Entertainment · head to head
Netflix vs Apple Music
Netflix
Entertainment
Watch TV shows and movies anytime, anywhere
- From
- $6.99/month
- Rated
- -
Apple Music
Entertainment
All the ways you love music. All in one place.
- From
- $10.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Netflix the entry plan caps video at 720p and allows one simultaneous stream and one download device; Apple Music individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month
- They diverge on capability: Netflix covers Video streaming, Apple Music covers Music streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Netflix and Apple Music actually diverge.
| Attribute | Netflix | Apple Music |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6.99/month | $10.99/month |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Streaming-devices | Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web |
| Founded | 1997 | 2015 |
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 Netflix
- Video streaming
- Multiple profiles
- Personalized recommendations
- Original content
- Multi-device support
- Parental controls
- Auto-play next episode
- Smart TVs
Only in Apple Music
- Music streaming
- Spatial Audio
- Lossless audio
- Curated playlists
- Radio stations
- Music discovery
- Cross-device sync
- Siri
Both cover
- Offline downloads
- Cloud deployment
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Netflix
- Streaming films and series on demand across TVs, phones and browsersnot Apple Music
- Downloading titles for offline viewing on a limited number of devicesnot Apple Music
- Playing Netflix mobile games included with a subscriptionnot Apple Music
Apple Music
- Music listeningnot Netflix
- Music discoverynot Netflix
- Playlist creationnot Netflix
- Offline listeningnot Netflix
- Family entertainmentnot Netflix
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Netflix
- The entry plan caps video at 720p and allows one simultaneous stream and one download device
- 1080p and two simultaneous streams require the Standard plan
- 4K Ultra HD, HDR and spatial audio are restricted to the Premium plan, which allows 4 streams and 6 download devices
- Netflix states an account is for people who live together in a single household, so viewers outside the home need a paid extra member slot
- Plan prices and availability differ by country and change when Netflix is bought through a partner package or add-on
Apple Music
- Individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month
Pricing, plan by plan
Netflix
$6.99/month- Standard with ads$6.99/month
- All but a few movies and TV shows
- Unlimited ad-free series and movies
- Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
- Standard$15.49/month
- All Netflix movies and TV shows
- Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
- Watch in HD
- Premium$22.99/month
- All Netflix movies and TV shows
- Watch on 4 supported devices at a time
- Watch in Ultra HD
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Netflix if
- You need video streaming.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Streaming-devices.
- You also want multiple profiles.
Choose Apple Music if
- You need music streaming.
- You work on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
- You also want spatial audio.
Questions people ask
- Is Netflix or Apple Music better?
- Neither clearly leads. Netflix starts at $6.99/month and Apple Music at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Netflix or Apple Music?
- Netflix starts at $6.99/month and Apple Music at $10.99/month.
- Does Netflix or Apple Music run on more platforms?
- Netflix runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles, Streaming-devices. Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
- What is Netflix best used for?
- Netflix is most often used for streaming films and series on demand across tvs, phones and browsers, downloading titles for offline viewing on a limited number of devices, playing netflix mobile games included with a subscription. Of those, streaming films and series on demand across tvs, phones and browsers and downloading titles for offline viewing on a limited number of devices are not what Apple Music is typically brought in for.
- What can Netflix do that Apple Music cannot?
- Netflix covers Video streaming, Multiple profiles, Personalized recommendations, Original content. Apple Music covers Music streaming, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio, Curated playlists. Both handle Offline downloads, Cloud deployment, Ios support.