Spotify is giving its Free experience a huge boost, with a range of updates that make listening easier, more personal, and far less restrictive. These changes are now rolling out to users in Australia, bringing many Premium-like features to the free version of the app, while still keeping some exclusive options for paying subscribers.
For Australian users, the most exciting improvement is the ability to search for and play specific tracks on demand. In the past, Free listeners were limited to shuffle mode, which could be frustrating if you just wanted to hear one particular song. Now, you can search for the track, artist, or album you want and play it instantly. This also applies to shared links: if someone sends you a song or playlist through social media or messaging apps, you can now open it and listen straight away without any extra steps.
Personalisation has also taken a big step forward. Spotify now allows Free users to customise their playlists with unique cover art, colours, and images. This feature, available across 128 markets including Australia, gives playlists a more personal and creative touch, especially when you share them with friends or followers. The popular “daylist” feature is also available to Australian listeners. Daylist evolves throughout the day, curating music that matches your changing mood and routines — energising tracks in the morning, upbeat tunes in the afternoon, and more relaxing songs in the evening. This keeps your listening experience fresh while also helping you discover music you might not have come across otherwise.
Existing discovery tools such as Discover Weekly and Release Radar remain a central part of the Free experience. Discover Weekly curates a playlist of new songs based on your listening habits, while Release Radar highlights the latest tracks from your favourite artists. These tools make it easy to stay on top of new releases and hidden gems without having to spend time searching manually.
Real-time lyrics are another area that has been enhanced. Many songs now display live lyrics within the Now Playing screen, so you can follow along word for word. Spotify has also made it simple to share specific lyrics on platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, making it easy to connect with friends through the lines and moments that resonate most.
Most of these updates are already available in Australia, but some features, like advanced playlist and library controls, are still rolling out and may take a little longer to appear for all users. To make sure you have access to everything as soon as possible, keep your Spotify app updated to the latest version. Restarting the app or clearing the cache can also help new tools appear more quickly.
These changes represent a major step forward for Spotify’s Free tier in Australia. With more control over what you play, smarter discovery features, and a range of personalisation options, Spotify is giving Free users a richer and more engaging experience than ever before. Even without a Premium subscription, you can now soundtrack your day with greater freedom and flexibility, whether you’re at home, at work, or on the go.
