How to Cancel Spotify Premium Duo in 2026 (And Why Couples Are Switching)
Updated 2026-02-19 ยท 5 min read
๐ต The Duo Math Problem
Spotify Duo costs $16.99/month for 2 people. Two individual plans cost $13.99 ร 2 = $27.98. Duo saves $11/month. But here's the catch: Spotify now requires both users to live at the same address and periodically re-verifies via GPS. If you don't live together, Duo doesn't work.
Spotify Pricing Comparison (2026)
Free: Unlimited music with ads, no offline, shuffle-only on mobile
Duo: $16.99/month โ 2 Premium accounts at same address
Family: $19.99/month โ up to 6 accounts at same address
Student: $5.99/month โ includes Hulu (with ads)
Break-even: Duo saves $132/year vs 2 Individual plans (IF you live together)
How to Cancel Duo
Plan Manager (Whoever Signed Up)
Go to spotify.com/account
Click Manage your plan
Click Cancel plan or Change plan
To downgrade to Individual: select Individual Premium
To cancel completely: click Cancel Premium
Premium continues until end of current billing period
Non-Manager (The Other Person)
If you're not the plan manager, you can only leave the Duo plan โ not cancel it. Go to your Account page โ Manage plan โ Leave plan. You'll need to sign up for your own subscription separately.
โ ๏ธ Playlist Survival
Your playlists, saved songs, and listening history are tied to your individual Spotify account โ NOT the Duo plan. Canceling Duo or leaving doesn't delete anything. Your music library is safe whether you downgrade to Free, switch to Individual, or cancel entirely.
The Address Verification Problem
Spotify now enforces same-address requirements for Duo and Family plans:
Initial verification: Both users must confirm the same address
Periodic re-verification: Spotify may ask to confirm location via GPS
What happens if addresses differ: Members can be removed from the plan
Long-distance couples: Duo won't work โ you need separate Individual plans
Free Music Alternatives
Spotify Free: Same 100M+ song catalog, just with ads. Most features work.
YouTube Music (free): Ad-supported but huge catalog including live performances and remixes
Amazon Music (with Prime): If you have Prime, you already have ad-supported streaming included
Tidal Free: Ad-supported tier with full catalog
SoundCloud (free): Best for independent/underground artists and DJ mixes
YouTube: Virtually every song exists on YouTube for free
The Cancel-Resubscribe Trick
Spotify regularly offers comeback deals:
Cancel โ wait 2-4 weeks โ check your email for $9.99/3 months or similar offers
Some users report getting offers as good as 3 months free
Create a new account for the "first 3 months free" trial (different email)
Rotate between Free and discounted Premium periods to average $5-8/month instead of $14
๐ก The Family vs Duo Decision
If you live together and might add a third person (roommate, kid), Family ($20/mo for up to 6) is only $3/month more than Duo. At 3+ people, Family is always cheaper. If it's just 2 people at separate addresses, get Individual plans and split the cost.
๐ Music Subscription Audit
Spotify + Apple Music + YouTube Premium + Amazon Music โ many households pay for 2-3 music services simultaneously. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find every music subscription and pick one.