With the launch of Apple Music and Spotify, two big players are now in the music streaming industry. Each offers a similar selection of songs and albums, but there are plenty of differences between them, especially in pricing and features. So which one should you use?
Apple Music
Apple Music enables users to listen to songs, playlists, and albums from a library of over 50 million songs. You can also use Apple Music as an on-demand listening experience, similar to Spotify or Google Play Music. It allows users to choose exactly what they want to hear instead of relying on radio stations.
In addition to offering its curated playlists for every kind of music you could imagine (and some you’ve never heard of), Apple Music has your favorite artists’ latest albums and singles available at the tap of your finger. And those same artists’ entire discographies if that’s what gets your blood pumping.
Spotify
Spotify is a music streaming service that gives users access to over 1 billion songs. This includes the tracks you can listen to on-demand, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks. The app also offers tools for finding new artists and discovering new music that matches your taste profile.
Spotify has over 180 million users worldwide, including over 40 million subscribers in the U.S.
It’s available on smartphones (iOS and Android), tablets running Android or Apple’s iOS operating system, desktop computers running Windows or macOS X operating systems, smart speakers like Google Home speakers or Amazon Echo, and gaming consoles like PlayStation 4 or Xbox One S+.
The service lets you listen without ads for free through its ad-supported mobile apps but charges $9.99 per month for an ad-free experience on mobile devices and home speakers — though some caveats depending on your location.
Apple Music Vs Spotify: How They Compare
It all comes down to the music. The two apps are similar in many respects, but they also have key differences that will appeal to different kinds of people.
1. Apple Music, How It Is Compared With Spotify
If you are looking out for a large selection of curated playlists, Apple Music may be more your speed. Its Beats 1 Radio station features global DJs and musicians who create exclusive shows daily. These shows not only introduce listeners to new artists or genres but also feature interviews with well-known musicians like Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and Adele (who just recently gave her first-ever live performance on the show).
Spotify has had some issues in this area lately. Many of its most popular playlists were removed from its main app earlier this year. But it does have an often overlooked “Browse” tab where you can find great suggestions based on your listening history and preferences.
How Can You Listen To Music With Apple Music And Spotify?
When it comes to listening to music with Apple Music and Spotify, there are no restrictions. Both apps can be used on a computer or mobile device, so your choice will depend on your preferred device. Both apps can also be used on tablets, smart TVs, and car stereos—but if you’re looking for an in-car experience, Apple Music is the way to go since it supports CarPlay.
Both apps have web versions that can be accessed through any browser, so if you prefer desktop and mobile versions of the service (or want access from multiple devices), that’s something else to consider when choosing what music app is right for you.
Which Of The Two Music Apps Has More Free Features?
Apple Music and Spotify are both popular subscription-based music services. They each offer their free tiers, with Apple Music offering more features than Spotify.
If you’ve never used either service before, here’s a breakdown of the two companies’ primary offerings:
1. Spotify:
Free tier comes with ads; $9.99/month student rate; $9.99/month standard rate; family plan: up to 6 people at $15.99/month each ($2 per user discount).
2. Apple Music:
Free trial of three months or 30 days (if purchased through iTunes); then $10.99/month or $14.99/year if billed annually, $2 per user discount.
Apple Music’s iCloud Music Library is an excellent way for collectors to access their music libraries in AAC 256kbps format from anywhere they go, as long as they’re signed in with the same Apple ID. While some collection-distorting bugs hampered the original rollout of the iCloud Music Library, it’s now a helpful feature that helps Apple Music stand out from other similar services.
Spotify also allows you to listen to your MP3s within the app, so be sure to check out our how-to guide on uploading music to Spotify if you are interested.
What If You Want To Listen To Music On The Car Stereo?
You can connect your phone directly to the stereo via an auxiliary cable or Bluetooth. If you have an older model car with a cassette player, you will need an adapter for this connection. If your vehicle has a built-in USB port, that’s another option for connecting your phone.
You can also use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in cars that support those apps. The apps allow drivers to access their music libraries without needing to find them on their phones, making it easier for them to select what they want without getting diverted from driving.
These apps also provide information about nearby businesses and traffic conditions so that drivers aren’t distracted from driving by needing to access these details from other sources like web browsers or GPS applications installed on their phones which may not be available while going.
How Do The Two Services Handle Podcasts?
Podcasts are among the most popular categories in the Apple Music and Spotify apps, but they’re treated differently.
Apple Music has a solid range of podcasts available, but its podcast discovery experience is weak. For example, it doesn’t use your listening habits to recommend new shows; instead, it takes a page from Apple News, using a variety of algorithms that draw on variables like your age or gender to suggest podcasts. This makes sense for news articles (which are short and timely), but it can be frustrating for podcasts where you want to explore specific genres or topics over time.
Spotify’s podcast section is much better: It uses Spotify’s social elements—like the ability to see what friends are listening to—to help you discover new shows based on what people you like have heard or liked already. You can also create separate playlists just for your favorite podcasts so they’ll always be ready when you want them (a feature both services offer).
And unlike Apple Music, which requires an additional subscription fee if you want audiobooks as part of your membership package ($15 per month), Spotify has an extensive library of audiobooks available at no extra cost Premium tier ($10 per month).
Which Service Is Best For Family Listening?
The Apple Music family plan includes six accounts for $16.99 per month, or you can have one primary account on your family plan and five secondary accounts for $9.99 per month each.
Spotify offers a Family account that lets up to six people share their Spotify Premium subscription at once and all the music they can listen to, with no ads or limits on how much you hear. It costs $9.99 per month for up to three users, then goes up to $14.99 per month for additional users (you can also pay $4 more if you want more than three people in your household).
The only downside is the limited access to the device. They could be listening from anywhere!
How Does The Listening Experience Differ Between Them?
Both Spotify and Apple Music have a lot to offer, but the way they let you listen to your favorite music is very different. While Spotify has better search functionality than Apple Music, its discovery feature is less powerful. It’s much easier to find an artist or song with Apple Music’s “For You” tab, which automatically generates playlists based on what you listen to most often.
Spotify also offers more social features than Apple does.
Apple Music’s standard-quality tracks use 256kbps AAC files, the same format as tracks purchased from iTunes. But last year, Apple Music updated its entire catalog to use ALAC instead. ALAC is a lossless audio codec that supports resolutions from 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD quality) up to 24-bit/192kHz (hi-res audio quality).
Spotify offers three different streaming quality options for its users (96kbps, 160kbps, and 320kbps), all in the Ogg Vorbis format. The highest quality streaming is only available to Spotify’s paid Premium subscribers. This may change when Spotify’s delayed HiFi tier launches. Right now, regarding resolution and bit rate, Apple Music’s library of lossless content has Spotify beat.
If you want to post about what songs or albums you’re listening to on Facebook or Instagram without leaving the app, then Spotify is a better option for you here too.
Does One Of Them Have Better Social Integration Than The Other?
As far as social integration goes, Spotify has better integration for both users and artists. Apple Music’s social features are limited to following artists, but you can’t follow people or share playlists. If you’re looking for a more fully-featured social experience with your friends, go with Spotify.
However, If you’re looking for simple ways to share music with others who also use Apple Music (or if they don’t), look no further than our guide on transferring songs through the Messages app.
Best Music App In a Streaming Music Service.
You already have a favorite music app, and that’s okay. But if you’re trying to choose between Apple Music and Spotify, it might be helpful to know what each service offers.
Let’s get started by exploring their similarities:
- Both services allow you to stream music from various genres and artists.
- Both offer curated playlists and podcasts.
- Both have an extensive catalog of songs available for on-demand listening or streaming.
- Apple Music has more than 40 million songs; Spotify has more than 30 million.
Now let’s look at the differences:
- Apple Music claims over 100M songs, whereas Spotify owns 80M.
- Apple Music has the best sound quality track, and Spotify has different sound quality tracks depending on the subscription plan.
- Apple Music is specifically known for its cloud locker, by which you can access songs in AAC 256kbp. But Spotify only allows you to listen in MP3.
- Spotify extends its availability to any device, including gaming consoles like Xbox, PS5, Car Thing, etc. At the same time, Apple music limits its availability to Apple Automobiles.
- Spotify’s social sharing feature is commendable compared to Apple music’s. Eventually, Spotify has attained more attention comparatively.
Conclusion
Apple Music and Spotify are excellent music streaming services with a lot to offer. Choose as per your liking and convenience.
