That said, Spotify’s Premium service is what generates the largest chunk of its total revenue. They still get to make money from the ad spots they sell to advertisers. But the truth is: Spotify still doesn’t lose much while letting you enjoy music for free. You might think that Spotify Free is quite a steal. This means you’re paying more for your time instead of money. However, in enjoying the ‘free’ version of the app, you’ll have to spend a few minutes of your time each time an ad pops up (which happens every few tracks). Yes, Spotify can be free if you’re asking whether you have to pay money to listen to music on Spotify.
Who Should Consider Upgrading to Spotify Premium?.