Apple Music vs. Spotify: which music app is better?
Are you still comparing Spotify and Apple Music or even use both? Well, it's hard to choose between these two. Hopefully, this comprehensive guide will help you to make the right decision and pick one of these two major music apps. Read on!
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Music Library
Both Apple Music and Spotify have large music libraries: over 100 million songs in Apple Music and over 80 million songs in Spotify. If you are not looking for very specific artists and titles, each app would suffice. Even though the number of titles is greater in Apple Music, Spotify has an integrated podcast library with over 2.6 million podcast titles, including exclusive ones. Meanwhile, Apple has a separate app for listening to podcasts. Overall, Apple Music provides more songs, but Spotify is a more comprehensive app that also has podcasts.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Audio quality
Apple Music's catalog is encoded using ALAC in resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD-quality) up to 24-bit/192kHz (hi-res audio quality) using Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos content. Spotify works with three different rates (96kbps, 160kbps, and 320kbps) in Ogg Vorbis format, and the highest caliber is only available to Premium accounts. Both platforms adjust the quality when streaming using cellular data. Although audio quality also depends on your headphones, the overall audio quality offered by Apple Music is higher.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Recommendations and Music Discovery
There is a clear winner in terms of music recommendations based on your listening history, and it is Spotify. It provides you with Discover Weekly custom playlists with new songs based on your audio preferences, a list of songs you might like, and hand-picked and personalized playlists with the latest hits. Apple Music features a Listen Now tab with songs you might like and also offers some tracks you can enjoy, although Spotify's algorithm works way better.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Availability
Both apps strive to increase their availability.
- Spotify music can be played on iOS and Android devices, and on game consoles, such as PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, S, and Xbox One. It is also compatible with many smartwatch models and Apple CarPlay.
- Apple Music is great with Apple CarPlay as well, as well as with Apple HomePod, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Xbox (series X, S, and One), Roku, and PS5. The app is supported by Android and iOS devices, though if you want to use it on a Windows PC, you need to download iTunes first.
So, basically, both apps are available on most devices, so we can say we have a draw.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Price
It's no secret that an Apple Music subscription is slightly more expensive than Spotify: an individual subscription to Apple Music costs: $10.99 per month, while Spotify offers a free subscription with ads and a Premium subscription with no ads for $9.99 per month.
The student plans cost $5.99 for Apple Music and $4.99 for Spotify.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Overall
Both apps are great for listening to music. Their interfaces are user-friendly, the number of songs is impressive, and they continue to evolve and develop every day. So, basically, it's a draw. However, if you want to spend a little less money on your music subscription, have your favorite podcasts in the same place as your music, and enjoy a better music suggestion algorithm, go with Spotify. If you prefer better sound quality and if you are a fan of Apple products, then Apple Music might be a great option for you.