When it comes to streaming music, mainly two big names stand out are Apple Music and Spotify. Both have millions of users, huge song collections, and lots of cool features. But if you love music or if you’re an independent artist wanting to share your songs, how do you pick the right one? Are you confused about which one is right for you?
In this guide, we’ll compare Apple Music and Spotify on price, features, sound quality, ease of use, and benefits for artists.
1. Music Library and Availability
Spotify has over 100 million songs and more than 5 million podcasts. It’s popular for early access to new independent music and unique playlists.
Apple Music also offers 100 million+ songs, plus exclusive releases from top artists that sometimes drop before Spotify.
Both have huge libraries. Apple Music often gets exclusives, but Spotify is known for its amazing playlists.
2. Audio Quality
Spotify lets Premium users listen to music at high quality (up to 320 kbps), but their promised lossless (hi-fi) sound hasn’t launched yet.
Apple Music already gives you lossless audio (very high sound quality) and special 3D-like sound called Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos — all for free with your subscription.
Sound-wise: Apple Music offers better quality, especially if you care about great audio.
3. Pricing Plans
Spotify has a free plan with ads and shuffle-only play on mobile. Premium costs around $9.99/month, with family and student plans.
Apple Music doesn’t have a free tier (only a free trial), but paid plans also start at $9.99/month with student and family options.
Pricing: Spotify is great if you want a free option. Apple Music’s cost makes sense if you want top sound quality.
4. User Experience & App Design
Spotify is simple to use and fun for sharing music with friends. It also gives you playlists made just for you, like Discover Weekly, Daily Mix, and Wrapped, based on what you listen to.
Apple Music works really well with Apple devices like iPhone, Siri, Apple Watch, and HomePod. It has a clean look and offers playlists picked by real music experts.
Experience: If you use Apple devices, Apple Music feels smooth and easy. If you use Android or Windows, Spotify might work better for you.
5. Playlists and Discovery
Spotify is famous for AI-driven playlists and discovery tools. Features like Spotify Wrapped and AI DJ help you find fresh music easily.
Apple Music focuses more on handpicked, editorial playlists. It offers polished playlists but doesn’t have as powerful AI tools as Spotify.
Discovery: Spotify leads with its music-finding features.
6. Offline Listening
Both let you download songs for offline listening if you pay for their premium plans. Apple Music’s downloads have better sound quality thanks to lossless audio.
7. Social Features
Spotify lets you connect with friends, share playlists, and even listen together in real time.
Apple Music has fewer social options and focuses more on your personal listening.
Socializing: Spotify is better for sharing and community.
8. Artist Benefits
Both platforms are important for musicians:
Spotify for Artists offers data analytics, playlist pitching, and audience insights.
Apple Music for Artists provides detailed stats, Shazam data, and Apple ecosystem perks.
Tip for Artists: To reach as many fans as possible, it’s smart to get your music on both platforms. Distributors like Gallery Vision make this easy by distributing your songs not only on Spotify and Apple Music but also on YouTube , Instagram, and over 150 other stores worldwide. This way, your music can be found wherever your audience listens.
Pros and Cons
Spotify Pros:
- Has a free plan with ads
- Great at helping you discover new music
- Works on almost all devices
- Easy to share music with friends
Spotify Cons:
- No lossless (hi-fi) audio yet
- Ads in the free version
- Free plan limits how you can play songs
- Can use more battery and data
Apple Music Pros:
- Offers lossless and Spatial Audio for better sound
- Works perfectly with Apple devices
- Has exclusive songs and artist content
- No ads during listening
Apple Music Cons:
- No free plan, only a trial
- Less advanced music discovery tools
- Fewer social features to share music
- Best experience mainly on Apple devices
FAQ:
1)Which is better, Apple Music or Spotify? It depends on what you need:
Love discovering new music?
Spotify gives smart playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix based on your taste.
Want the best sound quality?
Apple Music offers lossless audio and Spatial Audio at no extra cost.
Looking for a free option?
Spotify has a free plan (with ads), Apple Music offers only a trial.
Use Apple devices?
Apple Music works smoothly with iPhone, Siri, Apple Watch, and more.
Want social features?
Spotify lets you share playlists, see what friends are listening to, and more.
Like exclusive releases?
Apple Music often gets songs and albums first from big artists.
Final Thoughts:
Spotify is best for free music, social sharing, and personalized playlists.
Apple Music is great for high-quality sound, exclusive tracks, and Apple users.
Both have huge music libraries and strong features—it really comes down to what fits your style.
For artists: It’s smart to use both platforms. Distributors like Gallery Vision help you upload your music to Spotify, Apple Music, and 150+ platforms, so more people can hear your songs.
