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When compared, Apple Music and Spotify both rank among the world’s largest music streaming services. We’ll show you what features, pricing, and content they offer so you can make the best choice for your music experience.
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Comparison of Streaming Services
Apple Music is Apple’s answer to the music streaming service Spotify. Basically, the service works just like its competitor. However, Apple Music offers some new features. Here is a direct comparison:
- Availability: You can use both services on iOS and Android as well as in a browser. Alternatively, you can also use Apple Music on a PC or Mac via iTunes. Spotify also offers a desktop version of its service.
- Content: According to their own figures, both providers offer around 100 million tracks.
- Offline mode: Both Spotify and Apple Music offer an offline mode with a paid subscription. This allows you to download your favorite music and enjoy it even without an internet connection.
- Special features: One of the standout features of Apple Music is the lossless sound quality in ALAC format with up to 24-bit and 192 kHz, which you can enable if desired. You can also enjoy immersive 3D sound with Dolby Atmos.
- Apple also offers live radio stations such as Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country, featuring exclusive shows and DJ sets. Anyone with an Apple ID can listen to these stations.
- Spotify offers exclusive podcasts. Through playlists like “Discover Weekly,” Spotify’s algorithm regularly provides you with personalized music recommendations.
Pricing and Streaming Quality
The two services also differ very little in terms of pricing.
- Free offer: Spotify offers a free, ad-supported subscription. This allows you to stream unlimited music, but you’ll hear ads between tracks. Offline mode and the ability to choose any track are reserved for Premium customers.
- Apple Music does not offer a free version. You can only listen to Apple Music radio stations for free.
- Premium Subscription Price: The standard Premium subscription costs 12.99 euros/month on Spotify and 10.99 euros/month on Apple Music.
- Price for students: Students pay €6.99/month for the Premium subscription on Spotify, while Apple Music costs €5.99/month and also offers access to Apple TV+.
- Prices for the Family Plan: Both streaming services offer a family subscription: On Spotify, families pay €21.99 for up to six accounts. On Apple Music, a family of up to 6 people pays €16.99 per month.
- Trial period: You can try the paid versions of Spotify for free for one month (students get two months!), just like Apple Music.
- Quality: On Spotify, free users stream at 160 kbps, while Premium users enjoy music at 320 kbps. Apple Music streams at 256 kbps by default. However, you can enable Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos here to benefit from higher sound quality.
You can’t go wrong with either Apple or Spotify
In conclusion, it’s clear that Apple Music and Spotify are very similar.
- The streaming offerings of the two are almost identical. Apple stands out primarily for its lossless sound quality and seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem.
- Spotify impresses above all with its algorithms that suggest music tailored to your tastes. It also offers some exclusive podcasts that aren’t available on Apple Music.
- If you don’t want to spend money on a music streaming service, the free Spotify subscription is the right choice. However, you’ll have to put up with occasional ads and limited features.
