If you’re torn between Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium, understanding their differences is key to deciding. Pandora Plus offers an ad-free and enhanced radio experience with offline capabilities, ideal for casual listeners.
Pandora Premium, on the other hand, takes it a step further with on-demand music, full playlist customization, and offline listening of any track. Cost is also a factor: Plus is less expensive than Premium.
This article will dissect the features and value of Pandora Plus vs Premium, so you can make the best choice for your ears and wallet.
Without further ado, let's dive right in!
Key Takeaways
Pandora Plus provides an ad-free listening experience with personalized stations, more skips and replays, and offline listening for three stations at a cost of $4.99 per month or $54.89 per year.
Pandora Premium extends the features of Plus by offering on-demand song playback, the ability to create and share customizable playlists, and unlimited offline listening, priced at $9.99 per month or $109.89 per year.
Both Pandora Plus and Premium offer additional benefits such as a wide range of podcasts, higher audio quality compared to the free version, and a friendly user-interface for easily upgrading or downgrading the subscription.
Understanding Pandora's Subscription Options
Pandora offers a spectrum of options to cater to a variety of listeners. From a free ad-supported tier to a premium subscription that furnishes a world of musical possibilities, each tier caters to distinct sets of needs and preferences.
But, the crux of the matter lies in the comparison between Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium, the two paid tiers that Pandora offers.
Pandora Plus is an ad-free service that provides a seamless radio-like experience with personalized stations and the added convenience of more skips and replays.
On the other hand, Pandora Premium subscribers receive not only an ad-free experience but also the freedom to create and share fully customizable playlists, unlimited offline listening, and on-demand song playback.
1. Pandora Plus: The Basics
Pandora Plus is the perfect stepping stone for listeners who want to enjoy a more enhanced experience than the free version of Pandora.
For $4.99 a month or $54.89 a year, you can enjoy ad-free personalized stations with the ability to skip or replay more tracks.
The higher quality audio ensures a superior listening experience, and the longer timeout period helps in keeping the music flowing even during periods of inactivity.
2. Pandora Premium: Enhanced Listening
For those who seek a more immersive, personalized music experience, Pandora Premium is the way to go. This service provides users with the ability to create fully customized playlists, elevating the level of personalization to a whole new level.
Furthermore, Pandora Premium offers the following features:
Unlimited offline listening, allowing you to download as many tracks as your device storage allows
On-demand song playback
A comprehensive music experience
All of this is available for $9.99 a month or $109.89 a year.
Delving into Pandora Plus
Pandora Plus is a robust choice for those who enjoy a radio-like experience with additional conveniences. This subscription tier offers ad-free personalized stations, more skips and replays, and a higher quality audio experience.
Imagine a radio station curated just for you, with no annoying advertisements to disrupt your musical journey.
One of the key features that sets Pandora Plus apart is its offline listening capability.
You can download up to three of your most-listened-to stations for offline use, ensuring that your favorite tunes are always within reach, even in the absence of an internet connection. All these benefits come at a budget-friendly cost of $4.99 a month or $54.89 a year.
Ad-Free Music and Unlimited Skips
One of the most appealing features of Pandora Plus is its ad-free music offering.
It allows users to dive into their favorite music without any interruptions from advertisements. The additional benefit of unlimited skips and replays enhances the radio-like experience further.
With this feature, you can easily skip tracks that don’t match your current mood or replay the ones that resonate with you.
Offline Listening Capabilities
Pandora Plus also provides offline listening capabilities. This feature allows users to enjoy their favorite music even without internet connection. Pandora Plus automatically downloads up to three of the most-listened-to stations for offline use.
This means your Apple Music is always accessible, even when you are on the move or have limited internet connection.
The Allure of Pandora Premium
Pandora Premium is an all-inclusive service that offers the ultimate music experience. It includes all the features of Pandora Plus but takes it a notch higher.
With Pandora Premium, you can play any song on-demand, create fully customizable playlists, and enjoy unlimited offline listening.
With Pandora Premium, the Pandora app offers:
The ability to take the reins of your music experience and steer it in the direction you desire
The option to explore new music or relive old favorites
An unmatched music experience
Play Songs On Demand
One of the main features of Pandora Premium is the ability to play songs on demand. Unlike the radio-style format of Pandora Plus, Pandora Premium subscribers can choose any song they wish to listen to, whenever they want.
This level of control over the listening experience sets Pandora Premium apart from its Plus counterpart.
Crafting Your Sound: Fully Customizable Playlists
Discover the pandora premium features that make it stand out from the rest:
The flexibility to create fully customizable playlists
Handpick songs and curate playlists that perfectly complement your mood or occasion
Share playlists with friends or the public, fostering a sense of musical community.
Comparing Costs: Pandora Plus vs Premium
While the features of Pandora Plus and Premium are an important consideration, the cost is another crucial factor.
Pandora Plus is available at a price of $4.99 per month or $54.89 per year, making it an economical option for users who want a more enhanced experience than the free version but do not require a full suite of features.
Pandora Premium has a price tag of $9.99 per month, or $109.89 per year. This makes it a convenient option for users who want to subscribe for the long-term.
While it may seem like a significant jump from the Plus subscription, the extensive features it offers, such as on-demand music, personalized playlists, and unlimited offline listening, make it worth the extra cost for many users.
Monthly and Yearly Rates
Whether you opt for Pandora Plus or Pandora Premium, both subscriptions are available on a monthly or yearly basis. This flexibility allows users to choose a Pandora account plan that best suits their budget.
Pandora also offers discounted rates for students and military personnel, making it an affordable choice for a wider audience.
Evaluating the Value for Money
The value for money offered by Pandora Plus and Premium largely depends on individual preferences and usage patterns.
For some, the additional features of Pandora Premium, such as on-demand music and playlist customization, may justify the extra cost.
On the other hand, for those who prefer a radio-style music experience, Pandora Plus may offer sufficient features at a lower cost.
Pandora Premium Family Plan: Music for Everyone
For households with multiple music lovers, Pandora offers a family plan.
The Pandora Premium Family Plan caters to up to six accounts, making it a cost-effective choice for families. Each member gets their own personalized account with full access to the Premium features.
The Pandora Premium Family Plan offers:
A sense of musical community within the family
The ability to share music preferences
A harmonious music environment at home
A cost-effective solution for families who want an all-inclusive music experience
Priced at $14.99 per month or $164.89 per year, the Pandora Premium Family Plan can be a cost-saving option for any group.
Sharing the Rhythm: Benefits for the Whole Family
The Pandora Premium Family Plan comes with a unique feature called ‘Our Soundtrack’, which combines songs from each member’s preferences into one playlist, creating a unique musical blend that reflects the family’s collective taste.
The shared playlist is updated weekly, ensuring a dynamic and inclusive family listening experience.
Managing Subscriptions: The Master Account Holder's Role
In the Pandora Premium Family Plan, the master account holder plays a pivotal role. They are responsible for managing the family plan, including sending invites, adding or removing users, and overseeing the subscription.
This role ensures smooth management of the plan and a seamless music experience for all family members, incorporating the music genome project.
Making the Switch: Upgrading or Downgrading Your Pandora Account
Whether you’re a new Pandora user or a long-standing subscriber, the platform allows you to easily upgrade or downgrade your subscription based on your changing needs.
If you start with Pandora Plus and later decide you want more control over your music choices, you can easily upgrade to Premium. Conversely, if you find that you’re not utilizing all the features of Pandora Premium, you can downgrade to Plus.
The process of upgrading or downgrading is straightforward and user-friendly. Pandora provides step-by-step guides to assist users in making the switch. It’s all about finding the subscription that fits your preferences and budget.
Step-by-Step Upgrade Guide
To upgrade to Pandora Premium, you can follow simple steps depending on the device you’re using. Whether you’re on the Pandora website or using the app on an Apple, Android, or Roku device, the process is straightforward and quick.
The upgrade gives you access to a plethora of features such as customizable playlists, unlimited offline listening, and on-demand song playback.
How to Downgrade Your Subscription
Downgrading your Pandora subscription is as simple as upgrading. You can easily switch from Premium to Plus through your web profile. If you face any delay with the app reflecting the change, you can contact Pandora’s support team for assistance.
Pandora ensures that your personalized content such as thumbs, stations, and followers remains unchanged when you downgrade.
However, any offline content must be redownloaded for Plus service as the offline capability is not automatically transferred.
Enhancing Your Experience: Additional Features Across Subscriptions
Beyond the main features, both Pandora Plus and Premium offer additional benefits that can enhance your music experience.
For instance, both subscriptions provide access to a wide range of podcasts, allowing you to explore more than just music. This diversifies your listening experience and keeps you engaged.
Moreover, both Pandora Plus and Premium subscribers can enjoy a higher-quality audio experience. This feature enhances the listening experience for podcasts as well as music, providing a more immersive audio experience.
Discover More than Music: Podcasts and Exclusive Content
Pandora is not just about music; it’s about audio entertainment in its entirety.
Both Pandora Plus and Premium users can enjoy ad-free personalized stations, which include a wide range of podcasts.
The Podcast Genome Project even offers personalized podcast recommendations, making it easier for you to discover new content tailored to your interests.
Superior Sound: Comparing Audio Quality
When it comes to audio quality, Pandora doesn’t compromise.
Pandora Premium subscribers receive higher quality audio than Pandora Plus subscribers, which is a significant advantage for audiophiles.
Even with Pandora Plus, the audio quality is significantly higher than that of the free version, ensuring a satisfying listening experience.
Summary
In conclusion, both Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium offer a host of features to enhance your music experience.
While Pandora Plus provides a radio-like experience with some added conveniences, Pandora Premium offers a comprehensive music platform with extensive customization options.
The choice between the two ultimately depends on your individual music preferences and budget.
Regardless of the choice you make, rest assured that Pandora strives to provide a satisfying and engaging music experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before signing off, let's answer a few FAQs when it comes to your Pandora account.
What is difference between Pandora Plus and Premium?
The main differences between Pandora Plus and Premium are that Premium offers unlimited offline listening and the ability to play songs on-demand, as well as the ability to create and share playlists with other users. Nov 16, 2022.
How much does Pandora Plus cost?
Pandora Plus costs $4.99 per month or $54.89 per year, offering ad-free listening, personalized stations, offline listening, and higher audio quality.
What does Pandora Plus cover?
Pandora Plus covers ad-free listening, unlimited replays, unlimited skips, and offline listening.
Why do I still get ads with Pandora Plus?
It seems that as a Pandora Plus subscriber, you may trigger a complimentary session of Pandora Premium which includes on-demand content and results in seeing ads. This happens because the Premium session includes ads.
What is the Pandora Premium Family Plan?
The Pandora Premium Family Plan allows up to six accounts and provides shared features for the whole family. It costs $14.99 per month or $164.89 per year.