Change your payment method in the Account settings menu

To change how Spotify charges you, open the app or go to spotify.com, sign in, and click your profile name in the top right corner. Select Account from the dropdown menu. On the Account page, find the Billing section and click Payment methods. From there you can add a new card, remove an old one, or set which payment method Spotify uses for your next charge.

The process takes about two minutes. Spotify accepts credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and gift cards depending on your country. If you're on a mobile app, the steps are the same — tap your profile icon at the bottom, go to Settings, then Account, then Payment methods.

Key Takeaways

  • You change payment methods through Account > Billing > Payment methods on the Spotify website or app.
  • Spotify accepts credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and gift cards, though which options are available depends on your country.
  • You can add multiple payment methods and choose which one Spotify charges on your next billing date.
  • If a payment fails, Spotify will retry it for a few days before pausing your account — updating your payment method stops the pause.
  • Removing a payment method does not cancel your subscription; it only removes that card from your account.

Add a new payment method before removing the old one

If your current card is expiring or you want to switch to a different one, add the new payment method first. Go to Payment methods and click Add a payment method. Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV, then click Add card. Spotify will charge a small amount to verify the card — usually under $1 — and refund it within a few days.

Once the new card is verified and showing in your payment methods list, you can remove the old one. Click the three dots next to the card you no longer want and select Remove. Spotify will use the remaining card for your next billing cycle. If you have multiple cards saved, you can set which one is the default by clicking the three dots and selecting Set as default payment method.

What happens if your payment fails

If Spotify tries to charge your card and it declines, you'll see a message in the app saying your payment could not go through. Spotify will retry the charge for several days. During this time your account stays active, but you'll see reminders to update your payment information.

If the payment continues to fail after about a week, Spotify pauses your account. You won't lose your playlists or followers, but you won't be able to play music until you add a working payment method. Once you update your payment information, your account reactivates within a few minutes and your subscription resumes.

Using PayPal instead of a card

If you prefer not to give Spotify your card number directly, you can pay through PayPal. Click Add a payment method and select PayPal from the list. You'll be taken to PayPal's website to log in and confirm. Once you authorize Spotify, PayPal appears in your payment methods list just like a card would.

PayPal is available in most countries where Spotify operates. If you change your PayPal password or revoke Spotify's access from your PayPal account, Spotify won't be able to charge you on the next billing date. You'll need to re-authorize it through the Payment methods menu or add a different payment method.

Paying with Spotify gift cards

Spotify gift cards work differently than credit cards — they add credit to your account rather than charging you automatically each month. When you redeem a gift card, the balance shows under Prepaid balance in the Billing section. Spotify charges your prepaid balance first, then uses your payment method for any remaining amount.

If your prepaid balance covers your full subscription cost, Spotify won't charge your card that month. Once the balance runs out, Spotify goes back to charging your default payment method. You can redeem multiple gift cards to build up credit, and unused balance never expires.

Changing payment method on a family plan

If you're the account owner on a Spotify Family plan, you're the only person who can change the payment method. Go to Account > Billing > Payment methods and follow the same steps as a regular account. The new payment method will be used to charge all family members on the plan.

Family members on your plan can't change the payment method themselves, but they can see which card is being used in their own Account settings under Billing. If you want to remove someone from the family plan or change who the account owner is, that's a separate process in the Family plan settings.

Troubleshooting payment method problems

If you added a new card but Spotify won't let you set it as the default, the card may not be verified yet. Wait a few minutes for the verification charge to appear on your statement, then try again. If the verification charge never appears, the card may not be compatible — Spotify requires cards issued by a bank, not prepaid cards from retailers.

If you're trying to remove a payment method and the button is grayed out, you need at least one other payment method on file first. Add a new card or PayPal account, then remove the old one. If you see an error message when adding a card, check that the number, expiration date, and CVV are entered correctly and that the card hasn't expired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a debit card on Spotify?

Yes, Spotify accepts debit cards the same way it accepts credit cards. Enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV just as you would for a credit card. Spotify will verify the debit card with a small charge that gets refunded within a few days.

What if I don't have a payment method saved and my subscription is active?

Your account will stay active until your next billing date. On that date, Spotify will try to charge a payment method on file. If none exists, your account will pause. You'll need to add a payment method to reactivate it, but you won't lose your playlists or followers.

Does changing my payment method cancel my subscription?

No. Changing or removing a payment method does not cancel your Spotify subscription. You're only changing how Spotify charges you, not whether it charges you. Your subscription continues until you manually cancel it.

Can I use the same payment method on multiple Spotify accounts?

Yes, the same card or PayPal account can be used on as many Spotify accounts as you want. Each account is separate and will be charged independently on its own billing date.

How long does it take for a new payment method to start working?

Once you add a card and it's verified (usually within a few minutes), Spotify can use it when ready. If you set it as your default payment method, Spotify will charge it on your next billing date. If your billing date is soon, you may want to add the new card a few days early to be safe.