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Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs Kodi

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

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

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kodi logo

Kodi

Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kodi 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; Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Music streaming, Kodi covers Media playback.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Music and Kodi differ
AttributeApple MusicKodi
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv
Founded20152003

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

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 Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Apple Music

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

Kodi

  • Media centernot Apple Music
  • Home entertainmentnot 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

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

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

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

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 Kodi if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
  • You also want library management.
Kodi review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or Kodi better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and Kodi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or Kodi?
Kodi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Apple Music and Free for Kodi.
Does Apple Music or Kodi run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Yes. Kodi 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 Kodi is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that Kodi cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio. Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Music: Where can I find Apple Music pricing and subscription information?

Pricing details are not shown on the New section of Apple Music. Check the main Apple Music homepage or account settings for subscription tiers.

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