If you’re a parent wondering “Are there parental controls for Spotify?”—you’re not alone. With over 600 million users worldwide and a growing number of kids and teens listening on their own devices, Spotify is no longer just a music app for adults.
But here's the truth: Spotify doesn’t offer traditional parental controls like content filters on its regular accounts. That means unless you're using specific tools or settings, your child could access explicit lyrics, adult-themed podcasts, or artist content without restriction.
In this post, we’ll break down what Spotify currently offers for parental control, how to set up a safer listening experience for kids, and what limitations you need to be aware of. Whether your child is 7 or 17, this guide will help you make smarter choices on how they use Spotify.
What Exactly Does Spotify Offer for Parental Controls?
Spotify has two key routes when it comes to child-safe listening:
Spotify Kids app – Designed for children under 12, available to Premium Family users only
Explicit content filter – Can be set by the main account holder for sub-accounts on a Family Plan
Let’s dive into each option in more detail.
Option 1: Use the Spotify Kids App (Ages 3–12)
This is the most robust “parental control” solution Spotify currently offers. The Spotify Kids app is a standalone app available on iOS and Android, specifically built for children.
Key features:
Only available through Spotify Premium Family
Ad-free listening
Handpicked, kid-safe music and audio stories
No explicit content or adult language
Curated by human editors, not just AI filters
Parents can review listening history and block songs
To get started:
Subscribe to Spotify Premium Family ($16.99/month in the U.S.)
Create a kids’ profile in the Family section
Download Spotify Kids on your child's device
Let them log in with their profile for age-appropriate content
?? Best for: Parents of young kids (preschool to middle school) who want zero-risk listening.
Option 2: Use the Explicit Content Filter on Family Accounts
If your child is over 12 and using the regular Spotify app, you can restrict explicit content—but only if you're the account manager on a Premium Family plan.
How it works:
Go to spotify.com/account/family
Click on your child’s sub-account
Toggle “Allow explicit content” to off
This setting blocks songs marked with the “E” explicit label from being played.
?? Important caveats:
Your child can still play unmarked songs with inappropriate content if they aren't labeled “explicit”
This does not block explicit podcasts (a major gap)
Only available on Premium Family plans, not Free or Duo
?? Best for: Teens who use Spotify daily but need some guardrails.
What About Podcasts? Can I Block Those?
Here’s where it gets tricky:
Spotify currently does not allow podcast filtering or blocking at the account level, even for Family Plan users.
That means your child could technically listen to:
True crime shows
Mature comedy
Explicit relationship content
Anything labeled "for mature audiences"
There’s no native podcast blocking tool on Spotify as of 2025. Your best workaround is to:
Use third-party parental control apps (like Bark or Qustodio)
Manually restrict device usage with Screen Time (iOS) or Family Link (Android)
Alternative Tools for Extra Parental Controls on Spotify
Because Spotify’s built-in controls are limited, many parents turn to external solutions:
1. Apple Screen Time / Android Family Link
Restrict app access by age rating
Set daily time limits
Block Spotify altogether during homework or bedtime
2. Parental Control Apps
Bark: Monitors content for explicit keywords (premium plan required)
Qustodio: Blocks or tracks music apps like Spotify
Net Nanny: Can filter web access and block Spotify’s web player
These tools offer broader control but may not filter in-app content on Spotify directly.
Why Doesn’t Spotify Offer More Robust Parental Controls?
Spotify’s current parental tools are clearly not built to compete with YouTube Kids or Netflix Kids. One reason may be:
Spotify is focused on content personalization, not content censorship
Filtering lyrics and podcast content accurately at scale is still technically challenging
Spotify’s business model relies heavily on freedom of content discovery
However, many parents—and even educators—have called on Spotify to introduce:
Podcast filters for explicit content
Custom blocklists
Daily usage caps
As of now, these are not available, and it’s unclear if Spotify plans to expand parental features in the near future.
Summary: Are There Parental Controls for Spotify?
Yes, but they’re limited. If you’re asking “Are there parental controls for Spotify?”, here’s the quick breakdown:
| Feature | Available? | Plan Required |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify Kids app | ? Yes | Premium Family |
| Block explicit songs | ? Yes | Premium Family |
| Block explicit podcasts | ? No | N/A |
| Time limits / app blocking | ? (via third-party tools) | External apps |
| Monitoring listening history | ? Only on Kids app | Premium Family |
If your child is under 12, Spotify Kids is your best option. For teens, the explicit song filter offers a minimal layer of protection—but it’s far from comprehensive.
FAQs: Are There Parental Controls for Spotify?
Q1: Can I set time limits on Spotify for my child?
Not within Spotify. Use iOS Screen Time or Android Family Link to control daily usage.
Q2: Can I block explicit podcasts?
No, Spotify does not currently offer any podcast-level parental control options.
Q3: Is Spotify Kids available for free?
No. It’s only available as part of a Premium Family plan, which starts at $16.99/month.
Q4: Can my teen bypass the explicit filter?
Only if they have access to the main account settings. Make sure you’re the plan manager.
Q5: Are there better music apps for kids?
Yes—alternatives like YouTube Kids (with audio content), Amazon Kids+, and Pinna offer more robust kid-friendly media libraries.
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