Pandora Raises Subscription Prices Across Paid Tiers

Pandora, the audio streaming service owned by SiriusXM, has instituted price increases across its paid subscription tiers, according to a report from Engadget (https://www.engadget.com/2274733/pandora-stream-music-service-raise-prices/). The company informed customers in a September 2026 email that monthly billing rates would rise by at least $1 starting in October.

Under the updated direct pricing schedule, the entry-level Pandora Plus plan now costs $5.99 per month or $65.89 per year. The tier includes ad-free personalized stations, unlimited skips, offline playback, and ad-supported search features. At $5.99 per month, the rate aligns with the discounted student tiers offered by rival services including Apple Music and Spotify.

The on-demand Pandora Premium tier now costs $11.99 per month or $131.89 annually. The ad-free tier includes search-and-play functionality, shared playlists, offline listening, and unlimited skips, operating alongside Pandora's proprietary Music Genome Project curation system. The Premium Family plan, which provides access for up to six accounts, has increased to $19.99 per month or $219.89 per year.

Pricing varies for customers who subscribe through third-party app stores and platform providers. Subscriptions billed through Apple cost $6.99 per month for Plus and $14.99 per month for Premium. On Google Play, monthly rates are $6.99 for Plus and $12.99 for Premium. Amazon Appstore subscribers continue paying $4.99 per month for Plus, while Roku users pay $4.99 per month for Plus and $10.99 per month for Premium, though select annual, Premium, and Family plan configurations remain unavailable on Amazon and Roku platforms.

On its support page, Pandora stated that it had not made the decision lightly, explaining that the price adjustments were enacted "so we can continue investing in the personalized listening experience Pandora is known for, including better recommendations, improved reliability, and access to the music and podcasts you love."

The new rates took effect for incoming subscribers on September 22, 2026. Existing subscribers will see the price increases applied to billing statements beginning October 22, 2026. Users may change tiers or cancel prior to their next billing date, with modifications required at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing cycle. Account holders who cancel will revert to Pandora Free, which provides personalized radio stations, podcasts, and ad-supported unlimited skips.

Subscribers who signed up directly can modify or cancel plans through account settings on Pandora's desktop or mobile website. Accounts billed via third-party platforms such as Apple, Google, Amazon, or Roku must be managed directly through those respective billing services, as Pandora Support cannot modify third-party transactions. Users who cancel retain their paid tier access until the end of the current billing cycle.