Introduction
Music streaming services are a dime a dozen, but two that stand out from the crowd are Apple Music and Spotify. Both offer millions of songs, curated playlists, and on-demand streaming, but they differ in a few key areas. In this post, we'll compare the two services to help you choose which one is right for you.
Price
When it comes to prices, the two services are pretty similar. Apple Music starts at $9.99/month for an individual plan while Spotify offers a student plan at $4.99/month, a Family plan at $15.99/month, and an individual plan at $9.99/month. Overall, Spotify offers a wider range of options, including a free plan with ads, which Apple Music doesn't offer.
Music Library
Both services have a huge music library, with over 70 million songs available for streaming. However, there are some differences to keep in mind. Apple Music has a slightly larger library and exclusive content, but Spotify has more user-generated content, such as user-generated playlists and podcasts.
User Experience
Apple Music has a sleek, streamlined interface that's easy to use. Navigation is intuitive with easy access to music, videos, and playlists. The platform has recently introduced lossless audio for premium subscribers. Spotify is similarly easy to use, with a clean interface that's intuitive to navigate. The platform has also received praise for its algorithm-based recommendations, curated playlists, and music discovery.
Features
Both Apple Music and Spotify offer similar features such as lyrics display, music videos, podcast integration, and social media sharing. However, their respective focus and offerings differ slightly. Apple Music has been praised for its seamless integration with Siri and Apple's Homepod speakers. Spotify, on the other hand, offers a better experience for music discovery, with its algorithm-based recommendations and user-generated playlists.
Conclusion
Both Apple Music and Spotify are solid streaming services, boasting large music libraries and user-friendly interfaces. Ultimately, the choice comes down to personal preference and what features you value most. If you prefer a wider range of pricing plans, more user-generated content, and better music discovery features, Spotify may be the way to go. If you're invested in the Apple ecosystem, and have Siri at the core of that ecosystem, or you're a fan of exclusive content and a slightly larger music library, Apple Music has an edge.