Spotify has raised its prices in the US, with individual plans now at $11.99, Dual Plans at $16.99, and Family Plans at $19.99. The platform justified the hike by introducing audiobook support, giving premium users 15 hours of listening per month. To cater to those uninterested in audiobooks, Spotify has unveiled a new $10.99 Basic plan, offering unrestricted music and podcasts without ads. Despite the beneficial changes, the company made a controversial decision by automatically migrating users to costlier plans, requiring manual effort to revert. Additionally, Spotify is preparing to launch a pricier plan providing lossless Hi-Fi streaming for around $5 extra. This move aims to compete with Apple Music, which offers high-quality streaming without additional charges. While Spotify's alterations aim to enhance user experience, the sudden price hikes and mandatory plan switches have caused backlash among customers.