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Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs Paramount+

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

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

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Entertainment

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Music streaming, Paramount+ covers Streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Music and Paramount+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Music and Paramount+ differ
AttributeApple MusicParamount+
Starting price$10.99/month$5.99/month
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20152021

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Paramount+

  • Streaming
  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Parental controls
  • Profile management

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Apple Music

  • Music listeningnot Paramount+
  • Music discoverynot Paramount+
  • Playlist creationnot Paramount+
  • Offline listeningnot Paramount+
  • Family entertainmentnot Paramount+

Paramount+

  • TV streamingnot Apple Music
  • Sportsnot Apple Music
  • Kids contentnot 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

Paramount+

  • The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.

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

Paramount+

$5.99/month
  • Essential$5.99/month
    • Limited ads
    • Full library
  • With Showtime$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Showtime
    • Downloads

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 Paramount+ if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want live sports.
Paramount+ review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or Paramount+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or Paramount+?
Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and Paramount+ at $5.99/month.
Does Apple Music or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
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 Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that Paramount+ cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio. Paramount+ covers Streaming, Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon. 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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