Spotify or Apple Music , don't you know which service to hire? They are the two most popular options, and offer very similar features, such as the ability to play millions of songs, compatibility with a multitude of devices, “Premium” plans for students, and more. However, there are also many differences that you should take into account before opting for one of the two options. We compare both platforms and tell you which option is better.
Both services have a “Premium” mode that allows unlimited access to all its content, without advertising and with the possibility of downloading music to listen to it offline, in exchange for a monthly or annual cost. Apple Music, however, does not have a free version as it does include Spotify, where the user does not need to pay to listen to music, but they will find limitations when it comes to playing or playing songs , as well as advertising.
Spotify vs Apple Music: catalog, sound quality and content
Against Spotify, Apple Music wins in catalog. The Apple service has more than 75 million songs compared to the 50 million songs on Spotify . The Swedish platform, on the other hand, has the possibility of playing Podcast and audiobooks within the app, while Apple has an independent platform for this.
Regarding the playback quality, both Spotify and Apple Music offer high quality sound, with the possibility of modifying it to save mobile data. Apple's Streaming music platform has a point in its favor, and that is the inclusion of spatial audio with Dolby Atmos on a large number of tracks . This feature, available to all users and at no additional cost, allows you to listen to songs with a more immersive sound. As long as, yes, the user has compatible speakers or headphones, such as the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max or the speakers integrated in Apple devices. The Cupertino company also has tracks with lossless audio up to 4 bits at 192 kHz. Again, for compatible headsets and equipment.
Spotify and Apple Music have playlists of different categories and music genres, the latest hits, new releases, etc. The services also offer the user the possibility to create fully personalized playlists, with the songs they prefer, a proper name and the possibility of including a cover art. Apple Music and Spotify also recommend playlists based on music tastes or recently listened to songs.
The Spotify Playlists, yes, seem to be more successful based on the musical tastes of each person. A clear example is the weekly discovery playlist , which offers new songs or songs that have not yet been heard. Apple's playlist called “Mix: cheer up!”, Which is the most similar to Spotify's, also adds songs based on our taste, but the algorithm is more based on genre and artist and often includes old songs. .
What service has the best app?
Both platforms are available on a multitude of devices. Of course, the two services have a mobile app available on iOS and Android , as well as a version for the Apple Watch. Spotify also allows you to play songs from WearOS smart watches. The PC version, both in desktop app and web, are also available in both cases.
Some TVs Samsung, LG and Sony are also compatible with both apps, and Apple TV also supports both Spotify and Apple Music. The same happens in vehicles, prioritizing Apple Music in CarPlay and Spotify in Android Auto. For Tesla vehicles, only Spotify has a native app.
Regarding the design and interface, Apple Music has a much more careful aesthetic than that of Spotify . It is noticeable, above all, in the animated covers, in the playback interface and the design of the lyrics of the songs – a function that Spotify does not have. Everything has a very minimalist and detail-focused look. Navigation is done through the tabs displayed at the bottom of the screen. They are as follows.
Listen : section where the playlists created based on our tastes, recent reproductions, recommended albums and special sections appear. Browse : main tab where general playlists, new songs, albums, hits, etc. are displayed. Radio : radio playback tab with Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, etc. Library : Section where saved and downloaded music is stored, as well as custom-created PlayLists and added artists. Search : tab to search for artists, albums, songs, lists, etc. Apple Music also allows you to search for a song by its lyrics. Spotify: less aesthetics, more functionality Spotify, on the other hand, has a more basic aesthetic, with dark tones and neutral colors. It stands out, of course, for the playback videos that are shown in some songs and that replace the album covers. The app does not have the ability to see the lyrics of the songs, but it does have a section called “Storyline” where the artists explain the creation process, what the song is about, etc. Navigation is also very intuitive and includes three tabs at the bottom of the screen.
Home : recommendations based on our tastes or recently listened to songs, new music, featured artists, etc. Search : section to search songs, albums, artists or podcast. In addition, different categories are shown. Library : area where the music and podcasts added to the library are displayed, as well as those downloaded songs. The Apple Music application wins in appearance, but not in functionality . On mobile, its operation is correct, although sometimes bugs or small errors appear that force the app to be restarted. The desktop version itself is slower and tends to crash numerous times. Spotify, although its design is more sober, works considerably better and is more intuitive.
The plans and prices of Spotify and Apple Music
Image : Daniel Cañibano @danicanibano In general, Spotify and Apple Music have very similar plans. The standard, which includes the ability to listen to millions of songs without ads and with the availability of downloading them, is priced at 9.99 euros per month , both on Apple Music and Spotify. Both services also have a family plan, which is 14.99 euros per month in the case of Apple and 15.99 euros per month in Spotify (1 euro more expensive). The plan for students is 4.99 euros per month for both cases.
Additionally, Spotify has a Duo plan that allows two Premium accounts at a price of 12.99 euros . Apple Music, yes, has some advantages over Spotify. For example, it offers 3 free months of Premium subscription, while Spotify only has 1 month. Students with an Apple Music plan also have a free subscription to Apple TV Plus.
Spotify or Apple Music, which is better?
Apple Music has taken a giant leap over Spotify with the arrival of Dolby Atmos, which offers a very good sound experience when listening to music with compatible headphones . Its interface is also visually very attractive, and it has very interesting functions, such as the possibility of viewing the lyrics of the songs in an animated way. Spotify, on the other hand, has a more neutral aspect, but its app is more intuitive. It also includes a free plan to listen to music with advertising and integrates a podcast section within the application itself.
In general, Apple Music is a very good option for users who have an iPhone and have some other product from the Apple ecosystem, such as a HomePod mini or AirPods compatible with Dolby Atmos. The family plan is also cheaper than Spotify, so it is also a good option if the rest of the family have an Apple ID.
Spotify is also a very good alternative for Apple devices, as well as for those users who have an Android mobile and devices compatible with Spotify Connect, such as an Amazon Alexa or a Google Nest speaker. The desktop app is better optimized than Apple Music, so it is also a good idea if you listen to music from your PC.
