represents a meaningful step forward in music streaming quality accessible to millions.

Spotify’s launch of lossless audio streaming for Premium users is a long-awaited upgrade that enhances music quality without additional costs. By providing CD-quality sound and easy access across many devices, Spotify aims to meet rising user expectations in a competitive streaming market. Although delays and limitations remain part of the story, the introduction of this feature reflects Spotify’s commitment to improving the listener experience through better sound, transparency, and flexibility—an important development for music fans worldwide.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies