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Discovery+ vs Spotify

Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Software

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Spotify logo

Spotify

Software

Music for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Spotify has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD 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: Discovery+ covers Streaming, Spotify covers Music streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Discovery+ and Spotify actually diverge.

Attributes where Discovery+ and Spotify differ
AttributeDiscovery+Spotify
Starting price$4.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tvWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
Founded20202006

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

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 Discovery+

  • Streaming
  • Unscripted content
  • Reality TV
  • Originals
  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Only in Spotify

  • Music streaming
  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Music discovery
  • Social sharing
  • Offline downloads
  • Cross-device sync
  • Audio quality options

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Discovery+

  • Unscripted streamingnot Spotify
  • Reality TV watchingnot Spotify

Spotify

  • Music listeningnot Discovery+
  • Podcast consumptionnot Discovery+
  • Playlist sharingnot Discovery+
  • Music discoverynot Discovery+
  • Background musicnot Discovery+

Where each one falls short

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

Discovery+

  • Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD 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

Discovery+

$4.99/month
  • Standard$4.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported music
    • Shuffle play
    • Limited skips
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Ad-free music
    • Play any song
    • Unlimited skips
  • Family$15.99/month
    • 6 Premium accounts
    • Individual profiles
    • Parental controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Discovery+ if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want unscripted content.

Choose Spotify if

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

Questions people ask

Is Discovery+ or Spotify better?
Neither clearly leads. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month and Spotify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Discovery+ or Spotify?
Spotify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for Discovery+ and Free for Spotify.
Does Discovery+ or Spotify run on more platforms?
Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv. 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. Discovery+ starts at $4.99/month.
What is Discovery+ best used for?
Discovery+ is most often used for unscripted streaming, reality tv watching. Of those, unscripted streaming and reality tv watching are not what Spotify is typically brought in for.
What can Discovery+ do that Spotify cannot?
Discovery+ covers Streaming, Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals. Spotify covers Music streaming, Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery. Both handle Web support.

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