Spotify vs Apple Music: Which audio platform is better?

Streaming has become the primary way people consume audio, offering instant access to millions of podcasts and songs. Among the platforms available, Spotify and Apple Music stand out as two giants in the industry, each boasting millions of subscribers worldwide.

Here at Memberful, we offer an integration with podcast hosting libraries using an existing RSS to create a premium podcast for members, so we know all about the importance of choosing the right streaming service.

From sound quality and user experience to pricing and personalization, each platform offers unique features that cater to different user needs. Understanding these differences is crucial to finding the service that best aligns with your preferences. Let’s compare Spotify and Apple Music:

History and market share

Founded in 2006 in Sweden, Spotify quickly became a pioneer in music streaming, offering an innovative platform where users could listen to millions of songs for free with ads or through a paid subscription. With its vast music library and user-friendly interface, Spotify has grown to dominate the music streaming market.

Spotify remains the global leader in music streaming, with a significant market share of around 31%, and over 500 million users, including 226 million premium subscribers. Its dominance is particularly strong in Europe and North America. Spotify’s user base tends to skew younger, with a strong following among millennials and Gen Z.

Apple Music launched in 2015 as Apple's answer to the growing popularity of streaming services. Built on the foundation of iTunes, Apple Music offers a seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, appealing to users already invested in Apple products.

Apple Music holds the second-largest share of the music streaming market, with around 15% of the market and over 88 million subscribers. It is particularly well-established in the United States and, while also popular among younger audiences, attracts a more diverse age group, partly due to its integration with Apple’s broad product portfolio.

Business models and pricing

Spotify operates on a freemium model, where users can choose between a free ad-supported version and a premium ad-free subscription. In contrast, Apple Music offers a subscription-only service with no free tier, relying on its integration with Apple's hardware and software to attract users.

Spotify on desktop

Spotify and Apple Music both provide family and student plans, making it easier for multiple users to share a subscription at a reduced cost. These plans are ideal for households or students looking to save money while enjoying full access to the platform's features.

Spotify pricing

Spotify offers several pricing tiers, including a free, ad-supported version, and premium plans that remove ads and provide additional features like offline listening and better audio quality. The Premium plan costs $9.99 per month, with discounts for students and families, with a one-month free trial.

Apple Music pricing

Apple Music's subscription model is straightforward, with individual plans priced at $10.99 per month. The service also offers discounts for students and families, with a family plan available for $16.99 per month, allowing up to six accounts, after a three-month free trial.

Setting up a paid (or premium) podcast with Memberful

With Memberful you can create a secure, paid podcast for your members using your existing RSS feed so you can build a connection with your audience and drive revenue. Memberful works with your existing podcast host to ensure that only members can access new episodes For more information, visit our guide on how to create a paid podcast or you can see how to Submit a paid podcast to Spotify.

Audio quality and library

Both platforms boast libraries of over 100 million audio files, covering a wide range of genres, podcasters and musicians. Spotify has heavily invested in podcast content, offering a vast array of shows including original podcasts and exclusives. Apple Music focuses more on music, and often secures exclusive releases plus original content and Beats 1 Radio, a 24/7 global music station.

Apple Music on desktop

Both services excel in offering global and localized content. Spotify’s algorithms help surface local artists based on user location, while Apple Music offers curated playlists and radio stations tailored to different regions

Spotify audio quality

Spotify offers different audio quality settings depending on the user’s subscription. Free users can stream at 160 kbps, while premium subscribers can stream at up to 320 kbps. However, Spotify’s audio quality remains standard compared to high-resolution options.

Apple Music audio quality

Apple Music provides higher-quality streaming, offering 256 kbps AAC as the standard. Additionally, Apple Music supports lossless audio and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, providing a richer and more immersive listening experience for those with compatible devices. Apple Music stands out with its Hi-res audio and Lossless formats.

User interface and experience

Both platforms offer user-friendly experiences, though Spotify’s interface is often praised for being more intuitive and straightforward. Apple Music, while slightly more complex, offers better accessibility features, making it easier for users with disabilities to navigate the app.

Spotify’s user interface is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible to users of all ages. The app is well-organized, with intuitive navigation and personalized playlists featured prominently on the home screen.

Apple Music offers a sleek, visually appealing interface that aligns with the design language of other Apple products. While slightly less intuitive than Spotify, it offers a more polished and cohesive experience, especially for users familiar with Apple’s ecosystem.

Personalization, discoverability, and social

Spotify allows users to create and share playlists easily, with the option to collaborate with friends. Apple Music offers similar features but places a stronger emphasis on curated content rather than user-generated playlists.

The Spotify mobile app

Both platforms offer social features, but Spotify’s are more robust, allowing users to follow friends, share playlists, and see what others are listening to in real-time. Apple Music’s social features are more limited but still allow users to share music and see what friends are listening to.

Spotify algorithms and playlists

Spotify is renowned for its powerful recommendation algorithms, which generate personalized playlists like "Discover Weekly" and "Release Radar." These features are highly effective in helping users discover new music tailored to their tastes.

Apple Music algorithms and playlists

Apple Music also offers personalized playlists, such as "For You" and "New Music Mix," though its recommendation system is often considered less advanced than Spotify’s. That said, Apple Music’s curated playlists, created by expert editors, offer a human touch that some users prefer.

Offline listening and downloads

Both services offer seamless offline listening experiences, though Apple Music’s integration with iOS allows for smoother transitions between online and offline modes. Spotify, however, offers more control over download quality, allowing users to manage storage space effectively.

Downloading music on Spotify

Spotify Premium subscribers can download up to 10,000 songs on up to five devices for offline listening. The process is straightforward, and the downloaded music remains available as long as the subscription is active.

Downloading music on Apple Music

Apple Music allows users to download their entire library for offline listening, with no specific limit on the number of downloads. This makes it a more flexible option for those who want to have access to their music without an internet connection.

Integration with other services and compatibility

Here at Memberful we care greatly about integration across platforms.

The Apple Music mobile app

While Spotify excels in third-party integration, Apple Music’s compatibility is more limited outside the Apple ecosystem.

Spotify integration with other apps and devices

Spotify is available on almost all devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and even some smart TVs and gaming consoles. It integrates with a wide range of third-party apps and devices, including gaming consoles, smart speakers, and car systems. Its integration with Google Assistant and Alexa also allows for voice control.

Apple Music integration within the Apple ecosystem

Apple Music, while primarily designed for Apple devices like the iPhone and AirPods, is also available on Android and Windows, though with limited features. Apple Music is deeply integrated within the Apple ecosystem, allowing users to sync with Siri and iCloud plus across devices like iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

Customer support and reliability

Both services are generally reliable, but Apple Music’s deep integration with iOS gives it a slight edge in terms of performance on Apple devices. Spotify, while highly reliable, may experience occasional issues on non-Apple platforms.

Spotify customer support

Spotify offers customer support through various channels, including online help centers, community forums, and social media. However, the lack of direct customer service options like phone support can be frustrating for users with urgent issues.

Apple Music customer support

Apple Music benefits from Apple’s robust customer support system, offering 24/7 phone support, live chat, and an extensive online knowledge base. This makes resolving issues easier and faster compared to Spotify.

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FAQs for Spotify vs Apple Music

Still unsure whether to go with Apple Music or Spotify? Ultimately, the best service for you depends on your specific needs and preferences but hopefully these FAQs should help you further when making a decision:

Which service offers better audio quality?

Apple Music generally offers better audio quality with its support for lossless and Hi-Res audio, especially for users with compatible devices. Spotify’s audio quality is good but doesn’t yet match the high-resolution offerings of Apple Music.

Can I use Spotify and Apple Music simultaneously?

Yes, it’s possible to use both Spotify and Apple Music simultaneously. Some users choose to subscribe to both services to take advantage of each platform’s unique features.

Which service is better for music discovery?

Spotify is often considered superior for music discovery, thanks to its powerful recommendation algorithms and personalized playlists. Apple Music also offers good music discovery features but relies more on human curation than algorithms.

Conclusion: Which is better, Spotify or Apple Music?

When choosing between Spotify and Apple Music, consider your device ecosystem, preferred music genres, and how much you value music discovery versus audio quality.

Spotify excels in music discovery with recommendations and personalized playlists, social features, and cross-device compatibility, while Apple Music offers superior sound quality with lossless audio, exclusive releases, and seamless integration with Apple devices.

We hope you find the right audio streaming platform for your needs!