Spotify Hits 713 Million Users, Beats Expectations

Spotify just reported another strong quarter, powered by solid subscriber growth and resilient engagement across its global markets. The streaming giant now counts 713 million monthly active users, up 23 percent year over year, while premium subscribers rose to 281 million, a 12 percent increase from the same period last year. The growth helped Spotify top Wall Street expectations for both revenue and profit.

For the third quarter ending September 30, 2025, Spotify generated €4.27 billion in revenue (around $4.6 billion), up roughly 7 percent from the prior year, beating analysts’ estimates. Operating income came in stronger than expected, thanks to higher margins in premium subscriptions and advertising. The company’s cost-cutting efforts over the past year also appear to be paying off, allowing it to report a quarterly operating profit of about €97 million compared to a loss of €31 million a year ago.

Spotify attributed the steady rise in subscribers to a mix of product innovation, pricing adjustments, and deeper integration with AI-driven recommendations. Its recent rollout of AI playlist curation and expanded audiobook offerings in key markets helped lift engagement and keep churn rates low. Advertising revenue also climbed modestly, supported by podcast growth and the use of machine-learning-based ad targeting.

Still, Spotify struck a cautious tone about the coming quarter. The company guided for Q4 2025 revenue of around €4.5 billion, slightly below market forecasts, and expects to add roughly 8 million new premium subscribers, bringing the total to 289 million by year-end. Management cited foreign-exchange fluctuations and slower growth in Europe as short-term challenges, though it remains confident in long-term profitability.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the company is focused on “deepening relationships with users and creators through personalized, intelligent experiences.” He added that ongoing investments in AI and content discovery would remain central to Spotify’s next phase of growth.