Spotify Tightens Developer API Access: Premium Accounts Now Required, Test Users Limited
Spotify has recently announced significant changes to its Developer Mode API, introducing stricter requirements for developers utilizing its platform. Effective immediately, developers must possess a Spotify Premium subscription to access Developer Mode, and the number of test users per application is now capped at five. Previously, developers could test their applications with up to 25 users without the necessity of a Premium account.
These adjustments are part of Spotify’s ongoing efforts to mitigate risks associated with automated and AI-driven usage. The company stated, Over time, advances in automation and AI have fundamentally altered the usage patterns and risk profile of developer access, and at Spotify’s current scale, these risks now require more structured controls.
For developers aiming to expand their application’s user base beyond the five-user limit, Spotify has introduced an extended quota application process. This process is designed to ensure that applications align with Spotify’s platform strategy and meet specific criteria, including having a legally registered business, a substantial number of monthly active users, availability in key Spotify markets, and an active, launched service.
In addition to these changes, Spotify is deprecating several API endpoints. Developers will no longer have access to data such as new album releases, an artist’s top tracks, and the markets where a track is available. Furthermore, actions like requesting track metadata in bulk, retrieving user profile details of others, and accessing information about an album’s record label, artist follower counts, and artist popularity are being discontinued.
These measures follow a series of steps Spotify has taken over the past few years to regulate developer access. In November 2024, the company restricted access to certain API endpoints that could reveal users’ listening patterns, including frequently repeated songs by different groups. This move also barred developers from accessing tracks’ structure, rhythm, and characteristics. In March 2025, Spotify updated its criteria for extended quotas, requiring developers to have a legally registered business, 250,000 monthly active users, presence in key Spotify markets, and an active, launched service.
These changes have sparked discussions within the developer community, with some expressing concerns that the new restrictions may stifle innovation and favor larger companies over individual developers. Spotify, however, maintains that these updates are necessary to ensure a secure and efficient platform that aligns with its long-term goals.
For individual and hobbyist developers, Spotify emphasizes that Developer Mode remains a sandboxed environment for learning and experimentation. The company advises that this mode is intentionally limited and should not be relied upon as a foundation for building or scaling a business on Spotify.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Spotify’s adjustments reflect its commitment to balancing innovation with security and strategic alignment. Developers are encouraged to review the updated Developer Terms and consider how these changes may impact their projects.
