Spotify Canvas vs Clips: What Artists Can Use Now

The comparison changed in June 2026

Spotify Canvas and Spotify Clips both use moving images, but they were not interchangeable tools. Canvas was built as a compact loop attached to a track. Clips were short artist videos used to add context around a song or release.

There is now a practical difference before an artist even compares creative style: Spotify says new Clips uploads have not been available since June 17, 2026. Existing Clips remain live in Spotify for Artists and on Spotify, and Spotify says they will appear in the artist profile's Video tab as that tab rolls out.

That update changes the planning question. Artists can still build for Canvas, but should not schedule new Clips production as if the upload path were open to every account.

Canvas is the short loop beside a track

Spotify describes Canvas as a vertical visual that appears in the Now Playing view instead of the album artwork. Its current support guide asks for a clip between 3 and 8 seconds, in a 9:16 ratio, with a height between 720 and 1080 pixels, saved as MP4 or JPG. See Spotify's Canvas guidelines before exporting because platform requirements can change.

The constraint is also the creative brief. A loop that works in a few seconds should not depend on spoken explanation, a lyric that has not arrived yet, or a fast sequence of edits. Spotify recommends avoiding talking, singing, or rapping in the footage because the loop is too short to reliably sync with lyrics.

Plan for a phone screen, not a desktop crop. Keep the central subject clear, leave breathing room near the edges, and make sure the visual still makes sense if a device trims part of the frame. The title and artist are already visible in Spotify's Now Playing view, so repeating them inside the image often wastes space.

Clips were a different format, and new uploads stopped

Clips gave artists a way to share short videos connected to music and the stories around it. They could be used for release context, a thank-you, or a direct connection with fans. Spotify's current Clips support page now says that new uploads are unavailable as of June 17, 2026.

The change does not mean every old Clip disappeared. Previously uploaded Clips remain live. Spotify says they will be shown in the Video tab on artist profiles, which is still rolling out gradually. The same support page says Clips within eligible Countdown Pages are now called countdown videos and can continue to be used there.

Treat those details separately: an existing Clip can remain part of a profile, and an eligible Countdown Page can still use its countdown video feature, but that is not a general new Clips upload option.

Full-length videos are not a one-for-one replacement

Spotify has also announced full-length video uploads in beta through Spotify for Artists. The company lists official music videos, live performances, studio sessions, and covers as supported examples. It says eligible uploads are royalty-bearing and may be chart-eligible, but access is gradual and not universal. Read Spotify for Artists' video announcement and confirm access inside the account before setting a release plan.

A full-length music video asks for a different production investment than a small loop. It has a beginning and an ending, a viewing context, and potentially more editing and delivery requirements. Do not assume that an account with Canvas access has video-upload access, or that every artist can upload a full video on demand.

Choose the work that is available

For a current release, start with the surface the artist can actually use. If Canvas is available, make one visual loop that supports the track without trying to explain its whole story. If a previously uploaded Clip remains live, treat it as an existing asset rather than a new upload slot.

If Spotify has enabled beta video for the artist, decide whether a full-length video earns the production time and rights review it requires. Confirm the eligible format and account access, and check any collaborators, footage, samples, or performances before delivery.

The useful distinction is simple: Canvas is the short track-level loop; Clips were short artist videos whose new upload path has closed; full-length music videos are a separate, gradually available beta. Build for the feature that is open, not the one an old tutorial assumes is still there.