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Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs Spotify

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

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

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spotify logo

Spotify

Entertainment

Music for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Spotify 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; Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Spatial Audio, Spotify covers Podcast streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Music and Spotify differ
AttributeApple MusicSpotify
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
Founded20152006

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

  • Spatial Audio
  • Lossless audio
  • Curated playlists
  • Radio stations
  • Siri
  • HomePod
  • Apple Watch
  • CarPlay

Only in Spotify

  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Social sharing
  • Audio quality options
  • Spotify Connect
  • Smart speakers
  • Gaming consoles
  • Car systems

Both cover

  • Music streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Music discovery
  • Cross-device sync
  • Cloud deployment
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Apple Music

  • Music listening
  • Music discovery
  • Playlist creationnot Spotify
  • Offline listeningnot Spotify
  • Family entertainmentnot Spotify

Spotify

  • Music listening
  • Podcast consumptionnot Apple Music
  • Playlist sharingnot Apple Music
  • Music discovery
  • Background musicnot Apple Music

Both are used for music listening, music discovery, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Spotify

  • Ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • Lossless streaming tops out at 24-bit/44.1 kHz
  • The Duo plan at $18.99 a month covers two people and the Family plan at $21.99 covers a household, with no per-seat option between them

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

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Standard audio quality
  • Premium Individual$12.99/month
    • 1 account
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Premium Student$6.99/month
    • 1 verified account for eligible students
    • Hulu access included
    • Ad-free listening
  • Premium Duo$18.99/month
    • 2 accounts for couples at same address
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Music if

  • You need spatial audio.
  • You work on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want lossless audio.
Apple Music review

Choose Spotify if

  • You need podcast streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want playlist creation.
Spotify review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or Spotify better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and Spotify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or Spotify?
Spotify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Apple Music and Free for Spotify.
Does Apple Music or Spotify run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
Can I use Spotify for free?
Yes. Spotify 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, playlist creation and offline listening are not what Spotify is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that Spotify cannot?
Apple Music covers Spatial Audio, Lossless audio, Curated playlists, Radio stations. Spotify covers Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Social sharing, Audio quality options. Both handle Music streaming, Offline downloads, Music discovery, Cross-device sync.

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.

Source
Spotify: Does Spotify offer a free plan?

Yes, Spotify offers a free ad-supported tier with standard audio quality. Users can listen to any song but do not get offline downloads, full playback control, or ad-free listening.

Source
Spotify: What is the difference between Spotify Premium Student and Premium Individual?

Premium Student costs $6.99/month (half the price of Premium Individual at $12.99/month) and includes Hulu access. Premium Student is available only to verified higher education students with an introductory offer of $0 for 1 month, whereas Premium Individual has a $0 for 3 months introductory offer.

Source
Spotify: How many people can share a Spotify Premium Family plan?

Spotify Premium Family plan allows up to 6 accounts for family members living at the same address, includes parental controls, and provides Premium access (including ad-free listening and offline downloads) for members under 13. The plan costs $21.99/month.

Source
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