What is the difference between Pandora Premium and Plus?

Answered by Cody Janus

Pandora Premium and Plus are two subscription options offered by Pandora, a popular music streaming service. While both options provide an ad-free listening experience and higher audio quality compared to the free version of Pandora, there are some key differences between the two.

1. Pricing: Pandora Plus is priced at $4.99 per month or $54.89 per year, while Pandora Premium is available at a higher cost. The exact pricing for Pandora Premium may vary depending on factors such as location and current promotions.

2. Offline Listening: One of the major differences between Pandora Plus and Premium is the ability to listen to music offline. Pandora Plus allows for limited offline listening, where you can download up to four stations and listen to them without an internet connection. On the other hand, Pandora Premium offers unlimited offline listening, allowing you to download and listen to as many songs, albums, or playlists as you want offline.

3. On-Demand Listening: Pandora Plus offers personalized radio stations based on your musical preferences, but you have limited control over the specific songs or albums you want to listen to. Pandora Premium, on the other hand, provides the added feature of on-demand listening. This means you can search for and play specific songs, albums, or playlists whenever you want, giving you more control over your listening experience.

4. Ad-Free Experience: Both Pandora Plus and Premium offer an ad-free listening experience, which means you won’t be interrupted by commercials while enjoying your favorite music. This is a significant advantage over the free version of Pandora, where ads are inserted between songs.

5. Audio Quality: Pandora Plus and Premium both offer higher audio quality compared to the free version, allowing for a more immersive listening experience. However, the exact audio quality specifications may vary depending on factors such as your device and internet connection.

It’s worth noting that while Pandora Plus and Premium offer additional features and benefits compared to the free version, they are still subscription-based services. This means you need to pay a monthly or yearly fee to access these features. If you’re a casual music listener and don’t require the extra functionalities, the free version of Pandora might be sufficient for your needs.

In my personal experience, I have used both Pandora Plus and Premium at different times. When I wanted to have more control over my music listening and the ability to search for specific songs, I found Pandora Premium to be a better fit. However, during periods where I didn’t require on-demand listening and preferred a more curated experience, Pandora Plus worked well for me. It ultimately depends on your specific preferences and how you want to interact with the music streaming service.