Customer Reviews (500)

Mactownsrob • 2025-03-22T01:18:33-07:00

Interesting library

Sarah33336 • 2025-03-22T01:09:27-07:00

I spend the majority of my life on this app! One thing that would make it better is a poke option, or some way to invite friends to listen through Spotify. Music is community :)

painandsadness • 2025-03-22T01:09:03-07:00

I think i’ve had more ads than songs. At this point my spotify wrapped would be all advertisements. Why would I spend money on this app?

Summary of Key Insights

Spotify is a widely used and generally well-regarded music and podcast streaming app, but user reviews highlight both strengths and weaknesses. The app's extensive library, ease of use, and personalized playlists are significant strengths. However, the prevalence of ads in the free version, issues with shuffle and playlist functionality, and bugs related to premium features are key areas of concern. Many users express frustration with the ad experience and limitations imposed on free users. The overall sentiment is mixed, with a large number of 5-star reviews tempered by significant complaints in the lower-rated reviews.

  • Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, the average rating is approximately 4.0 stars (weighted average).
  • Score Distribution: 5-star: 50.8%, 4-star: 13%, 3-star: 10.8%, 2-star: 6.4%, 1-star: 19%. This indicates a polarization of user sentiment, with a strong base of satisfied users and a significant segment of dissatisfied ones.

Key Strengths:

  • Extensive music and podcast library.
  • Personalized playlists and discovery features.
  • Offline listening (Premium).
  • Lyrics availability.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Excessive ads in the free version.
  • Bugs and issues with premium features (e.g., ads despite premium subscription).
  • Problems with shuffle and playlist functionality (e.g., unwanted song additions, genre filter issues).
  • Limited control over song selection in the free version.
  • Recurring login issues.
  • Audiobook limitations for premium users.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews.
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly specified, but based on the version number (9.0.28), the reviews are likely from a relatively recent period.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis involved manual review and categorization of the provided text data. This included sentiment assessment, identification of recurring keywords and themes related to user experience, feature requests, and bug reports. No automated sentiment analysis tools were used.

Key User Pain Points

  • Excessive Ads (Free Version): The most frequent complaint is the high number of ads, often interrupting listening after only one or two songs. Users report that the "30 minutes of uninterrupted listening" promise is often unfulfilled.
  • Ads Despite Premium Subscription: A significant number of users who pay for premium report still experiencing ads, particularly within podcasts. This is a major source of frustration.
  • Shuffle and Playlist Issues: Many users report problems with shuffle functionality, such as the same songs playing repeatedly or the feature not working as expected when filtering by genre. Additionally, the app sometimes adds unwanted songs to playlists.
  • Limited Control (Free Version): Free users are significantly restricted in their ability to choose specific songs and must often listen to entire playlists, even if they only want to hear one song. The limited number of skips is also a pain point.
  • Genre Filter Issues: Several users report that the genre filter for Liked Songs is not working correctly, causing the app to shuffle all categories of songs regardless of the selected filter.
  • Bugs and Technical Issues: Various bugs are reported, including songs skipping, app crashing, login problems, and difficulty downloading content.
  • Audiobook Limitations: Premium users are unhappy with the limited audiobook listening time and the high cost of topping up.
  • Auto Play: Unwanted auto playback when opening the app or connecting to bluetooth devices.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Audiobook Time for Premium Users: Users want more than 15 hours of audiobook listening per month, or even unlimited access.
  • Ability to Disable Autoplay: Users want the option to disable automatic playback when the app is opened or connected to Bluetooth devices.
  • Improved Playlist Management: Users want to be able to easily organize playlists and folders on mobile devices.
  • Option to Quick Add to Playlists (Besides Liked Songs): Users want a quick way to add songs to playlists other than the "Liked Songs" playlist from the lock screen.
  • Better Shuffle Functionality: Users desire a truly random shuffle mode.
  • Ability to Queue Music Properly: Users want the ability to queue music in a more intuitive way, similar to other streaming services.
  • Haptic Feedback: Haptic feedback for music controls.
  • Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio Support: Users want support for higher quality audio formats.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Extensive Music Library: Users consistently praise the wide selection of music available on Spotify.
  • Podcast Integration: The ability to listen to both music and podcasts in one app is a popular feature.
  • Personalized Playlists: Users appreciate the automatically generated playlists and music recommendations.
  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app easy to navigate and use.
  • Offline Listening (Premium): The ability to download music for offline listening is a major benefit for premium subscribers.
  • Lyrics: The availability of lyrics for many songs is a valued feature.
  • Creative Playlists: Spotify is praised for creating creative and engaging playlists.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Ad Issues for Premium Users: Investigate and resolve the issue of ads appearing for users with premium subscriptions. This is a critical problem that damages the value proposition of the premium service.
  • Fix Shuffle and Playlist Bugs: Prioritize fixing the reported bugs related to shuffle functionality, genre filters, and unwanted song additions to playlists. This significantly impacts the user experience.
  • Improve Ad Frequency and Intrusiveness (Free Version): Re-evaluate the frequency and intrusiveness of ads in the free version. While ads are necessary, excessive ads can drive users away. Consider alternative monetization strategies.
  • Resolve Login Issues: Address the recurring login problems reported by users.

Medium Priority:

  • Increase Audiobook Time for Premium Users: Consider increasing the audiobook listening time for premium users or offering a more flexible audiobook subscription option.
  • Implement Option to Disable Autoplay: Add an option in the settings to disable automatic playback.
  • Enhance Playlist Management: Improve playlist management features, especially on mobile devices.
  • Optimize App Performance: Address reported performance issues, such as app crashes and slow loading times.

Low Priority:

  • Implement Haptic Feedback: Add haptic feedback for music controls.
  • Add Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio Support: Implement support for higher quality audio formats.
  • Improve User Interface Color Scheme: Some users find the app's color scheme depressing. Consider offering customization options.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Ad-Free Music Streaming with Fair Artist Compensation: A music streaming service that prioritizes fair compensation for artists and offers a truly ad-free experience, potentially through a different monetization model (e.g., direct artist support).
  • Advanced Playlist Management Tool: A standalone app or plugin that provides advanced playlist management features for Spotify, such as bulk editing, smart filtering, and collaborative playlist creation.
  • Enhanced Music Discovery Platform: A music discovery platform that uses more sophisticated algorithms to provide highly personalized recommendations, going beyond simply suggesting similar artists.
  • Audiobook Subscription Service: An audiobook subscription service that offers more flexible and affordable listening options than Spotify's current offering.
  • Spotify Companion App: An app that allows users to easily create shareable visual representations of their listening habits (beyond Spotify Wrapped), possibly with social media integration.

Trends and Observations

  • Ad Frustration: A consistent theme across many reviews is frustration with the ad experience, both for free and premium users.
  • Feature Degradation: Some users feel that recent updates have made the app worse, removing useful features or introducing new bugs.
  • Premium Concerns: A number of users express concerns about the value of a premium subscription, given the persistence of ads and other issues.
  • Shifting Preferences: Some users mention switching to Apple Music due to sound quality or ad concerns.
  • Feature Requests: Users frequently request features that are available on competing platforms, such as better playlist management and more control over playback.
  • Language: Most reviews are in English, but there are a significant number of Spanish reviews, indicating a strong Spanish-speaking user base.

Conclusion

Spotify remains a popular music streaming app, but user reviews reveal significant areas for improvement. Addressing the ad experience, fixing bugs, and enhancing playlist functionality are crucial for retaining existing users and attracting new ones. Failing to address these issues could lead users to switch to competing platforms. Spotify should prioritize user feedback and focus on delivering a high-quality, reliable, and enjoyable listening experience.

Overall Recommendation: Spotify should prioritize addressing the high-priority action recommendations, particularly those related to ads and bug fixes, to improve user satisfaction and maintain its competitive edge.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spotify-music-and-podcasts/id324684580?uo=2