Streaming with options
Spotify
Free from Spotify
advantage
- Sharing music is easy
- Free Tier Options
- More advanced options
- Massive podcast library
shortcoming
- More expensive
- weak sound quality
- only in certain countries
Thanks to an ad-supported free tier and various premium plans, Spotify brings music streaming to the masses. While Spotify doesn’t yet offer the highest sound quality, its vast music library has more than 70 million songs, thousands of playlists, and more than 2 million podcast titles.
premier streaming
Apple Music
Apple from $5
advantage
- ad-free music
- higher audio quality
- 24/7 radio station
- Online and offline listening
shortcoming
- no free tier
- Limited podcast library
- Restrictions on protected songs
Subscription-based Apple Music gives listeners access to more than 75 million songs, exclusive music videos and curated playlists from around the world. You can also listen to Apple Music 1 for exclusive interviews with Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden and more.
Spotify and Apple Music are the top streaming platforms that give users access to millions of songs, podcasts and exclusive music content. While it can be difficult to determine which service is better for your listening needs, it comes down to what you’re looking for in a music streaming service: better audio or more features. Read on to learn more about what each platform offers now.
Spotify and Apple Music: Subscription options
Both Spotify and Apple Music offer various subscription plans based on your and your family’s listening habits. While only Spotify offers a free, ad-supported tier with limited streaming options, Apple Music does allow new users to try any of its paid plans for three months for free.
All you need to do is visit Apple.com > select Start Free Trial > select your desired plan > click Free Trial. After the free trial period ends, you will automatically be billed for the plan of your choice the following month. It’s also worth pointing out that Apple Music’s free trial has been extended to five months through January 31, 2022. In addition to the free tier, Spotify offers a one-month free trial when you sign up for any of the platform’s premium tiers. As with Apple Music, once the trial period ends, you will be charged the regular cost of the plan you originally selected.
Spotify | Apple Music | |
---|---|---|
student | $4.99 | $4.99 |
voice plan | ❌ | $4.99 |
personal | $9.99 | $9.99 |
duo | $12.99 | ❌ |
family | $15.99 | $14.99 |
vocal | ~96 kbps, ~160 kbps and ~320 kbps (Ogg Vorbis) | 16-bit/44.1kHz to 24-bit/192kHz |
Compatible Devices | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One; Spotify Studio Podcast | Works with Siri on HomePod/HomePod mini; Apple Music 1 Radio; Cloud Music Locker; Spatial Audio |
Spotify and Apple Music also offer student and individual subscriptions for $4.99 and $9.99, respectively. Spotify’s student plan is the same as its personal plan, including ad-free streaming, offline music listening, and on-demand playback. the only difference? It costs half the price. Apple Music’s student plan also offers the same traditional Apple Music experience as its personal plan at a discounted price.
Apple Music also recently announced a new Voice Plan subscription package that costs $4.99 a month and is designed around the power of Siri. Users can subscribe to Voice Plan using Siri by saying “Hey Siri, start my Apple Music Voice trial” or by signing up through the Apple Music app. After subscribing, users get the same privileges as the personal plan and can request songs from the entire Apple Music catalog to play on Siri-enabled devices such as the HomePod mini speaker, AirPods and iPhone. Siri-enabled voice plans also work with CarPlay.
Additionally, both Spotify and Apple Music offer family plans that allow multiple listeners in the same household to create separate profiles. Spotify’s family plan costs $15.99 a month and allows up to six different profiles under the same account. Subscribers also get Family Mix, which compiles favorite tracks for younger listeners from each profile and the standalone Spotify Kids app. In contrast, Apple Music’s family plan also allows up to six users. If you’re not ready to join the full family plan, Spotify also offers a $12.99 per month “Duo” premium subscription tier that includes two premium accounts and access to Duo Mix.
Spotify and Apple Music: main difference
Aside from the different subscription plans, the biggest difference between Spotify and Apple Music is the audio quality and content library available on each platform.
Standard quality Apple Music tracks are 256 kbps AAC files, the same format as tracks purchased from iTunes, which means even the “lowest quality” songs available on Apple Music sound better than anything you can currently find on Spotify Some. Apple Music also offers a “lossless” feature that allows subscribers to listen to higher-resolution options ranging from “CD-quality” 16-bit/44.1kHz to “Hi-Res Audio” 24-bit/192kHz.
In contrast, Spotify streams songs in Ogg Vorbis formats at about 96 kbps, about 160 kbps, and about 320 kbps, and only offers premium subscribers the highest possible audio quality. While none of these quality levels are currently comparable to Apple Music’s “lossless” selection, that’s expected to change with the upcoming launch of Spotify HiFi.
There are also some key differences between the Spotify and Apple Music libraries, especially when it comes to podcasts. While Apple Music claims to offer a broader music catalog with 90 million songs compared to over 70 million on Spotify, Spotify tends to add more new artists every day, and boasts more than 4 billion featured songs. famous. Evolving playlists. Users can also search playlists by genre, international charts and mood. Additionally, Spotify’s recent acquisitions of podcast production companies such as Anchor, Gimlet Media, Parcast, and The Ringer mean the brand also has more than 3.2 million podcast shows.
Apple Music also offers a wide range of genre- and mood-specific playlists, and seems to offer more genre categories and hidden gems on a regular basis. Additionally, Apple Music allows users to purchase their favorite songs and add them to their iCloud Music Library, and gives subscribers access to exclusive music video content.
It’s also worth pointing out that where Apple Music lacks podcasts, it handily beats Spotify in the radio department. The Apple Music 1 radio (formerly Beats 1) is available exclusively to Apple Music Premium subscribers. In addition to 24-hour streaming of pop, rap and indie music, Apple Music 1 features exclusive artist interviews and hosts including Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden and Matt Wilkinson.
Spotify and Apple Music: Which service is right for you?
When it comes to Spotify’s battle with Apple Music, both have massive catalogs of music and are compatible with both Android and iOS devices, making both streaming services a solid choice. Similar to comparing Apple Music to YouTube Music, it really comes down to personal preference.
If you’re an avid listener of podcasts, then Spotify might be the best service for you. Spotify has the added bonus of giving users access to its entire catalog of podcasts within the app, while Apple Music has still opted to limit much of its podcast content to a dedicated podcast app.
Conversely, if you’re an audiophile who hasn’t committed to TIDAL but still wants higher-quality music, Apple Music is the next best option. As mentioned above, this may change when Spotify finally rolls out its Spotify HiFi tier, and we’ll keep you informed if that happens.
Streaming with options
Spotify
Music, podcasts, and more
Free from Spotify
Spotify has proven to be the music streaming service worth beating, thanks to its diverse subscription tiers, curated playlists, and extensive podcast library. You can also try Spotify’s free tier before joining the premium plan.
premier streaming
Apple Music – streaming service
more music, better quality
Apple from $5
While Apple Music doesn’t offer a free tier, you can sign up for an extended free trial before using the service full-time. Apple Music also boasts higher audio quality than Spotify and plenty of exclusive content.
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