Key Takeaways

The free version of Spotify puts caps on the audio quality. You need Spotify Premium to listen at the highest quality.

Spotify is a very popular streaming music service, thanks in large part to being free. Ads are an annoying part of using Spotify for free, but there's something else you may not realize---sound quality is worse too.

The free version of Spotify streams tracks at 96kbps on the mobile apps and 160kbps on your computer. That's a small, but noticeable drop in quality compared to a CD. With Spotify Premium, you have the option to listen to tracks at up to 320kbps, which is essentially the same as CD quality audio.

Spotify sound quality options.

If you're worried about burning through data at that higher level, you can choose different streaming qualities for Wi-Fi and cellular. Plus, you have the ability to download music for offline listening with Spotify Premium.

Of course, that doesn't mean much unless you have a good pair of headphones to appreciate the higher quality. Check out our Best Headphones guide to find a pair for your needs. Better sound quality is just one of the benefits of paying for Spotify Premium. If you're interested in giving it a whirl, you may be able to save a little money on a subscription.