Spotify has launched a new app in the US. Called Stations, it pares the regular Spotify experience back to basics. As the name suggests, everything is built around stations, which are essentially playlists which draw songs from artists, genres, or decades.

In January 2018, Spotify started testing a new app called Stations. However, at the time, the app was only available to a handful of people. It was then released exclusively in Australia, first on Android and then on iOS. Now, Spotify Stations is available in the US.

What Is Spotify Stations?

Spotify Stations is a free app that offers a Pandora-like experience. You can either select a playlist to play, or create one from scratch. Then, the music will start playing, leaving you free to do other things, just as you would when listening to the radio.

Just like Pandora, you can give songs a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down, and this will affect which songs you hear. The more you interact with Stations, the more the app will learn what you like, and you'll start seeing playlists geared specifically for you.

The user experience will vary slightly depending on whether you pay for Spotify or not. Premium subscribers will get to listen ad-free and get unlimited skips. Free users will have to put up with ads and not have any option to skip songs they don't like.

Who Can Use Spotify Stations?

Stations is available in the US on Android and iOS. You will need to have a Spotify account, but you don't need to be a paying subscriber. However, before you get too invested in the app, Spotify is sticking to the line that Stations is just an experiment, saying:

"At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of experiments to create better listening experiences for our users. Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. Spotify Stations is one of those tests."

Download: Spotify Stations on Android | iOS

How to Get More Out of Spotify

Stations is a simple, no-frills alternative to the main Spotify itself. As well as to Pandora. However, if Stations is too simple for you, our unofficial guide to Spotify should help you get more out of Spotify as a whole. Which, if you're paying for it, is essential.