Spotify courts new users with easy playlist transfers

Spotify is taking another step to make switching from rival music services a little less painful. The company has introduced a streamlined playlist import tool that allows users to bring their music collections from other platforms directly into the Spotify mobile app. The move appears designed to attract listeners who may be reconsidering their current streaming service—especially following recent turbulence in the music industry—and give them a frictionless way to migrate.

The update arrives just a few months after Apple Music unveiled its own importing tool back in August. Apple’s rollout happened at a moment when controversy surrounding Daniel Ek and accusations of war profiteering were dominating headlines, prompting some artists to abandon the platform. Whether connected or not, the timing gave Apple a strategic advantage, as it positioned itself as a safe landing spot for frustrated users. Now Spotify is offering a similar convenience, hoping to draw in those who might be looking to switch again.

Rather than developing an entirely new system, Spotify opted for a direct integration with TuneMyMusic, a long-established service that specializes in shuttling playlists between platforms. TuneMyMusic already supports transfers from Tidal, YouTube Music, Qobuz, Beatport, and even Napster, making it one of the more versatile tools on the market. It is also part of a broader ecosystem of playlist migration services, with competitors like Soundiiz and SongShift offering comparable functionality. In fact, Apple’s importing system is powered by SongShift under the hood.

While users have always been able to go directly to these third-party platforms to move their playlists, free tiers often come with restrictions—limited playlists, track caps, or slow processing speeds. By accessing the transfer process directly through Spotify or Apple, listeners get the full, premium-grade experience without those limitations. There is one catch: the transfer only works in one direction, meaning users can pull music into Spotify but cannot export playlists out through the same integrated tool.

The real convenience lies in the fact that Spotify has built the feature directly into its mobile app. Users no longer need to visit external websites or navigate multiple apps to move their music libraries. Instead, the transfer option is presented natively, making the process far more seamless—especially for people who may be switching services for the first time.