Hacking Cheap Spotify Premium - Turkey/India/Philippines - Findings/challenges thus far - Seeking Ideas

illumination on 12/12/2021 - 04:52

Spotify Philippines is often mentioned here as being the cheapest, and I think some people also mention Spotify India.

However, Spotify Turkey, it appears is even cheaper. I've never seen anyone ever mentioned Turkey for Spotify, but it's always mentioned for Netflix.

I've done up two tables to show this. One for the individual Premium plan, and one for the Family one.

Current as at 12 Dec 2021

Individual
Country Local USD AUD
Philippines 129 $2.56 $3.57
India 129 $1.70 $2.37
Turkey 17.99 $1.30 $1.81
Family Plan
Country Local USD AUD
Philippines 194 $3.85 $5.37
India 199 $2.63 $3.66
Turkey 29.99 $2.16 $3.01

I wanted to share this for two reasons:

  1. To let everyone know that Turkey's is actually the cheapest, and not India's
  2. To see if anyone knows how to crack this :D

Spotify seems to be the hardest to crack out of it, YouTube and Netflix as it's the only one that requires a local payment method, and it also seems to be able to detect VPN usage.

Summary of my findings/considerations thus far:

  • GCash is a service that issues a PH card, but it requires a PH number - so the challenge is getting a personalised PH number (Source: Referenced on this blog)
  • This page suggests using gift cards, in a similar way to how people use Netflix TR GCs for Netflix TR, because even though Netflix TR doesn't reject foreign payment methods, people sometimes seem to have problems with their AU cards
  • G2A (also used by people here for Netflix GCs) is out of stock of Spotify TR cards, but it seems like they do sell them.
  • Create a PayPal in the respective country - but PayPal needs to be accepted as a payment method for that particular country, and I think only PH accept it
  • Some time ago, PayPal seems to have started requiring a local number to create an account in that country, which makes it harder. So again, challenge is getting a personalised PH number.
  • There are sites that allow you to pay for virtual numbers, but they are often not worth it ($10+ USD/mth) which completely offsets the savings
  • There are sites offering disposable numbers for SMS, but they're usually service-specific, and the fact that they're disposable can be troublesome in case the service you need it for (GCash, PayPal, Spotfiy) ask for a OTP from that number in the future

I just wanted to share this with you guys - hopefully someone is willing to share in case this has been successfully cracked!

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Comments

  • Daabido on 12/12/2021 - 08:57

    Turkey's price will go up since their currency is circling the drain.

    https://www.macrumors.com/2021/12/08/app-store-pricing-incre…

    That's just one example.

    • illumination on 12/12/2021 - 13:26

      I'm not surprised, but there's a fair bit of buffer between the Turkey price and the India price. Still something to consider though, and this post can still be relevant for sharing ideas of getting Spotify India Premium

  • Hardlyworkin on 12/12/2021 - 10:02
    +3

    Have you done a table of dollars saved versus time spent to save said dollars?

    • illumination on 12/12/2021 - 10:26
      +9

      I haven't and I gather you're being sarcastic, but here's a serious question I'd like to pose back to you.

      Can you give me some ideas as to how to factor in enjoyment I derive from this sorta stuff? Not sure about you/others here, but the actual thrill and kick I get out of getting a good bargain is absolutely, genuinely of value to me and shouldn't be ignored.

      • Hardlyworkin on 12/12/2021 - 11:14
        -7

        Though 'hacking cheap Spotify' is not quite the same as finding a bargain now is it?

        Trying to appear that you live in countries with dirt poor wages so you can get a kick out of getting a win using your AUD. I'll leave that 'enjoyment' for you.

        • illumination on 12/12/2021 - 13:22

          Though 'hacking cheap Spotify' is not quite the same as finding a bargain now is it?

          How do you define "finding a bargain"? It seems we might have a different definition, so we should probably get that out of the way first before we continue.

    • dust on 12/12/2021 - 10:31
      +2

      Also if OP/OzB works out a method then it'll likely benefit a lot more people than just OP.

    • Stopback on 12/12/2021 - 16:22

      Telling people you are paying less for Netflix is priceless

  • rambao9 on 12/12/2021 - 10:13

    Well, YouTube Music comes free with your Youtube subscription… did I crack it?

    • illumination on 12/12/2021 - 10:27
      +1

      No, because YouTube music is not Spotify.

      Sure, you can argue they "compete".. But Spotify is still, for the most part, the superior product from the perspective of judging which is the better music app. If you happen to prefer YouTube Premium, then sure - you've cracked it for yourself.

      • capslock janitor on 22/10/2022 - 17:08

        I prefer YouTube Music library is more superior with community remix/mashes.
        Spotify usage personally is very strange for me little quirks that aren't user friendly imo
        My siblings prefer Spotify though, so I would be doing these methods for them.

  • mrsushi808 on 12/12/2021 - 11:03

    Log onto Turkish spotify via a VPN —> Try pay using the 'revolut app.' They allow currency conversion and have single-use debit cards. Safest and quickest option. This method works for netflix and should work for spotify I'd assume.

    • mrsushi808 on 12/12/2021 - 11:04

      The revolut app is relatively safe, but don't leave large amounts of money in it. I use it for simple transactions. Verification to open an account is quick.

      • illumination on 12/12/2021 - 13:31

        leave large amounts of money in it

        Why? Anything other than, "just to be safe" or "in case they fold"?

      • capslock janitor on 22/10/2022 - 17:08

        Why not?

    • illumination on 12/12/2021 - 13:24

      It doesn't work, for the simple reason that Spotify requires a local payment method

  • Fredfloresjr on 13/12/2021 - 12:36

    Been using spotify for the longest time but unable to access now due to my location. It says on the email that I can only use my spotify Ph to other countries for 14 days. I tried to create account again using my sister at the Ph and got the same message after 2-3 weeks usage.

    • illumination on 13/12/2021 - 16:41

      That's a free Spotify limitation. Not an issue on Premium.

      • Fredfloresjr on 13/12/2021 - 17:14

        Nah, i was on premium. Try it and they will lock it after 14 days.

        • illumination on 14/12/2021 - 04:09

          Doesn't sound right. See the link I shared

          Don’t have Premium?
          You can use Spotify in a different country or region for up to 14 days.

          To use it for longer than 14 days, change your account settings:

          This is not stated under the "Got Premium?" part.

          What's stated on the page I linked in my reply above is also consistent with a blog a linked to in OP

          Users can roam overseas for 14 days with the free version of Spotify, during which you can listen to music on Spotify normally. However, after 14 days, you will need to log in once again at the IP of the country/address where you were originally registered in order to reactivate the account for continued use. Or change to your current country/address in the account, otherwise the account will be suspended.

          As for the logic of this, I can't say it makes business sense. I think I would do it the other way round lol.. if you're non-premium and you're a free user, why does it matter what country you're in? But if you're registered to Premium Turkey yet you always sign on with an Aussie IP, I totally get why they'd "ban" you.

  • Pleasure Paulie on 28/12/2021 - 02:59

    I don't think this works anymore.

    To setup a PayPal account for PH, you can do that anymore as Spotify also requires the card linked in the PayPal account to be local to PH, even if you have credit on the account.

  • Pleasure Paulie on 03/01/2022 - 01:52

    *cant’t

    • illumination on 03/01/2022 - 03:42

      lol i figured from context hahaha

  • tessel on 03/01/2022 - 10:02

    Having same issue. Only solution as listed above for India is gift card or indian virtual credit card. Not sure we're to get a VCC from India though.

    • trantonz on 04/04/2022 - 13:57
      +1

      same. Stuck here as well

  • risas777 on 03/02/2022 - 15:54

    Find someone in india, get them to open a family account, pay them 1 month in advance for the access give them 2 of the 6 slots. the account stops so what you lose $4

  • capslock janitor on 04/02/2022 - 12:46

    litt

  • Chippy47 on 19/04/2022 - 12:25

    Anyone have any success with this since?

  • gadgetguy on 25/06/2022 - 01:41

    Any updates? G2A is still showing out of stock for Turkish gift cards - guess they aren't coming back.

  • makemeonewithnothing on 24/07/2022 - 21:20

    I have relatives over in Turkey. They have Turkish address and Turkish CC.

    If I get them to open an individual (not family share) Spotify Premium account for me, would I be able to access it from here in Aus. without restrictions?

  • OmgItsHeaven on 31/12/2022 - 21:57

    Coming from NZ, Why not go with India. I see that you can buy an Indian Spotify gift card from Amazon India. Surely it's still cheaper than NZD or AUD local pricing?

    • moneytomyway on 02/01/2023 - 22:32

      Good find!!! Did you get on with the gift card?

      • OmgItsHeaven on 04/01/2023 - 13:26

        Sorry, no just something I was wondering. I bought Google One in Turkish Lira very recently. Now I'm trying to see what other services I can get savings. Due to this thread, I started looking into gift cards for Spotify, but sadly all the 'good' deals are sold out.

        But Amazon does sell Indian Spotify gift cards, so it did seem interesting to try, but I haven't done so yet.

        • moneytomyway on 04/01/2023 - 13:28

          Ah ok.

          Personally, I am getting Disney+, PSN+ and Apple Music from Turkey but failed to get Spotify working which is prefer over Apple Music.
          I might give it a go when my Apple Music is due to renew.

        • moneytomyway on 04/01/2023 - 16:27

          Quick update mate, I tried to get 100 rubies giftcard from Amazon.In, it won't be adding to the gift if I use my Amazon AU account and it will ask your Indian mobile number if you attempt to create an Indian account.

          Guess the only way would be finding someone to India to purchase them for us but sending them money might be somewhat difficult…..

          • OmgItsHeaven on 05/01/2023 - 09:08

            @moneytomyway: Big sad.

            Maybe Flipkart (an alternate store in India) may work. It has 12 months for 1189 indian rupees which is around $22NZD. Tempted to change but right now for me, Crypto.com Visa card is still paying for my Spotify.

            • moneytomyway on 05/01/2023 - 10:27

              @OmgItsHeaven: Crypto.com was paying for my Spotify until they took away the rebate for Ruby

              • OmgItsHeaven on 05/01/2023 - 18:20

                @moneytomyway: Odd, I'm also on Ruby (the red ish card) and I still get CRO rebates every month.

                • moneytomyway on 05/01/2023 - 18:40

                  @OmgItsHeaven: How long have you been with them? They will only reimburse Spotify up to 6 months after activation

                  • OmgItsHeaven on 05/01/2023 - 18:45

                    @moneytomyway: I've been getting reabates since 2021. I think older members just keep getting the rebates.

                    • moneytomyway on 05/01/2023 - 18:55

                      @OmgItsHeaven: Is it? Damn it I better re-sign up to premium then

                      • OmgItsHeaven on 05/01/2023 - 19:01

                        @moneytomyway: I don't know. I never cancelled my card or my stake. I've been topping up with enough money the day before my Spotify renews and saying to myself the day the rebates stop, I'll stop premium.

                        Luckily that day hasn't come yet. Fingers crossed that it never comes.

  • Low Punt on 04/01/2023 - 20:02

    Is there a guide or post for Spotify India?
    I searched and coy locate one.

    • sund00bie on 17/02/2023 - 13:51

      id love to know this as well

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