Our Verdict
If you use mainly Apple devices and like the idea of multiple wireless station play your favourite genres , then Apple Music is a heavy armed service with plenty to offer . The pick of cart track is as wide-ranging as Spotify , and if you ’re uncoerced to research the genre catalog then you ’ll encounter a literal earth of music . Spotify remains our favourite at this head though , as the port feel less cluttered and the playlists more tightly focussed on the euphony we tend to enjoy . It ’s very close though , and you could be sure that whichever one you choose , you ’ll be very happy with all the music available to you for a small amount each calendar month .
Apple Music and Spotify are two of the most popular music streaming service in the world . While Spotify has been enjoyed by hearer since 2009 , Apple Music is a relative freshman , launching in 2015 . Since then , Apple ’s service has quickly grown so that in a recentStatista reportit revealed that Spotify now accounted for 35 % of worldwide market plowshare , with Apple Music in second spot on 19 % .
So , which one is the best for you ? Here ’s our comparing of the melodious monolith .
How much do they cost?
As you would imagine with two fledged table service in a well - established and militant area , the pricing for the two platform is jolly much the same . Both put up single report , family plans and student tier , with Spotify adding a couple of superfluous option . Here ’s how they break down :
The two additional tiers on Spotify are the power to use the service for free on the background or mobile , but you will have to put up with regular adverts suggesting you sign up to a Premium plan , plus there ’s the serious drawback of not being able-bodied to download euphony to your gadget , so you have to be happy with cyclosis - only . Saying that , if you ’re at dwelling a lot or work at your desk with earphone , then it can be a very utile fashion to enjoy music .
The Duo plan intend a couple can sign up for the service with only a small gain in the monthly disbursement . Spotify also produce regular play list that unite the Song you both care , which is either a great idea or a terrible one depending on how nearly your melodious tastes align .
Both Apple Music and Spotify offers Family packages which are essentially six individual agio accounts that act autonomous of each other but fare under a exclusive , decreased toll . you’re able to also try the services for free before you devote , with Spotify offering a 1 - calendar month run and Apple Music a more generous 3 - month period .
if you are a scholarly person here’show to get Apple Music for half price .
How many songs do they have?
Both servicing offer a massive selection of record album and songs , with 70million+ available on either platform . These include album , podcasts and even old receiving set display . Apple did have some exclusive album and live performances for a while , but this seems to have reduce to the occasional offer now . Perhaps we ’ll see an inflow of new fabric once instrumentalist can start gigging in earnest once more .
What audio quality do they offer
The audio quality of Apple Music is currently confine to 256kbps . That means it ’s lower than the 320kbps offered by the Premium option in Spotify , but in high spirits than the 160kbps volunteer in the free translation .
However , it ’s significant to note that Apple Music is AAC while Spotify ’s tracks are MP3 , and 256Kbps AAC is often consider the skillful formatting . The more deserning audiophiles among us will know that MP3 files are both magnanimous , and also lose more information due to compression , result in a slightly bad audio experience when compared to AAC .
How easy is it to find content?
One of the self-aggrandising buzzwords when it come to medicine service is ‘ discoverability ’ which is just a fancy way of trace how easy user notice it to turn up songs or be introduced to newfangled ones they might like .
Spotify playlists and search features
tap on any one of them opens a further pageboy on which you ’ll find sub - categories that make things clearer . For example , tapping Cooking & Dining then present you with a range of playlists ( in this case including Kitchen Swagger , Dinner Music , Mellow Dinner , and more ) , plus food relate podcasts . knock on other genres , you ’ll also find democratic playlists and new releases uncommitted .
One of Spotify ’s define features is playlist , and the service produces several bespoke ones each day base on euphony that it conceive you ’ll like , plus there ’s the Discover Weekly playlists which mixes young and erstwhile song together into a multi - hour selection that will keep you busy for a while . Obviously , the longer you practice the servicing the more accurate the play list become , so be prepared for some left - field choices when you first rig - up your account .
See also : Why I switched from Apple Music to Spotify .
Apple Music playlists and search
Apple Music sorts things in slightly different way to Spotify . Along the bottom of the independent page you have four master options for breakthrough : mind Now , Browse , Radio , and Search .
The first is where you ’ll find your late wreak albums and playlists , plus a Top Picks part that the service of process thinks will be to your liking . The sizing of the Top Picks graphics does mean that they dominate the screen door , in demarcation to the smaller layout adopted by Spotify , so you do n’t see much else without scrolling . take the Made For You playlist represent in a interchangeable way to the Daily Mix on Spotify , with a ‘ radio ’ station create that plays songs similar to the ones you take heed to the most .
It ’s not a bad idea , but you may only see the next track that ’s due to diddle rather than the entire play list that ’s offering on Spotify . There are pot of other choice on the Listen Now page , which include the Essentials playlists that have the good of certain artists within a specific genre , plus theme playlists and unexampled releases .
tap the Browse option results in more playlists , with a stress on young release , highlight genres and a few choose subject , such as Your Afternoon Soundtrack , Audio Comfort Food , and the Daily Top 100 singles chart from different parts of the world . Scrolling down to the bottom reveals selections for Categories , Charts and Music Videos . tap the first break a long , long list of genre , as wide-ranging as C - papa , Baile Funk , Indian Independent , Islamic Music , Kannada , Sertanjeo , Vallenato , and plenty of other offer about which we have no idea either . Select one and you then have a more received Sir Frederick Handley Page with playlists , new releases , notable creative person and of the essence albums . Several point for thoroughness , but unless you know what you ’re looking for , it does seem a little like a shot in the iniquity .
One of the standout features for Apple Music is the Radio discussion section . In here you ’ll observe Apple Music 1 , Apple Music Hits and Apple Country Music , which are live wireless post created specifically and exclusively for the service of process . These are hosted by several famous dj , and you’re able to also hear to former show that are sort either by DJ or Edgar Albert Guest artist hosts . To compliment these , there are a selection of musical style stations that do n’t features any DJs at all . The range of options here are a real strongpoint for Apple Music , so long as you ’re happy to commit the choices that Apple ’s servers make when it comes to your entertainment .
eventually , there ’s the Search choice , which behaves likewise to the one on Spotify , with a lookup bar , plus musical genre and themed segment that offer playlists , essential albums , new releases and hit bingle . Why it ’s separated from the Browse segment is something of a mystery , as it only serves to make the user experience more confusing .
What devices can I use them on?
As you ’d expect , Apple Music is focussed mainly on the company ’s own products . you’re able to use the app on iPhone , iPad , Mac , Homepod , Apple Watch and Apple TV . A web reading also makes it available for Windows and Chromebook users or you could get to the service via iTunes . Apple Music is back up by smart speakers , plus there is a dedicated Android app . While the latter has improved over the class , the reviews on the Google Play Store hint that it ’s not exactly a neat experience at the moment .
Spotify does n’t have the favour son syndrome of Apple , so you’re able to use the service on practically any equipment with the same point of performance . Android , iPhone , iPad , Apple Watch , Mac , Windows , PlayStation , Xbox , Amazon Alexa , Sonos , and just about any other machine that support streaming music .
