Rivian Connect+ pricing = $14.99 monthly / $149.99 annually

[waitingonanr1s]

Right now if there is an issue with one of the apps I do not get upset. Once I start paying a fee they better get it right. For example, Tidal finally got album/collection art back after the last update. That lasted for a week and now it's gone again. Also when I ask Alexa to play anything on Tidal she answers "OK, here's Tidal" and then opens Amazon Music instead. It is frustrating (and embarrassing for Rivian if others are in the car), but it's no big deal.....until I start paying. And Bluetooth is not an option due to the sound quality.

I think they realize this, which is why the rollout has been so slow.

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[Neighbors]

Right now if there is an issue with one of the apps I do not get upset. Once I start paying a fee they better get it right. For example, Tidal finally got album/collection art back after the last update. That lasted for a week and now it's gone again. Also when I ask Alexa to play anything on Tidal she answers "OK, here's Tidal" and then opens Amazon Music instead. It is frustrating (and embarrassing for Rivian if others are in the car), but it's no big deal.....until I start paying. And Bluetooth is not an option due to the sound quality.

I struggled with Tidal art being an issue off an on between updates (usually seemed to be triggered when being deep in the woods), but the TuneIn trick mentioned in these forums worked flawlessly for me both times I tried it.

Just leave it on TuneIn for a while (10-20 minutes?), your Tidal art will be back, and life will be better

 

[rhodeshow]

I am a bit surprised at the reaction to this. Seems like every vehicle we've purchased over the last half dozen years or so came with a free trial subscription to their 'connection services', followed by the need to pay, if you wanted it. Our Jeep, the Audi before that, Porsche, BMW...all used that same model. I always assume these services are just like Sirius/XM, i.e., they give you a free trial and then you have to pony up.

Maybe it's because I've never owned a Tesla, so maybe this is more of a Tesla thing to be surprised that these services aren't forever free?

I've owned 2 Porsches. I never paid any subscription for infotainment features or connected-vehicle services. Why? Because I just used CarPlay.

 

[Lobstahz]

The only thing of value in the $15 a month for Connect+ to me would be the integrated Spotify app, and I even then I am hard pressed to feel like that alone is worth the money. The app is janky and while nice that it's integrated, certainly doesn't raise to the level of worth another subscription in my life.

I will be curious to see the uptake rate on this feature, I have to imagine it won't be particularly high.

 

[Supratachophobia]

The only thing of value in the $15 a month for Connect+ to me would be the integrated Spotify app, and I even then I am hard pressed to feel like that alone is worth the money. The app is janky and while nice that it's integrated, certainly doesn't raise to the level of worth another subscription in my life.

I will be curious to see the uptake rate on this feature, I have to imagine it won't be particularly high.

Hotspot and casting are of additional value to me. I think we will all have different value thresholds.

Again, if data is a continuing cost bucket AND if me as the consumer is befitting (remote access, hotspot, live traffic, etc.), then we should be paying for it. If it was just remote telemetry back to the mothership, I can see the reluctance.

 

[Brewbud]

I struggled with Tidal art being an issue off an on between updates (usually seemed to be triggered when being deep in the woods), but the TuneIn trick mentioned in these forums worked flawlessly for me both times I tried it.

Just leave it on TuneIn for a while (10-20 minutes?), your Tidal art will be back, and life will be better

I have tried this fix and several others several times. Unfortunately no luck for me.

 

[Jiri]

.. the obvious, and smart of course, play they are doing here is holding features to when you actually have to pay. 90 free trial now has zero to little value. (Be thankful you had everything free to date … I agree with that). As we get closer to the 90 day and people look for justification, the “this summer” video streaming feature will suddenly arrive this fall, making it more likely for all to jump on the subscription. I am in full support of paying for data services. But this is clearly the smart strategy here.

 

[CD1973]

So now in my 2005 G35 I can use my (self installed) bluetooth to play music from my phone. With no cell signal, I can still play music that is stored on my memory card. But in a 2026 Rivian R2 I can only play music with a subscription? Or can I still use bluetooth to play through the car speakers? And if yes to that, how cumbersome of a process is involved to make this work?

 

[VandalSibs]

So now in my 2005 G35 I can use my (self installed) bluetooth to play music from my phone. With no cell signal, I can still play music that is stored on my memory card. But in a 2026 Rivian R2 I can only play music with a subscription? Or can I still use bluetooth to play through the car speakers? And if yes to that, how cumbersome of a process is involved to make this work?

Bluetooth still works just fine.

 

[NY_Rob]

And if yes to that, how cumbersome of a process is involved to make this work?

You just select your phone as a music source, super simple...

 

[VSG]

And you can use your phone as a hotspot so the car can stream over your phone without Connect+.

 

[Rivian R2D2]

The autos are dumb though, although the Bluetooth connects automatically, WiFi from your phone still requires connection each and every time you enter.

$14.99 is still $5 more than Tesla’s $9.99 and you don’t get even half the onboard infotainment you do with Tesla?

 

[godfodder0901]

...WiFi from your phone still requires connection each and every time you enter.

Not if set up properly. All I have to do is get in the truck and the automatic Bluetooth connection is a trigger to enable hotspot. When the home Wi-Fi is lost, the truck automatically connects to my phone hotspot. I touch nothing.

 

[VSG]

WiFi from your phone still requires connection each and every time you enter.

The car will connect to your hotspot automatically. Just like it connects to your home WiFi automatically.

$14.99 is still $5 more than Tesla’s $9.99 and you don’t get even half the onboard infotainment you do with Tesla?

You're not buying infotainment, you're buying cellular bandwidth. If you don't need the equivalent of another line, then don't pay for it, use your own phone line.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

The autos are dumb though, although the Bluetooth connects automatically, WiFi from your phone still requires connection each and every time you enter.

$14.99 is still $5 more than Tesla’s $9.99 and you don’t get even half the onboard infotainment you do with Tesla?

Pay annually for Connect+ and it's less than $13/month. Even in worse case scenario of $14.99, complaining about a $5 dollar difference on a car that is over $50k to buy? Seriously? $5 is like a quarter of what you pay each time at a movie theater. C'mon. Tesla can charge less for their subscription because they have a larger customer base. This gives them leverage to negotiate a lower cost from their telecomm vendor. Yet another thoughtless complaint based on false equivalences. Tesla has also had more time to grow and mature their subscription service, to what it is today. Yet another false equivalence. What Connect+ offers now is just what is available now. Besides the subscription isn't essential. Plenty of R1 owners chose to opt out and their world certainly hasn't ended.

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