Apple Music vs Spotify - Which streaming service should you go for in 2024?

Apple Music vs Spotify 2024: This blog discusses the key differences between Spotify and Apple Music in terms of functionality, streaming quality, etc.

Well, one cannot deny the fact that Apple Music and Spotify are the two most popular music streaming apps out there! While both apps offer a similar catalog of music, making a choice between these two services might be a tad difficult for users. They often ask if Apple Music is better than Spotify or why Spotify is better than Apple Music. 

But there’s nothing to worry about, as we are here to answer all your questions! So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at a detailed comparison of Apple Music and Spotify to see if Apple Music is better than Spotify or if is it vice-versa. To truly understand which of these juggernaut music-streaming services is right for you.

Key differences between Spotify and Apple Music in 2024

We have compared the leaving Music Apps for Android and iOS, Apple Music and Spotify on the basis of price, features, availability, and more. Read the blog further to know the differences between Spotify and Apple Music in detail!

1.  Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Music Library:

The chatter between Spotify vs Apple Music and which service has a better music library is an ongoing discussion. With an impressive 60 million songs library, Apple Music library takes lead over Spotify's 50 million+ figure. Both platforms offer early access to certain albums from time to time, and Apple Music sometimes even offers exclusives for certain music videos. Another notable feature of Apple Music is the integration of the iTunes Library. With this feature, any music that you purchased via the iTunes Store or uploaded to iTunes Match will appear in your Apple Music library. So this means that you can browse your own music alongside Apple’s standard catalog.

Spotify also lets you play music from your device in the Spotify app, but it only works for local files. While Spotify offers podcasts within the app, Apple splits podcasts into a dedicated Podcasts app. If you wish to know more about this app, you can read the full review of the  Spotify app here.
Talking about the library limit, Apple Music allows you to store as many as 1,00,000 songs, while Spotify has a limit of 10,000 songs. So is Apple Music better than Spotify in this aspect, indeed it is.

Winner: Apple Music

2. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium User Interface:

When it comes to UI, Spotify has the best user interface. Its layout is much cleaner and better organized than Apple Music. The homepage of Spotify gives you instant access to content. When you open the app, you get recently played songs and playlists. It also provides you with suggestions on the basis of your listening habits.

Apple Music is also well-designed, but all the different tabs at the bottom of the screen tend to get in the way of accessing your content. Apple Music’s interface divides its features into separate sections rather than integrating them into a single scrollable page like Spotify. However, the colorful artwork makes Apple Music quite attractive to the eyes.  If you wish to know more about this app, you can read the full review of the  Apple Music app here. In this battle of Spotify vs Apple Music, the one mentioned below stands out as the winner.

Winner: Spotify

3. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Availability:

Both Spotify and Apple Music are available across popular devices such as iOS, Android, and Windows. However, many Spotify reviews mention that the platform also offers support with devices such as Smart TVs, Amazon devices, Samsung Gear, Xbox, PlayStation, and more. Apple Music, on the other hand, works best with Apple products.

Winner: Spotify

4. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Music Discovery:

Music discovery is an aspect that determines the true difference in Spotify vs Apple Music dialogue. Spotify is one great app that provides a lot of useful tools for finding music according to your preferences and tastes. This popular streaming service has tailored playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar that are automatically updated each week with new songs based on your listening habits. With Spotify, you can also create, share, and follow playlists of any kind — including those shared by friends — with a simple click. Additionally, with the Collaborative Playlist feature, you can create playlists with your friends.

Talking about Apple Music, when you register, you are required to tap on floating red circles highlighting different genres of music and artists so that the service can get a sense of your taste. Using the Account tab, you can reselect your favorite genres and artists anytime.  Clicking on the 'For You' heart brings up a list of regularly updated playlists such as Get Up!, Chill, New Music, and Favourites. The playlists are curated by a “team of experts’’ as claimed by Apple.

Spotify and Apple Music also feature radio stations based around your favorite genres, artists, or tracks. Apple Music also has a separate station called Apple Music 1, which is hosted by actual DJs and is available for listening in real-time.

In our opinion, Spotify’s algorithmic recommendations for new music based on the listening habits of users is the most on-point. Also, Discover Weekly and Release Radar segments give it the edge over Apple Music. So, until Apple Music can compete with this algorithm-based approach, we will give Spotify the win.

Winner: Spotify

5. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Sound Quality: 

Apple Music streams at 256Kbps in AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format, while Spotify offers the Ogg Vorbis format at 320Kbps for Spotify Premium users and up to 160Kbps for people with a free account. The quality of both music streaming apps is good for casual music lovers. However, if you live in an area with an unstable internet connection, you can rely on Spotify’s variable streaming quality options to get an uninterrupted playback experience.

Spotify also lets Premium users download and save up to 10,000 songs at a time on up to five different devices. Also, spotify HIFI feature is a new development that further elevates the quality of their content. So is Apple Music better than Spotify in the Apple Music vs Spotify quality race, well in this aspect too, Spotify takes the cake.

Winner: Spotify

6. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium EQ Functionality:

The possibility of customizing the music via equalizer is another key determinant of the winner in the battle between Spotify vs Apple Music. Spotify’s graphical equalizer allows you to tailor the sound of your music as per your preference. You also get several presets to choose from if you like.

On the other hand, Apple Music doesn’t really offer any extensive EQ functionality. In fact, all you get is a list of EQ presets to choose from, which are only available to iOS users via the Settings app.

Winner: Spotify

Also read: Best Music equalizer apps for ios

7. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Recommendations & Streaming Options:

Spotify and Apple Music both exploit advanced algorithms for personalized music recommendations. However, their approaches towards personalization drastically deviate. Spotify has carved out a name for itself with its "Discover Weekly" and "Daily Mix" playlists. These selections use listening habits to source music specific to individual tastes.

On the other hand, many Apple Music reviews mention that the platform uses its integration with the broader Apple ecosystem for personalization. It provides tailored suggestions that take into account music preferences as well as other media consumption. This consumption spans across Apple devices. Offering a more comprehensive recommendation system could appeal to users who are heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem.

8. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Platform Integration:

Spotify boasts broad compatibility across a wide range of devices, including speakers, TVs, and cars, alongside its standalone mobile and desktop apps. This extensive compatibility makes Spotify a versatile choice for users who use multiple and varied brands of technology. 

On the other hand, Apple Music offers deep integration with Apple hardware. For example, it allows users to use Siri voice commands and provides enhanced features on Apple Watch. Thus making it a seamless choice for users who own Apple devices. This integration enhances user experience through features like handoff between devices and exclusive use of Spatial Audio.

9. Spotify Premium vs Apple Music Exclusive Content:

Both platforms occasionally secure exclusive releases from artists, but Apple Music tends to emphasize exclusive content and artist collaborations more prominently. Apple Music has hosted exclusive music releases, live concerts, and interviews, which can be a significant draw for fans of specific artists. 

Spotify, while occasionally offering exclusives, focuses more on accessibility and breadth of content. This includes podcasts and a vast music library. The platform also features Spotify DJ, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a live radio station feel.

10. Spotify Premium vs Apple Music Offline Features:

Both services provide the option of downloading songs for offline listening. However, there are subtle differences between these services and how users can access this feature. Spotify offers different subscription levels. It features a free tier. This free tier has limited offline listening capabilities. 

In contrast, Apple Music requires a paid subscription for any offline listening. It typically also offers higher-quality audio downloads. These exceed the quality of Spotify’s free options. The choice may come down to the user's willingness to pay. It may also hinge on their demand for high-quality audio.

11. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Social Features:

Spotify often holds the edge in the realm of social features. It has options that enable users to view their friends' current music choices. For example, their Spotify QR codes allow users to share their playlists easily via any messaging app. Users can also create playlists in collaboration and they can directly share music on social media. Spotify further augments its community engagement through integration with platforms like Facebook. 

Apple Music has attempted to compete by advancing its social features. These improvements include ways to more easily share playlists and more interactive artist pages. However, Apple Music still tends to concentrate more on an individual's music experience. This contrasts with Spotify's emphasis on community engagement.

12. Apple Music vs Spotify Premium Price and Subscription Options:

Coming to Apple Music vs Spotify price. An individual Apple Music plan costs $9.99/month, which is the same as a Spotify subscription of $9.99/month rate. For other Apple Music versus Spotify plans, check below:

Winner: Draw

Which is Better Apple Music or Spotify Premium in 2024.

So, is Apple Music better than Spotify? Or who really is the winner in the conversation of Spotify vs Apple Music? After comparing both the streaming services, it won’t be wrong to say that Spotify tops the race. While Apple Music has come a long way since its inception, Spotify reigns supreme due to its easy accessibility and brilliantly fresh music discovery playlists. 
Apple Music's exclusive releases and human-curated playlists make it a tough competitor, but as of now, Spotify still has the edge. We hope this article cleared your doubts about the question: what's better Spotify or Apple Music? Let us know which one works the best for you?