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Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs iHeartRadio

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

All the ways you love music. All in one place.

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music & Audio Apps

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iHeartRadio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Music individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month; iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Music streaming, iHeartRadio covers Live radio.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Music and iHeartRadio actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Music and iHeartRadio differ
AttributeApple MusiciHeartRadio
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
CategoryEntertainmentMusic & Audio Apps
Founded20152008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Music

  • Music streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Spatial Audio
  • Lossless audio
  • Curated playlists
  • Radio stations
  • Music discovery
  • Cross-device sync

Only in iHeartRadio

  • Live radio
  • Custom stations
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security
  • Web support

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Music

  • Music listeningnot iHeartRadio
  • Music discoverynot iHeartRadio
  • Playlist creationnot iHeartRadio
  • Offline listeningnot iHeartRadio
  • Family entertainmentnot iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio

  • Streaming live AM and FM radio stations over the internetnot Apple Music
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot Apple Music
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot Apple Music

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Music

  • Individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month

iHeartRadio

  • Ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • Unlimited skips and unlimited playlist creation require a paid subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Music

$10.99/month
  • Individual$10.99/month
    • 100+ million songs
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Family$16.99/month
    • Up to 6 accounts
    • Individual profiles
    • Parental controls

iHeartRadio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live radio
    • Podcasts
    • Ads
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited skips
    • Offline playlists

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You work on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Apple Music review

Choose iHeartRadio if

  • You need live radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want custom stations.
iHeartRadio review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or iHeartRadio better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and iHeartRadio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or iHeartRadio?
iHeartRadio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Apple Music and Free for iHeartRadio.
Does Apple Music or iHeartRadio run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Yes. iHeartRadio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month.
What is Apple Music best used for?
Apple Music is most often used for music listening, music discovery, playlist creation, offline listening. Of those, music listening and music discovery are not what iHeartRadio is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that iHeartRadio cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio. iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. Both handle Ios support.
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