Spotify extends free trial facing pressure from Apple Music

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Spotify is taking what it knows about your music tastes to curate a personalized weekly playlist.
Spotify has increased its free trial for users outside the U.S.
Photo: Spotify

Apple Music’s launch is just days away, and Spotify is already running to catch up to the free trial Apple thinks will convince you to become a paying customer.

In an attempt to match Apple’s controversial three-month free trial period, Spotify announced that it will extend its Premium free trials from 30 days to 60 its days, but only if you’re outside the U.S.

The country-specific versions of Spotify’s website for places like the U.K. and Australia are now advertising a 60-day free trial. If you’re in the U.S. though, there’s still good news.  Spotify offers a full three months of Spotify Premium for only $0.99. Once the three months expire it actually ends up being a better deal than doing a 60 day trial and then paying for the third month.

What neither of Spotify’s deals beat though is the Apple Music 90-day free trial, available in all countries at its launch on June 30. Exclusive music could also be a big draw for Apple Music, like from its once biggest critic Taylor Swift — who has bad blood with Spotify’s free streaming plan — who is now on Apple’s side.

Spotify also hasn’t matched Apple Music’s family deal, which charges a straight $14.99 per month for up to 6 members of a family combined. Spotify charges $14.99 per month for a combined two members of the family, but each additional family member jacks up the price by another $5.

The only deal Apple Music has yet to match or beat the moment is its student discount, offering anyone with a valid university email address 50 percent off of its Premium plan.

With the Apple Music launch just days away, we’ll find out soon if Apple has a winner on its hands. Right now, it seems like Spotify is going to have to do a lot more than merely extend the free trial by another 30 days to compete.

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