In the United States, the age requirement to use Spotify is 13 for an independent account, whether free or Premium. Children under 13 can only listen through a parent’s Premium Family plan, using either a managed account inside the main app or the separate Spotify Kids app. Users between 13 and 17 can sign up on their own, but a parent or guardian has to agree to the Terms of Use on their behalf. At 18, the last restrictions lift and the Premium Student discount becomes available if you’re enrolled at a qualifying college.
Why 13 Is the Floor
Spotify’s Terms of Use state that you must be at least 13 to use the service, or the equivalent minimum age in your country if it’s higher.1Spotify. Terms and Conditions of Use The threshold comes from the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which defines a “child” as anyone under 13 and requires verifiable parental consent before a site or app can collect personal information from that group.2eCFR. Part 312 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule The Federal Trade Commission enforces the rule and has approved specific methods companies can use when they do collect data from younger users.3Federal Trade Commission. Children’s Privacy Rather than build a consent workflow for every young user, Spotify sets 13 as the floor for standalone accounts and routes younger listeners through a parent’s plan.
Under 13: Options Through a Parent’s Family Plan
Children who haven’t reached 13 aren’t shut out of Spotify, but they can only listen through a Premium Family subscription. There are two ways in.
Managed Accounts
A managed account is a restricted profile that a Family plan manager creates for a listener under the minimum age. The manager opens account settings, selects “Add a Member,” and picks the option for a listener under the minimum age.4Spotify. Safety and Privacy Center – Guidance for Parents or Caregivers The child gets a personalized profile with several guardrails built in:
- Explicit content is blocked by default, though the plan manager can turn that off.
- Profiles are private and unsearchable; the child can’t be found or followed by other users and can’t search for others.
- Social features are disabled, including collaborative playlists, Jam, Blend, and messaging.
- Search terms associated with age-inappropriate content are filtered automatically.
- The plan manager can hide Canvas visuals and other video content.
A managed account uses one of the six slots on the Family plan.5Spotify Support Site. Spotify Kids
Spotify Kids App
Spotify Kids is a separate, ad-free app aimed at younger children, with handpicked playlists, singalongs, and soundtracks.5Spotify Support Site. Spotify Kids It also requires a Premium Family subscription. On first login, parents set a PIN that locks a “Grown Ups” menu, where you can block specific content, choose the type of audio each child can access, and review songs and cover art before sharing a playlist. One thing to watch: when you share a playlist through the Kids app, the child hears every song in it, explicit tracks included, so preview before sharing.
The two options fit different ages. Managed accounts sit inside the main Spotify app and give older children a version of the real experience with controls on top. The Kids app is a walled garden for younger listeners who don’t need the full catalog.
How the Family Plan Works
Premium Family supports up to six accounts including the plan manager, at $21.99 per month.6Spotify. Spotify Premium All members must live at the same address as the plan manager.7Spotify Support Site. Family Plan Only the plan manager can add or remove members and control the explicit content setting on each sub-account.8Spotify Support Site. Explicit Content Filter
Ages 13 to 17: Own Account, Parent Agrees to Terms
Between 13 and the age of majority in your country (typically 18 in the U.S.), you can create your own Spotify account, but a parent or guardian must agree to the Terms of Use on your behalf.1Spotify. Terms and Conditions of Use Spotify doesn’t currently require a separate parental verification step at sign-up for this age group, but the legal responsibility for that consent sits with the parent.
Teen accounts behave like any other Spotify account, with one exception. If a user under 18 tries to watch a music video that the rights holder has tagged 18+, Spotify blocks access unless the user passes an age check.9Spotify. Our Approach to Assuring the Age of Users The rest of the platform, including the full music catalog, podcasts, and audiobooks, works normally.
Parents who want more oversight can keep a 13-to-17-year-old on the Family plan, where the plan manager toggles the explicit content filter on each sub-account.8Spotify Support Site. Explicit Content Filter That level of control disappears once the teen has a fully independent account.
Age 18 and Up
At 18, the age-based restrictions lift. Adult listeners can pass any age check that comes up for 18+ content, and a separate discounted tier becomes available: Premium Student. To qualify, you must be at least 18 and currently enrolled at a U.S. Title IV accredited college or university.10Spotify. Premium for Students Spotify verifies enrollment through SheerID; during sign-up, you either log into your school’s portal or upload proof of enrollment.11Spotify Support Site. Premium Student If your school isn’t listed in SheerID, you won’t qualify. High school students, even those who are 18, don’t meet the enrollment requirement.
How Spotify Actually Checks Your Age
The honor system is on its way out. Spotify is expanding age-assurance technology across markets, using a combination of its own internal age estimation and a partnership with the digital identity company Yoti.9Spotify. Our Approach to Assuring the Age of Users
A check is triggered when you try to access restricted content, such as a music video labeled 18+. To pass, you can use facial age estimation, where your camera scans your face to estimate your age, or submit an ID document through Yoti inside the Spotify app. If you skip the check, you don’t get that feature, but the rest of Spotify still works.12Spotify Support. Age Restricted Content and Checking Your Age
The consequences get more serious if the check indicates the user is under 13. Spotify will deactivate and eventually delete the account. You’ll get an email notification, and because facial estimation isn’t perfect, you have 90 days to reactivate and verify with an actual ID. If you don’t act within 7 days of reactivation, or the ID confirms you’re underage, the account is permanently deleted.12Spotify Support. Age Restricted Content and Checking Your Age
What Happens if the Age on the Account Is Wrong
Spotify’s parental guidance is direct: when creating an account, you must represent your child’s age accurately, and an account discovered to have been created with false age information will be closed.4Spotify. Safety and Privacy Center – Guidance for Parents or Caregivers With facial age estimation now rolling out, an account with an inflated birth date can get flagged the first time the user hits an age-gated feature. Parents who set up accounts with fake ages to give a younger child full access are betting that no check ever comes up, and that bet keeps getting worse. The managed account and Kids app options exist precisely for this situation.