Spotify vs. Apple Music: While both offer similar libraries and many similar features, what does each have that the other does not? Here’s where to find your answers.
Spotify and Apple Music are sources of millions of songs, and one can find new music instantaneously. Spotify and Apple Music have emerged as two very popular services in the realm of music.
They have expertly crafted playlists and the ability to follow your favorite artists, some even offering high-quality sound.
Be it an attempt to try a new music service or just curiosity about the differences between Spotify and Apple Music, this comparison will help you find out which option is better for you. In this blog article, we are going to see what makes Spotify and Apple Music different to let you decide which one you like more.
So, Spotify vs Apple Music: What to Choose?
Spotify and Apple Music, in their own ways, impress, and each has points that appeal to different persons based on what they believe about the service. The Apple Music quality is more depthful and broad to its audience, more audiophile- and professional-music-fan-friendly quality.
In contrast, Spotify has social sharing, much better music discovery that is more personalized and fun, and its pricing seems a lot easier to stomach, especially since it’s free.
In addition to this, Spotify presents the choice for an even larger possible audience, along with newer features for engaging and deeper insight into the listeners. As far as the latter service is concerned, some artists consider higher royalty rates more favorable and find smooth integration within the Apple ecosystem indispensable.
Moreover, artists who want to extend their presence in Spotify can seek the help of services such as Boost Social Media to increase Spotify followers, enabling them to increase their visibility and chances of discovery on the platform.
In the end, whether you are a listener who loves to dive deep into music libraries or enjoys sharing your latest finds with friends, your preference will come down to these offerings between Spotify and Apple Music.
Each service has its unique benefits, so consider what features matter most to you in your music streaming experience.
What are the Main Differences Between Spotify and Apple Music?
Feature Apple Music Spotify Winner Sound Quality Supports up to 24-bit/192kHz, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support Maximum 320kbps, working on adding lossless audio (Spotify HiFi) Apple Music Music Library Size Over 100 million songs Over 80 million songs, including podcasts Apple Music Playlists/Recommendations Human-curated playlists, catching up in recommendation algorithms Better at recommending music, strong algorithm, curated playlists Spotify Social Media Sharing Basic social media integration Advanced social-sharing features, Spotify Codes Spotify Price Comparison No free plan starts at $4.99/month, student plan at $5.99/month Free plan with ads, paid plans start at $10.99/month, student plan at $5.99/month Spotify For Music Artists Higher royalties, seamless Apple ecosystem integration Larger user base, potentially broader audience, robust data insights Depends on priorities Availability Available on iOS, macOS, iPad, Android, Windows Available on almost every platform, a consistent streaming experience Spotify
Here is the head-to-head comparison of the two popular audio streaming platforms.
1. Sound Quality
Spotify and Apple Music differ in terms of sound quality. Apple Music has many good-sounding songs. It uses a particular file format called ALAC, which can play high-quality music, like CDs. Some songs sound like you’re in the middle of the music with Dolby Atmos.
The only downside is that you can’t get the best sound quality on Windows computers.
Spotify also has many songs, but they sound a bit different. They use a format called Ogg Vorbis and offer three sound qualities; the best one is available only for users who have paid for this service. There is word of an even better HiFi sound quality, but so far, it is not yet available. It may be included in a new Spotify membership known as ‘Supremium’.
2. Size of Music Library
Both Apple Music and Spotify have plenty of songs that one can listen to. Apple claims to have more than 100 million songs, while Spotify has more than 80 million. Spotify also contains about 2.6 million podcasts, although Apple Podcasts has various accessible podcasts.
So, for the ones that want only music, Apple Music has more extensive options. In any case, whether you stick with Apple Music or Spotify, you will find your singers and bands unless you are really into scarce music.
3. Playlists And Recommendations
Music streaming services rely heavily on the recommendation algorithms for success. Although Spotify was highly ahead in this regard initially, Apple Music has been covering up with its algorithm. As of now, according to many, Spotify’s way of suggesting music is perfect.
However, with Apple Music come loads of playlists created by actual individuals, which some people might prefer. Whether Spotify or Apple Music is better will be a matter of personal judgment, largely based on your type of music. Basically, the best way to go about it would be trying them both out to find which playlists and recommendations do appeal to your tastes.
4. Social Media Sharing
Spotify has a bunch of new ways to share music: You can share songs on Instagram and Facebook, share Snapchat album art that links to the song, or create scannable Spotify Codes to share music and playlists on any messaging app.
You can share playlists with other users on Apple Music using AirDrop, or you could create links to share elsewhere. With Spotify, integration into social media is easier, though that might not be an issue for you if you want to keep your music habits private.
5. Price Comparison
Service Free Plan Paid Plans Student Discount Family Plan Spotify Free Spotify Limited Standard ($10.99/month) $5.99/month with Hulu Duo ($14.99/month) Ad-supported Duo ($14.99/month) (With Ads) access Family ($16.99/month) Family ($16.99/month) Includes Spotify Kids Apple Music No Voice ($4.99/month) $5.99/month with Apple TV+ Standard ($10.99/month) Standard ($10.99/month) Free Apple TV+ Family ($16.99/month) Family ($16.99/month) Same region required
Spotify is a streaming service that allows you to listen to tracks without the need to pay one cent. You can sign up with them for free, and you will hear ads, or you can pay for a better plan. You have three options: Standard ($10.99 per month), Duo ($14.99), and Family ($16.99).
The Family plan even includes Spotify Kids. Students get a discount and pay $5.99 per month. That also gets you Hulu with ads.
Apple Music has no free option. The starting plan, Apple Music Voice, is $4.99/month but limited. It also has other plans: Standard for $10.99/month and Family for $16.99/month.
Students get a special deal of $5.99/month, which includes Apple TV+, free. If you choose Spotify’s Family or Duo plans, all the users of those plans need to be living in the same location. But in the case of Apple Music’s Family plan, you need to have the same region in iTunes.
6. For Music Artist
A few things to consider as an artist when choosing between Spotify and Apple Music for your music are: Spotify currently has about 551 million users worldwide, meaning more people could end up hearing your music. Apple work pays extra compensation to musicians every time their work is listened to. If you have an iPhone or any other Apple product, then Apple Music is perfect for you.
Both Spotify and Apple Music show how many listeners your music has, but Spotify is easier to work with.
Finally, everything comes down to what is more important to you. If you want more people to listen to your music, then Spotify might be a better choice for you. But if you want to make more money, then Apple Music can be a better choice.
7. Availability
Apple Music is available via the iPhone, iPad, Android phone, desktop PC, and over the Internet, among others. However, Spotify is available across a wide array of devices compared to Apple Music. Spotify is also available via smart TVs, game consoles, and smart speakers.
As such, Spotify works on more things. Spotify works similarly across all things; Apple Music may work differently depending on what you are using.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Spotify so popular?
People like using Spotify because it’s not just for listening to music, but it lets you be social too. You can connect with friends, make playlists, and enjoy things like Spotify Wrapped. This makes using Spotify more fun and easy.
Which has more users, Apple Music or Spotify?
Spotify has over 551 million users from whom 220 million users pay for the service, unlike Apple Music subscribers, estimated to be over 88 million worldwide.
Does Apple Music have more content compared to Spotify?
Apple Music is more extensive, particularly in offering older albums, compilations, and artists who have pulled their music off Spotify recently. For most people, the difference in what is available on the two services will be marginal.
Wind Up!
It’s obvious that both Spotify and Apple Music have something unique going for them. If it were cool playlists and discovering new songs on Spotify, or top-notch sound quality and great song library on Apple Music, there is a reason to get each.
Ultimately, it’s all about what really matters to you when you’re rocking out to your favorite tracks or finding new ones. Take them for a spin to see which one hits the right note with you, and enjoy the music that makes your world go round.