Have you ever felt like you have too many choices? We spend ages picking a movie on Netflix, deciding what to order for dinner, and then we have to choose how we even listen to music. For the longest time, I didn’t even think about it. I used Spotify. It was the first music app I ever really got into, and it just… worked. But the world of tech never stands still, and the buzz around Apple Music has gotten too loud for me to ignore.
It led me down a path of asking some serious questions. Am I on the right team? Is there a better music experience out there that I’m completely missing out on?
So, I went down a rabbit hole. I really got into the weeds of the whole Spotify vs. Apple Music thing because I genuinely wanted to know what the real differences were, besides just the app icon. Now that I’m on the other side, I’m laying out everything I found for you. We’re going to cover it all—from the monthly cost to how they help you find that next banger you’ll have on repeat. I’ve even pulled in some comments from other users so it’s not just my opinion. Let’s dig in.
The Popularity Contest
First things first, let’s talk about popularity. You might be wondering just how many people use Spotify vs Apple Music. Well, when you look at the numbers, you see just how massive both of these services are. But you also see that one of them has way more fans in the stands.
Here’s a simple table to show you how many people pay for these services.
| Platform | Paying Subscribers |
| Spotify | Over 275 million |
| Apple Music | Around 95 million |
Right away, you can see that Spotify has a massive lead. A huge reason for this is its famous free plan. For years, Spotify has let people listen to music for free, as long as they’re willing to put up with some ads. This was a brilliant way to get millions of people onto the platform. Apple Music, on the other hand, has always been a premium, pay-only service. But don’t mistake Apple Music for an underdog. With the power of Apple behind it, its 95 million subscribers are incredibly loyal, and that number is always growing.
The Price Tag
Let’s talk about the price, because that’s usually the first thing anyone wants to know. We all work hard for our money, and no one wants to pay too much for their tunes. The good news is, Spotify vs Apple Music price are pretty much the same, so there are no big surprises.
- For just you (Individual Plan): If you’re flying solo, Apple Music has a slight edge at $10.99 per month. Spotify comes in just a dollar higher at $11.99 per month.
- For the whole crew (Family Plan): This is the best bang for your buck if you have a family or even a group of roommates. Both services let up to six people have their own separate accounts under one bill. Apple Music’s family plan is $16.99 per month, while Spotify’s is $19.99 per month.
- For students (Student Plan): If you’re currently a student, you get a fantastic deal. Both platforms offer a student discount, bringing the price down to just $5.99 per month.
The game-changer, as I mentioned, is Spotify’s free tier. Apple Music doesn’t have one. If you can handle advertisements interrupting your playlists and don’t mind less control over what you’re listening to on mobile, Spotify’s free version is an amazing offer. You get access to millions of songs without ever having to open your wallet.
There’s also a clever trick to saving money with Apple Music, as one user pointed out: “I do Apple Music because of the bundle. It’s cheaper if you use other services too. Otherwise, I’m indifferent.” This is a huge point. If you use other Apple things like Apple TV+, iCloud, or the gaming service Apple Arcade, you can sign up for Apple One. It bundles all those services together for a single, lower monthly price, which can make Apple Music feel almost free.
Which One Sounds Better?
For those of you who really care about how your music sounds—the true audiophiles out there—this is a big deal. And in the category of pure sound quality, there is a very clear winner.
When it comes to pure sound quality, Apple Music is in a league of its own. Right out of the box, your subscription gets you something called “Lossless Audio.” Here’s the best way I can describe it: listening to regular streaming is like looking at a great photo of a painting, but listening to Lossless is like being right there in the museum, seeing every single brushstroke. You hear everything. They also throw in “Spatial Audio,” which is this wild 3D sound feature that makes you feel like you’re standing in the middle of the band.
Don’t just take my word for it. People online say the same thing, like one user who said, “Apple Music sounds much much better,” and another who called the quality “unmatched.” And you know what? They’re right. With good headphones, the difference is huge.
As for Spotify? Look, it sounds fine. It’s perfect for when you’re driving or just have your regular earbuds in. You probably won’t even notice anything’s missing. But if you listen closely, it doesn’t have that same sparkle as Apple Music. Everyone keeps waiting for Spotify to release its high-quality “HiFi” option, but who knows when that will actually happen.
Want to listen Spotify on your desktop? Spotify – Web Player
Finding Your Next Favorite Song (Discovery)
I think a music app’s real magic is how it introduces you to new stuff. You know, when it finds that one song that becomes your anthem for the next month. And the way Spotify and Apple Music do this is totally different.
This is Spotify’s superpower. The platform is legendary for its music discovery algorithms. It feels like it has a Ph.D. in your personal music taste. Playlists like “Discover Weekly” (which gives you 30 new song recommendations every Monday) and “Release Radar” are famous for being scarily accurate. It constantly serves you up new music that you actually want to listen to.
And this is what everyone seems to agree on. I saw one comment that just said, “Apple Music sucks for song discovery,” and honestly, it captures a popular feeling. Apple gives you tons of playlists made by actual people, and they’re good, but it’s a bit like getting recommendations from a cool radio DJ. Spotify, on the other hand, feels like getting recommendations from your best friend who just gets you. That personal touch makes all the difference.
The Feel of the App
You’re going to spend a lot of time in this app, so you should probably enjoy looking at it. Both Spotify and Apple Music look sharp, but their personalities are night and day.
Spotify is your cozy, dark-mode friend. It’s all about the playlists and makes it incredibly easy to just jump in and find what you’re looking for without a fuss.
Apple Music is clean, white, and airy—it’s pure Apple. It fits right into an iPhone’s look and feels like it was always meant to be there. The way Siri works with it is a great perk. But for some, it might feel a little too perfect, almost like a museum, especially if your playlists are more on the chaotic side.
Music is for Sharing
Music has always been social, and your streaming app should be too. This is another area where the two platforms have very different philosophies.
Spotify basically begs you to share music. Making a playlist with your friends for a trip is super easy and one of my favorite features. Then there’s the “Friend Activity” feed on the computer, which lets you be nosy and see what everyone’s listening to. And don’t even get me started on Spotify Wrapped—it takes over the internet for a week every year for a reason. It just feels like a big party.
Apple Music, on the other hand, is more of a “listening-in-your-bedroom-with-headphones-on” kind of vibe. You can text a link to a playlist to a friend, sure, but that’s pretty much it. You can’t peek at what your friends are playing or work on a playlist together inside the app.
What About Podcasts?
These days, it’s not just about music. It’s about all audio. Both services have jumped into the world of podcasts.
Spotify’s goal is to keep you in their app for everything audio. They’ve gone all-in on podcasts, even grabbing a bunch of exclusive shows you won’t find anywhere else. The convenience is awesome—you can switch from your workout playlist straight to a podcast without ever leaving the app.
Apple pretty much invented the podcast scene, but they keep things separate. You’ll listen to your music in the Music app and your podcasts in the Apple Podcasts app. It’s not a huge deal, but having to hop between apps when you want to switch from a song to a show can be a little clunky.
Pros & Cons
Let’s put all of that into a simple, at-a-glance list to help you weigh your options.
Spotify
| The Good Stuff (Pros) | The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons) |
| The best for finding new music | Sound quality is good, but not the best |
| Offers a great free plan with ads | Paid plans are slightly more expensive |
| Amazing social and sharing features | Can feel a bit cluttered |
| All your audio (music & podcasts) in one app |
Apple Music
| The Good Stuff (Pros) | The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons) |
| Incredible, high-fidelity sound quality | You have to pay; no free option |
| Perfect for people who own Apple devices | Not very social; a more solo experience |
| Great value if you get the Apple One bundle | Music discovery isn’t as personalized |
| A very clean and organized interface | Podcasts are in a whole other app |
So, What’s the Final Decision? Spotify Vs Apple Music
As I discovered, choosing between Spotify and Apple Music isn’t about picking the “best” one, but about picking the “best one for you.” It all comes down to what you value most.
Go with Apple Music if:
- Sound quality is your number one priority.
- You are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, Mac, etc.).
- You want a clean interface focused on your music library.
Go with Spotify if:
- You love discovering new music and want the best recommendations.
- You want the option of a free plan.
- You love sharing your music journey with friends.
So where did I land after all this? I’m staying with Spotify. For me, it feels like home. It knows my moods, it knows my history, and its discovery features are just too good to give up. The thought of rebuilding all my playlists and teaching a new app my taste from scratch feels exhausting. As one user perfectly described the feeling, “I’m personally a Spotify fan. It’s just so hard for me to switch because I have so much music on there.” My Spotify has become a living record of my life’s moments, big and small, and that’s something I’m not ready to leave behind.
I hope this breakdown helps you find your own musical home. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either. Just pick one, press play, and enjoy the tunes.
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