How To Block Spotify Ads. Best 7 Ways On Mobile & Desktop
Tired of Spotify ads interrupting your music? We don’t blame you. Spotify is an excellent music streaming service, but sometimes the ads can be really annoying, especially when they’re popping up in the middle of your favorite song. But don’t worry — we have a few ways to help you block them.
The best way to block Spotify ads is to upgrade from a free account which is surprisingly affordable. Editing the host file of your local computer leads to mixed results. It is not easy for average mobile Spotify app users. Spotify music is licensed. The annoying ads are the cost for free users.
This article will go over the best ways to block Spotify ads. We’ve got a few options for mobile users and desktop solutions. Let’s check them out!
Easiest Way To Block All Spotify Ads
It’s easy to block all Spotify ads with a premium account. In fact, this is the legal, fastest, and easiest way to block all Spotify ads. It’s the easiest way because it doesn’t require additional software or plugins. Plus, there are many other benefits to a Spotify premium account.
Some of my favorite Spotify premium account features include:
- Offline listening: This is probably my second favorite feature after blocking ads. You can download any song and listen to it without needing the Internet.
- Improved sound quality: The premium account offers a higher audio quality than the free version. My music sounds so much better with this account!
- Unlimited skips: This seems like a minor feature, but it’s so valuable! The free version of Spotify limits the number of skips per hour, but I can skip as often as I want with premium.
- Controlling music between devices: You can pause music on your computer, laptop, or phone and then continue where you left off with another device. This is a great feature if you listen to music while doing work!
If you are a student, you can get a discount on Spotify’s premium service. Just head to the Spotify for Students webpage and enjoy the benefits while you’re in school.
Spotify Ads Pay Royalties to Music Artists and Distributers
At first glance, Spotify Ads can seem like an annoying part of our music media world. However, the understanding that advertisements are playing on your playlist to fund the Spotify royalty payments to music artists and distributors is something many people don’t consider.
Spotify ads on the free version help pay music artists and distributors royalties. Advertisers spend money to show their ads to people who use Spotify. In return, Spotify pays a part of this money to the owners of the music files that they are offering.
Block Spotify Ads On Web Browser/Desktop
Remember that the Spotify desktop App is proprietary software that cannot be edited like FOSS(Free and Open Source Software)apps. This means the Spotify web player you are using is distributed under a proprietary software license, which essentially means that it forbids users from modifying it.
However, there are methods to block the ads by editing your computer’s host file. These methods are a bit complicated to set up. There is no guarantee that they will block all Spotify ads, so unless you have a bit of knowledge about the computer’s operating system, it would be good to avoid these methods.
You might then ask, “What is a non-tech savvy way to block Spotify Ads so you only hear the good stuff?”
One way is to use browser extensions or add-ons that block adverts.
Several different browser extensions block ads.
I use the uBlock Origin extension, which has been around for a while. This plugin is free, open-source, easy to install and use. You just install it in your web browser, and it starts blocking ads. There is no need to configure anything; it just works! It works on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge web browsers.
uBlock Origin also has a built-in malware blocker that helps protect your computer from malicious websites. This is a great feature, especially if you use public Wi-Fi networks.
Another good option available today is Brave Browser. Brave Browser is a relatively new web browser gaining popularity because of its focus on privacy and adblocking. By default, it blocks ads and trackers, so you don’t have to worry about any additional setup.
Another way is to block Spotify ads is using Portmaster to monitor app traffic. Portmaster is a useful tool to block and control what kind of traffic your computer allows. It can block ads, trackers, and malware hosts via trusted domain lists, which are also used by Ad-Blockers, etc.
VPNs that offer ad-blocking as part of their service
A few different VPNs also offer ad-blocking as part of their service. They can be a great way to block Spotify ads on your desktop. A few popular VPNs that provide this feature are:
- NordVPN
- IPVanish
- Hotspot Shield VPN
- TunnelBear and others
Using a VPN can also help you unblock some popular music and videos that might be restricted in your country. However, keep in mind that it’s crucial to choose a trustworthy VPN provider, so your data stays safe while you connect to the web.
Block Spotify Ads On Mobile
What about blocking Spotify ads on mobile devices? The good news is that there are also solutions available today. You can install an app firewall like Tracker Control. It can block ad trackers, block ads, and malware sites.
One other option is to block Spotify ads on an Android device. You can download an ad blocker from the Play Store. One popular example is AdGuard, which blocks not only Spotify ads but also block other intrusive ads, and phishing sites.
The ad-block App is another popular ad-blocker available on all iOS and Android devices. Apps like these block ads on most mobile devices. If you block Spotify ads with such an app, make sure to whitelist your favorite apps and websites; otherwise, they might not work properly.
Remember:
The Spotify app on your mobile phone, just like its desktop version, is a copyrighted piece of software. This means that you cannot modify it in any way. This rules out the possibility of using app-specific block lists to block ads on the Spotify mobile app or editing the app software to block the ads.
However, apps can block adverts at a network level, such as AdGuard and others mentioned above.
Choose Another Cheaper Streaming Service
Suppose you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to Spotify Premium. In that case, there are a few other music streaming services available that offer a similar listening experience. These services include Youtube Music, Pandora Plus, and Amazon Music.
Ad-free Youtube Music comes for free as a by-product of subscribing to Youtube Premium. While on this note, let me not fail to mention that there are ways to watch Youtube advert-free videos.
Pandora is a music streaming service that offers a listening experience similar to a Spotify account. You can enjoy ad-free listening, offline listening, and higher-quality audio with Pandora Plus. Pandora also offers Pandora Plus, a paid subscription option, cheaper than Spotify’s premium subscription.
Amazon Prime subscribers have unlimited ad-free music streaming. In addition to music, Prime members also receive access to free shipping, Prime Video, and various other benefits.
Other affordable music streaming platforms are:
- Soundcloud
- Tidal
- Deezer (Though, it is not available in all countries)
This article originally appeared on Data Overhaulers. Read on to learn more tips to help you control your digital life.
