Spotify's Car Thing Discontinued? 5 Alternatives Here!

"Spotify will stop supporting its car thing device. Can I refund? How can I listen to Spotify in the car without Car Thing? "

Spotify has officially announced the discontinuation of its Car Thing device, which will become non-operational on December 9, 2024. This decision was driven by factors such as pricing, inflationary pressures, and supply chain issues. To address user dissatisfaction, Spotify is offering refunds for the device and providing support resources to affected customers.

With Spotify's Car Thing now off the table, what are the best options available for those who still want to play Spotify music in the car? Let’s explore some of the top Spotify Car Thing alternatives that can fill the void left by this discontinued device.

👇 Related articles:
How to Play Apple Music Songs in Car
How to Play Amazon Music in Car

Part 1. Spotify Car Thing Alternatives

If you're looking for ways to enjoy Spotify in your car without the Spotify Car Thing, here are some great alternatives to Spotify Car Thing:

Alternative 1 Play Spotify in the Car via Auto Echo

# Best for Alexa users and Amazon Prime members.
# Second-generation Echo Auto: about $49

A great alternative to the Spotify Car Thing is using voice assistants like Alexa to play music from Spotify in your car, just like you would at home. Manufacturers like BMW and Mini support Alexa devices, including the Echo Auto. The Echo Auto does everything the Spotify Car Thing does and more. Not only can you play Spotify, but you can also stream Apple Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, and more.

How to Play Spotify in the Car via Auto Echo:

• Step 1. Turn on your car and set the stereo’s input to Bluetooth.
• Step 2. Enable Bluetooth on your phone.
• Step 3. In the Alexa app, go to “More > Add a Device > Amazon Echo > Echo Auto” and follow the prompts to connect Echo Auto to your car.
• Step 4. Use voice commands to ask Alexa to control your Spotify music streams.

Alternative 2 Play Spotify in the Car via Bluetooth Speaker

# Best for cars without Bluetooth connectivity.
# Bluetooth speaker: about $100 to $150.

Another versatile alternative to the Spotify Car Thing is using a portable Bluetooth speaker. Simply pair your phone with a Bluetooth speaker, like Sonos Move, Bose Portable Home Speaker, or Keecker, and enjoy Spotify playlists while driving. Most speakers support Bluetooth, making it easy to connect Spotify to a Bluetooth speaker for your car music needs.

How to Play Spotify in the Car via Bluetooth Speaker:

• Step 1. Make sure your speaker is powered on and in pairing mode.
• Step 2. Go to your phone's settings and turn on Bluetooth.
• Step 3. Select your Bluetooth speaker from the list of available devices on your phone.
• Step 4. Launch the Spotify app on your phone.
• Step 5. Tap the "Devices Available" icon in Spotify and choose your Bluetooth speaker.
• Step 6. Start playing your music, and it will stream through the Bluetooth speaker in your car.

Related Article: How to Connect Spotify Music in the Car with Bluetooth on Android/iOS

Alternative 3 Play Spotify in the Car via Apple CarPlay

# Best for iPhone users.
# Apple CarPlay: $0.

Apple CarPlay is a smart and safe application that allows you to use various iPhone functions while driving, making it an excellent Spotify Car Thing alternative. You can navigate, make phone calls, send and receive messages, and listen to your favorite songs, all integrated into the car's central display screen. It is free and does not require additional costs. If your vehicle model supports CarPlay, you can enjoy this convenient feature in your car. 

How to Use Spotify on Apple CarPlay:

• Step 1. Ensure your car supports Apple CarPlay. 
• Step 2. Plug your iPhone into the car's USB port or connect wirelessly if supported.
• Step 3. Enable CarPlay on the car's infotainment system if it doesn't activate automatically.
• Step 4. Tap the Spotify app icon on the CarPlay home screen.
• Step 5. Browse and select your favorite songs, playlists, or albums.
• Step 6. Enjoy your music while driving!

Related Article: Apple CarPlay on Your Car Display (Wireless Connection or USB Cable)

Alternative 4 Play Spotify in the Car via Google Android Auto

# Best for Android users.
# Android Auto: $0.

If you’re an Android user, Google Android Auto provides similar functionality to Apple CarPlay. It allows you to connect your Android device to your car’s display, giving you easy access to Spotify as well as other navigation and communication apps. This makes for a streamlined in-car entertainment experience without the need for additional devices like the Spotify Car Thing.

How to Play Spotify in the Car via Android Auto:

• Step 1. Remember that Android Auto requires Android Lollipop (version 5.0) or higher.
• Step 2. Make sure you’re logged into the Spotify app on your Android phone.
• Step 3. Connect your phone to an Android Auto compatible stereo using a USB cable.
• Step 4. If Spotify is already playing on your phone, it will continue playing through the car stereo. Otherwise, start Spotify on the stereo display.

✨ Tips: You can also try third-party options like Atoto F7 We, JVC KW-M560B7, etc.

Alternative 5 Listen to Spotify Offline in the Car via the USB - Spotify Car Thing Alternative for Desk

# Best for:
- Commuters or travelers seeking uninterrupted music access.
- Individuals with limited or unreliable internet on the road.
- Music enthusiasts prioritize high-quality audio in their drives.
- Anyone seeking a hassle-free solution for in-car music enjoyment.

For those seeking something similar to the Spotify Car Thing, a highly reliable method is to download your preferred Spotify playlists for offline listening and transfer them to a USB drive. To streamline this process, consider using AudiFab Spotify to USB Music Converter.

Tool Required: AudiFab Spotify Music Converter

AudiFab Spotify Music Converter specializes in downloading and converting Spotify albums, songs, and playlists to MP3, FLAC, AAC, AIFF, ALAC, and WAV formats, achieving a speed ten times faster than usual. It's easy to download any Spotify playlist to MP3 using AudiFab. The best part? You don’t need a Premium account to enjoy ad-free Spotify music offline in your car. All you need to do is transfer the converted Spotify songs to a USB drive and connect it to your car.

Best AudiFab Spotify Music Converter

• Convert Spotify music to MP3/AAC/WAV/FLAC/AIFF/ALAC.
• Download music from the Spotify app to the computer.
• Keep original audio quality, ID3 tags and lyrics after conversion.
• One click to burn Spotify music to CD.
• Free updates and technical support.

Try It Free Try It Free

Tutorial: How to Play Spotify Music in Car via USB Drive

Next, we will demonstrate converting Spotify music to plain MP3 format using the Windows version of AudiFab Music Converter as a reference.

STEP 1 Download Spotify music from the App 

Open the AudiFab program and choose the "Spotify App" mode to access the AudiFab interface. This action will automatically launch the Spotify music app.

STEP 2 Import Spotify music to AudiFab  

Drag and drop a song link or playlist link from Spotify into the AudiFab Music Converter. Then, click "Add."

STEP 3 Choose MP3 as output format 

After successfully adding the music, click the "Settings" button to adjust basic parameters, including output format, quality, and conversion mode. You can choose MP3 or other formats and adjust the output quality up to 320 kbps.

STEP 4 Start Converting Spotify music to MP3 

Simply click the "Convert" button to download Spotify music as plain MP3 files onto your local device.

STEP 5 Locate your downloaded Spotify music 

Once the conversion is complete, click the "Converted" button in the left corner to quickly locate the recorded Spotify files.

STEP 6 Play Spotify music offline in car via USB 

Insert your USB drive into your computer. Open it once recognized. Drag your chosen music folder from your desktop into the USB drive. This will store your Spotify music on the USB, letting you listen to it in your car stereo wherever you go.

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Part 2. FAQs on Spotify Car Thing

Q1 Is it possible to hack Spotify Car Thing?

Despite Spotify's advice to reset and dispose of the Car Thing, some users are exploring ways to hack the device for alternative use. Resources such as the car-thing-reverse-engineering repository on GitHub and tutorials from security researchers provide insight into accessing the Car Thing's internal Linux system and modifying its firmware.

Q2 What happens after Spotify's Car Thing discontinued?

After Spotify discontinued the Car Thing, users were left with few options. While Spotify advises users to dispose of the device responsibly, they haven't announced any plans for open-sourcing the technology, providing trade-in options, or offering refunds beyond their existing policy. This has led to frustration among users, who are taking various actions to address the situation, including reporting Spotify to regulatory bodies, seeking refunds through customer support channels, reviewing local consumer protection laws, petitioning for the hardware to be open-sourced, and expressing dissatisfaction with Spotify's customer treatment.

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