Another monthly subscription is about to get more expensive.
Pandora, the music platform owned by SiriusXM, is raising prices across its paid subscription plans, meaning millions of listeners who pay for the music streaming service will soon face a slightly bigger monthly bill.
Pandora Plus is increasing from $4.99 to $5.99 per month, while Pandora Premium is rising from $10.99 to $11.99 per month.
Pandora Premium Family is jumping from $17.99 to $19.99 a month.
The higher prices have already taken effect for new subscribers, who began paying the new rates on Sept. 22. But existing subscribers will see the higher rates beginning with billing dates on or after Oct. 22, according to Pandora.
Depending on your plan, these changes can add $12 to $24 per year for subscribers who keep their current service.
Pandora raises prices on all paid plans
The increases affect Pandora’s three main paid subscription options:
- Pandora Plus
- Pandora Premium
- Pandora Premium Family
Pandora’s free, ad-supported service remains available.
Customers who subscribe through third-party platforms may see different prices, depending on how they are billed.
Pandora, which is owned by SiriusXM, said the higher rates will allow it to continue investing in its service.
“We’re making this update 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 company said.
Pandora acknowledged that customers may not welcome the increase.
“We haven’t made this decision lightly, and we’re grateful for your continued support,” the company said. “It is one of the most affordable premium music services available,” ensuring that it will continue to offer tiered services, personalized stations, and a full content library.
Pandora raises prices as subscriber base shrinks
The higher prices arrive as Pandora has been losing paying subscribers and listeners, even as its parent company has managed to grow revenue from the business.
Pandora and Off-Platform ended the second quarter with about 5.6 million self-pay subscribers, down 2% from 5.7 million a year earlier, according to SiriusXM.
Its overall audience declined more sharply. Pandora had approximately 39.8 million monthly active users at the end of June, down 7% from about 42.7 million a year earlier.
Listening also declined. Ad-supported listener hours fell 9% during the second quarter to 2.35 billion from 2.58 billion a year earlier.
Yet Pandora and Off-Platform generated $543 million in revenue during the quarter, up 4% from a year earlier. Advertising revenue also increased 5% to $413 million, helped by podcasting, higher programmatic demand, and technology fees.
Subscriber revenue was $130 million, roughly unchanged from the same quarter last year.
The figures suggest Pandora is in an interesting position. While its paying subscriber base and overall audience have declined, the business is generating more revenue.
The latest price increase could give Pandora another way to generate more from the subscribers who remain.
Music streaming subscriptions keep getting more expensive
Pandora isn’t the only music streaming service that has hiked prices this year.
Spotify raised its U.S. subscription prices again in 2026, increasing the individual Premium plan from $11.99 to $12.99 per month and the Family plan from $19.99 to $21.99 per month.
Apple Music followed with its own increases in July. Its individual plan rose from $10.99 to $11.99 per month, while its Family plan rose from $16.99 to $19.99 per month.
Amazon Music Unlimited has also become more expensive. Its individual plan now costs $12.99 per month, or $11.99 for Prime members.
The increases leave music listeners with fewer ways to avoid rising subscription bills.
Pandora Plus remains cheaper at $5.99 a month, while customers who want its full Premium service will now pay $11.99, matching Apple Music’s individual plan and Amazon Music Unlimited’s price for Prime members.
Pandora’s new $19.99 Family price also matches Apple Music’s Family plan and remains $2 below Spotify’s $21.99 Family plan.
But as music, television, and movie streaming companies continue raising prices, those relatively small increases can quickly add up across a household’s monthly entertainment bills.
And the increases leave music listeners with fewer ways to avoid rising subscription bills.
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