Apple Music vs. Spotify-Which is the Best for You?

In recent years, music streaming has become incredibly popular. Services like Apple Music and Spotify give you access to a huge library of songs, playlists, albums, podcasts and more that you can listen to anywhere, anytime. In this article we talk about Apple Music vs. Spotify and Which is the Best for You.

Library Size and Song Selection

Both Apple Music and Spotify boast libraries with over 70 million songs, so you’ll have your pick of just about any track you could want. However, there may be some differences in more obscure or indie selections.

Apple claims to pay artists more per stream, which could incentivize some artists to release content exclusively through their platform or make it available there first. So Apple Music can occasionally have some releases that Spotify doesn’t.

That said, Spotify is more social and has much better algorithms for recommending music you’ll like and customizing playlists to your taste. So you may actually discover more new music you enjoy through Spotify, even if the total library size is technically smaller.

Winner: Tie

Platform and Device Availability

Apple Music is available on iOS, Mac, PC, Apple TV and Apple Watch. Spotify is available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, gaming consoles, smart speakers, smart TVs and just about any internet-connected device you can imagine.

If you live mainly in the Apple ecosystem and utilize a lot of Apple devices, Apple Music has the edge for connectivity. But Spotify supports such a ridiculously wide array of platforms that it will work on virtually any device you want to use.

Winner: Spotify

Audio Quality

Apple Music streams songs at 256 kbps AAC bitrate by default, which is near CD-quality. However, you can optionally stream certain tracks in lossless formats like ALAC or spatial audio for even better quality.

Spotify uses the ogg vorbis format and streams at 320 kbps by default on its premium tier. This is considered very high quality, but still technically compressed audio vs lossless formats.

So Apple Music edges out Spotify slightly on audio quality, especially if you opt for lossless streaming. However, the difference may not be noticeable to most listeners using average headphones or speakers.

Winner: Apple Music

Pricing and Plans

Apple Music costs $9.99/month for an individual plan or $14.99 for a family plan supporting up to 6 users. Students can get a discounted rate of $4.99/month.

Spotify follows identical pricing of $9.99 for individual and $14.99 for family (up to 6 users). They also offer student discounts and even have a free ad-supported tier if you want to try before you commit to paying.

For paid plans, Apple Music and Spotify cost the same. But Spotify may still win out for the option of an free trial tier even if it includes ads.

Winner: Spotify

Ease of Use

Apple Music interfaces seamlessly with the Apple Music app, which is simple and intuitive to use. You can easily access your library, browse recommendations and add songs or albums you like to your collection. The For You tab makes music discovery refreshingly uncomplicated.

Spotify can be a little more visually cluttered, but offers powerful tools for organizing and finding music once you learn your way around. Features like playlists, podcasts, concerts and more have their own dedicated tabs for easy access. Overall Spotify offers more customization power, but Apple Music is more beginner-friendly.

Winner: Tie

Music Discovery and Curation

Apple Music is catching up when it comes to music discovery, but Spotify still reigns supreme in this area. Their hyper-personalized recommendations based on your listening habits help you find new artists you’ll love. Daily mixes, Discover Weekly playlists and more make new music constantly available with minimal effort.

Apple Music’s recommendations have improved tremendously, but they still lack the sophistication of Spotify’s algorithms. Apple is betting big on human music curation with playlists crafted by experts. But Spotify blends the best of AI and human curation with offerings like Release Radar that notify you of new music from artists you follow.

Winner: Spotify

Social Sharing and Community

With over 400 million users, Spotify fosters much more of an online community. You can follow friends and see what they’re listening to, collaborate on playlists, share music and comment on tracks. Spotify is deeply integrated into Facebook and other social platforms.

Apple Music has limited social features in comparison. You can see what friends are playing if they also use Apple Music, but the community vibe isn’t there. For better or worse, Apple Music is more solitary and private.

So Spotify is the pick if you want a music service to enhance your online social life. Solo listeners may prefer Apple Music’s more isolated approach.

Winner: Spotify

Podcasts and Other Content

In recent years, Spotify has expanded far beyond just music streaming with a vast library of podcasts and other content. Apple Music does offer some podcasts, but nowhere near the extent of Spotify which has invested heavily in exclusive podcast content.

You’ll also find audiobooks, guided meditations, custom playlists for activities like running or studying and more on Spotify. Apple Music sticks more narrowly to just music.

Winner: Spotify

Conclusions

So which service should you pick? Here are some key deciding factors:

Choose Apple Music if you:

• Already use a lot of Apple devices
• Want higher quality lossless audio
• Prefer human music curation to algorithms

Choose Spotify if you:

• Use a variety of devices including Android and PCs
• Want the best music discovery and recommendations
• Care about social sharing of music
• Like having podcasts or audiobooks in your streaming app

In many ways the two services are comparable for core functionality like song libraries, offline listening and playlist creation. But factors like social and integration with other platforms give each service their own distinct strengths. Consider what features matter most to you as the deciding line between Apple Music vs Spotify. Hopefully breaking down the pros and cons in this guide leads you to the best choice. I sincerely hope you like reading this “Apple Music vs. Spotify-Which is the Best for You?” article helpful.