What Pandora costs and what each plan includes
Pandora offers three subscription tiers: Pandora Plus, Pandora Premium, and Pandora Family. Pandora Plus costs around $4.99 per month and removes ads from music streaming, lets you skip songs without limits, and gives you offline listening. Pandora Premium costs around $9.99 per month and adds on-demand song selection — meaning you can play any specific song instead of just hearing what the station plays for you — plus higher audio quality and the ability to create custom stations. Pandora Family costs around $14.99 per month and covers up to six household members, each with their own account and personalized stations.
Prices vary slightly by region and change periodically, so check Pandora's website for current rates in your area. All three paid plans come with a free trial period — usually 30 days — before your first charge. If you do not pay for a subscription, Pandora's free tier lets you listen to stations and skip a limited number of songs per hour, but ads play between tracks.
The main trade-off between Plus and Premium is control: Plus gives you a curated experience where Pandora picks songs based on your taste, while Premium lets you choose exactly what you hear. If you listen casually or like discovering new music, Plus may be enough. If you want to replay specific songs or build playlists, Premium is necessary.
Key Takeaways
- Pandora Plus removes ads and allows unlimited skipping for around $4.99 per month, while Pandora Premium adds the ability to play any song on demand for around $9.99 per month.
- Pandora Family covers up to six people for around $14.99 per month, with each member getting their own account and personalized recommendations.
- All paid plans include a free trial period, usually 30 days, before your first charge.
- The free tier includes ads and limited skips, so you can test Pandora before paying.
How to start a Pandora subscription
Download the Pandora app or visit pandora.com and create an account with your email address. You can listen to the free tier immediately without entering payment information. When you decide to upgrade, select the plan you want and enter a payment method — Pandora accepts credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.
During the free trial, you will not be charged. When the trial ends, your chosen plan will renew automatically each month on the same date, and Pandora will charge your payment method. You can cancel anytime through your account settings before the trial ends to avoid being charged, or cancel after you start paying to stop future charges.
Managing your subscription and payment
Log into your Pandora account and go to Settings to see your current plan, trial status, and billing date. From there you can upgrade to a higher tier, downgrade to a lower one, or cancel entirely. Changes take effect immediately if you upgrade, but downgrades usually start on your next billing date.
If you want to pause your subscription temporarily without canceling, Pandora does not offer a pause feature — you either stay subscribed or cancel. If you cancel and later want to return, you can resubscribe at any time and start a new free trial if one is available.
Pandora stores your payment method securely and charges it automatically each month. If a charge fails — for example, if your card expires or is declined — Pandora will attempt to charge you again over several days. If payment continues to fail, your subscription will suspend until you update your payment information.
Pandora Plus versus Pandora Premium: which one to choose
Choose Pandora Plus if you enjoy radio-style listening where Pandora creates stations based on your taste and you do not mind ads. This plan works well for background music, workout playlists, or discovering new artists. You get unlimited skips, so if a song does not fit your mood, you can move on immediately.
Choose Pandora Premium if you want to play specific songs on demand, create custom playlists, or listen to full albums in order. Premium also offers higher audio quality if you have good speakers or headphones. This plan suits people who know exactly what they want to hear and want full control over their listening experience.
Pandora Family makes sense if multiple people in your household listen to music regularly. Each person gets their own account with separate recommendations and listening history, so your taste does not influence your partner's or children's stations. The cost per person is lower than buying individual Premium subscriptions.
Free trial and cancellation details
When you sign up for any paid plan, Pandora gives you a free trial period to test the service before charging you. The trial length is usually 30 days, though this can vary by promotion or region. During the trial, you have full access to all features of the plan you chose — no restrictions and no charge.
To avoid being charged when the trial ends, cancel through your account settings before the trial expiration date. Cancellation is immediate and you will lose access to paid features right away, though you can still use the free tier with ads. If you cancel after your trial ends and you have already been charged, Pandora does not refund the charge, but you can resubscribe later.
Sharing your account and family plans
Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium are single-user accounts, so technically only one person should use the login. However, Pandora does not actively police account sharing within a household. If you share your password with family members, they can listen using your account, but you will all see the same recommendations and listening history mixed together.
Pandora Family solves this problem by giving each household member their own login and separate account. Everyone listens under the same family plan subscription, so it costs less than buying individual Premium accounts. The account holder (the person who pays) can manage the family group and remove members if needed.
Audio quality and device compatibility
Pandora Plus and Pandora Premium both stream music, but Premium offers higher audio quality. Pandora Premium streams at up to 320 kbps, while Plus streams at lower quality. The difference is noticeable if you use good headphones or speakers, but less obvious on phone speakers or earbuds.
Pandora works on smartphones, tablets, computers, smart speakers, and car systems. The app is available for iOS and Android. You can also listen through a web browser on pandora.com. Some smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home support Pandora, though you may need to link your account first. Offline listening, available on Plus and Premium, lets you download songs to listen without an internet connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my plan after I start the free trial?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime through your account settings. If you upgrade during the trial, you will still have the rest of your trial period before being charged. If you downgrade, the change takes effect on your next billing date.
What happens if I cancel during my free trial?
You will lose access to paid features immediately, but you can still listen to the free tier with ads. You will not be charged. If you want to return later, you can resubscribe and may be offered another free trial depending on Pandora's current promotions.
Does Pandora work offline?
Yes, but only on Pandora Plus and Premium. You can download songs to your phone or tablet and listen without an internet connection. The free tier and basic listening require an active internet connection.
Can I use Pandora on multiple devices at the same time?
With Pandora Plus or Premium, you can listen on one device at a time. If you start playing on a second device, playback stops on the first. Pandora Family allows multiple household members to listen simultaneously on different devices because each person has their own account.
How do I update my payment method?
Go to your account settings and select the payment or billing section. You can add a new card, update an existing one, or change to PayPal. Changes take effect immediately for your next charge.