Apple Music vs. Spotify Buyer's Guide

[wbeasley]

I pay for Spotify. It’s the interface. It works on all my devices.
It’s easier to find things.

Sadly the payments to artists suck.
And the long promised higher quality files hasn’t happened.
They will probably want more money if that ever happens too.

 

[Pecka]

With Apple Music there is often a delay before the song starts to play, as if a hard drive needed to spin up on the server side or something. Then it can suddenly decide to stop playing, and I have to switch to a different song for it to work again.

With Spotify, the overall experience is better except that the main window in the macOS app often moves to random locations for me.

 

[bulletspongesquarepants]

Never used Apple Music TBH. But i prefer Tidal over Spotify for music and use Spotify mostly for podcasts. Tidal has much higher quality and better algorithm for suggestions.

 

[contacos]

Never used Apple Music TBH. But i prefer Tidal over Spotify for music and use Spotify mostly for podcasts. Tidal has much higher quality and better algorithm for suggestions.

I used to have Tidal when you could get it for cheap in Argentina. I didn’t like that it doesn’t seem to automatically download the songs when new ones were added to a curated playlist like you had to actively open each playlist for it to start the download like wtf. Did they improve this?

 

[bcvthul]

I use tidal in combination with roon. Tidal for a (small) increase of quality. Roon is nice to combine your own music libary and tidal and to have the background information of the music.

I have tried Apple Music a few time but my experience is just terrible. I think that apple tries to push it’s own music iso my preferences…

 

[Carel]

Not sure why anyone who is using Apple devices and is actually into music would use Spotify.

The only way to comfortably (so no using extra cables, dongles, an iPad or a Macbook) stream AM to a hifi system is using the lossy Airplay 2 connection, even when playing lossless files. All music streams go through your phone to the Airplay 2 receiver. With Spotify connect my hifi systems takes over the music stream and I can use the remote of my amp to control the music....and I can use my phone for something else.

 

[ozaz]

As someone who uses multiple platforms, the superior interoperability of Spotify, particularly when it comes to casting, makes it the winner for me. Spotify supports Airplay (on iOS), Google Cast (on both iOS and Android), and Spotify Connect (on iOS and Android). Apple Music obviously supports Airplay on iOS, and it also supports Google Cast, but Google Cast support is only in the Android app which is annoying. Some might claim Spotify Connect is irrelevant, but it does make it possible to cast from the Spotify app on Android device to Sonos speakers, which is important to me.

 

[Veinticinco]

Is MR being paid for conducting this (what appears to be) market research on behalf of Apple?

 

[dominiongamma]

Never used Apple Music TBH. But i prefer Tidal over Spotify for music and use Spotify mostly for podcasts. Tidal has much higher quality and better algorithm for suggestions.

Tidal is still a thing ?

 

[brownpaw]

I definitely prefer Spotify’s interface. And the main killer feature for me is that if you make a “radio station” based on a song, it’s an actual playlist that you can browse. On Apple Music if you make a station, you can’t actually view the playlist — you can only see one song, the one that’s playing, at a time. Please let me know if I’m incorrect and there’s a way to do this.

However I switched to Apple Music after the last Spotify price hike, and get it via Apple One. The fact that I can share the subscription with my entire Apple family without worrying about geolocation “household” shenanigans is a big win.

 

[iLondoner]

I am a dinosaur and prefer to build my own music library and curated playlists.

 

[Ameer_1]

Don’t forget you could get 3 month free of Apple Music

Apple Free Apple Music for up to 3 months (new or returning subscribers only) - Best Buy

Shop Apple Free Apple Music for up to 3 months (new or returning subscribers only) at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee.

www.bestbuy.com

 

[SpringKid]

Since I have a lot of “locally” stored music (now uploaded to the cloud), available to stream on all my devices, Spotify is simply not an option for me. And the Spotify UI has never clicked with me.

 

[hagar]

- Is funneling the billions of revenues fromnSpotify into funding an AI-controlled military weapons startup.

Can you elaborate on that?

 

[SpringKid]

Can you elaborate on that?

How Spotify Is Quietly Supporting the Military-Industrial Complex

Unbeknownst to most users, Spotify has a secret endeavor—backing the efforts of war.

inthesetimes.com

 

[Velli]

Apple Music and Spotify overwhelmingly dominate the music streaming space, but the two services offer surprisingly different experiences despite their competitive pricing, so which is best?

While Spotify has been around for longer than Apple Music, both services are now very widely adopted. Apple Music and Spotify have similar libraries with over 100 million songs, with features like personalized playlists, live lyrics, collaboration, crossfade, and SharePlay support, making it all the more difficult to choose between them. Read on for a detailed comparison to help you choose the music streaming service that's best for you.

Apple Music	Spotify
Advanced library management, allowing users to curate a collection of music with a wide range of sorting options	No "library;" add songs to a playlist of liked tracks instead
Basic music discovery algorithm	Advanced music discovery algorithm
Limited personalization comprising "New Music Mix," "Get Up Mix," "Chill Mix," and a personal radio station	Personalized mixes including "Release Radar," "Discover Weekly," and "Tastebreakers," in addition to thousands of algorithmic playlists that are tailored to the user
Emphasis on human-curated playlists, with limited use of algorithmic playlists	Emphasis on advanced algorithmic playlists
Occasionally offers exclusive releases from major artists
Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for a virtual surround sound experience with supported songs
Lossless Audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz
Apple Digital Masters specification
Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country radio with live DJs, interviews, specials and show archive
In-app music videos
	In-app podcasts and audiobooks
Apple Music Classical app based on Primephonic
Apple Music Sing karaoke experience
Limited social sharing options	Comprehensive social sharing options, such as the ability to see what friends are listening to in real-time
Apple Music Replay year-long retrospective experience with limited social media support	Spotify Wrapped end-of-year retrospective experience with better social media support
Closely integrated with the Apple ecosystem, including Apple TV, HomePod, Vision Pro, Siri, and Apple Fitness+
Available on all Apple devices and Android, as well as some games consoles and TVs	Available across a wide range of devices, including non-Apple ones, but no support for Apple TV and Vision Pro
	Known for user-friendly, cross-platform design
	Ability to control Spotify on one device from another
Integration with existing iTunes libraries, allowing users to merge a personal music collection with the streaming library and upload and stream tracks that aren't in the Apple Music library	Ability to play local audio files
Listen to Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, or Apple Music Country for free	Full library access and shuffled playlists with ads for free
Individual subscription: $10.99/month Student subscription: $5.99/month Family subscription: $16.99/month	Individual subscription: $10.99/month Student subscription: $5.99/month "Duo" household subscription: $14.99/month Family subscription: $16.99/month
Included in all Apple One subscription bundle tiers

Both Apple Music and Spotify boast extensive music libraries, sophisticated personalization features, and comparable subscription models, but the nuances of their offerings cater to slightly different audiences. When choosing between the services, you should decide which of the two following groups you fall into.

Apple Music touts a seamless and feature-rich listening experience for Apple device users, offering particular advantages to those who are heavily embedded in Apple's ecosystem. The service is particularly appealing to audiophiles and those invested in high-quality audio, thanks to features like Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio. Apple Music's exclusive content, such as live radio shows and the Apple Music Classical app, provides unique value to those seeking more than just a vast music library. Apple Music is the preferred choice for users who appreciate the convenience of Siri integration, conventional library management, the ability to merge their own music library with the streaming service, and who are possibly already subscribed to other Apple services, making the Apple One bundle an attractive proposition.

Spotify, on the other hand, excels in music discovery and social sharing. Its sophisticated algorithms that power features like Discover Weekly and Release Radar are unmatched for surfacing new music tailored to the listener's tastes. Spotify's cross-platform design and compatibility with a wide range of devices make it a versatile option for users with a diverse range of hardware. The service's superior social features, such as the ability to see what friends are listening to in real-time, enrich the music discovery process. Spotify is the go-to choice for users who value these social and discovery aspects highly, as well as those who appreciate the option of a free, ad-supported tier.

Which music streaming service do you prefer and why? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple Music vs. Spotify Buyer's Guide

A detailed comparison, but not a single word about the difference in how much the musicians get paid per listen. Due to my work, I have access to five different music streaming services. My default is to use Apple Music, for this reason alone.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Spotify. Between the UI, curating, song selections, podcasts and quality it trumps Apple Music in a big way. I get Apple Music for free through my Verizon plan, I still pay for Spotify.

 

[Velli]

Sadly I don’t have the attention span to listen to a whole album anymore. 5 songs in and hearing the same voice starts to „annoy“ me unless it’s an artist I truly love since my childhood and I am afraid this is also the reason why many artist release individual 2:20 min songs nowadays because it „needs“ to go viral

I’d use albums as practice to improve your attention span, rather than just accept that the speed of Tiktok rules the world.

 

[adrianjagielak]

The ability to upload my local library of songs that aren’t even on any streaming platform (including youtube) is simply the best

 

[Velli]

Is MR being paid for conducting this (what appears to be) market research on behalf of Apple?

I don’t think Apple gives two ***** what the average Macrumors user thinks about this.

 

[chasemac]

Spotify works on Apple TV.

 

[smetvid]

You couldn't pay me to use Spotify after all their legal BS and complaining. I don't use any music streaming service but I'm considering Apple Music. I'm pretty picky about what I listen to and don't want something else making that decision. I kind of prefer the more manual approach of Apple.

 

[spazzcat]

Nope, as Apple Music is tied to your Apple ID. So unless you and your wife share the same Apple ID, it would not work.

You need a family plan, but that is true for both.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

You couldn't pay me to use Spotify after all their legal BS and complaining. I don't use any music streaming service but I'm considering Apple Music. I'm pretty picky about what I listen to and don't want something else making that decision. I kind of prefer the more manual approach of Apple.

Yes thank god Apple doesn't engage in any legal BS or complaining

Apple Is Taking On Apples in a Truly Weird Trademark Battle

Apple, the company, wants rights to the image of apples, the fruit, in Switzerland—one of dozens of countries where it’s flexing its legal muscles.

www.wired.co.uk

 

[hagar]

The comparison missed the most important point: the Music app was made by children on crack. I have never used such a terrible and stupid app before. I didn't even made it to the end of the free trial.

This. And unfortunately Apple has more of these apps in its collection. The Health app for instance was made by data nerds on crack.