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Music & Audio Apps · head to head

YouTube Music vs Apple Music

YouTube Music logo

YouTube Music

Music & Audio Apps

A new music streaming service from YouTube

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

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

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube Music has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: YouTube Music free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening; 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: YouTube Music covers Music videos, Apple Music covers Offline downloads.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where YouTube Music and Apple Music differ
AttributeYouTube MusicApple Music
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersIos, Macos, Windows, Android, Web
CategoryMusic & Audio AppsEntertainment
Founded20052015

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

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 YouTube Music

  • Music videos
  • Live performances
  • Personalization
  • Google services
  • Smart speakers
  • Android Auto
  • Google account security
  • Family controls

Only in Apple Music

  • Offline downloads
  • Spatial Audio
  • Lossless audio
  • Curated playlists
  • Radio stations
  • Music discovery
  • Cross-device sync
  • Siri

Both cover

  • Music streaming
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

YouTube Music

  • Music streamingnot Apple Music
  • Video watchingnot Apple Music
  • Discoverynot Apple Music

Apple Music

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

Where each one falls short

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

YouTube Music

  • Free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening
  • User-uploaded content creates inconsistent audio quality and metadata compared to official releases
  • Limited music discovery and recommendation features compared to Spotify's AI-powered algorithms

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

YouTube Music

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Music videos
  • Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Offline downloads
    • Background playback
  • Family$18.99/month
    • Up to 6 accounts
    • Parental controls
  • Student$5.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • YouTube Premium included

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 YouTube Music if

  • You need music videos.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want live performances.
YouTube Music review

Choose Apple Music if

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

Questions people ask

Is YouTube Music or Apple Music better?
Neither clearly leads. YouTube Music starts at Free 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, YouTube Music or Apple Music?
YouTube Music has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for YouTube Music and $10.99/month for Apple Music.
Does YouTube Music or Apple Music run on more platforms?
YouTube Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
Can I use YouTube Music for free?
Yes. YouTube Music has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month.
What is YouTube Music best used for?
YouTube Music is most often used for music streaming, video watching, discovery. Of those, music streaming and video watching are not what Apple Music is typically brought in for.
What can YouTube Music do that Apple Music cannot?
YouTube Music covers Music videos, Live performances, Personalization, Google services. Apple Music covers Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio, Curated playlists. Both handle Music streaming, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

YouTube Music: How much does YouTube Music Premium cost?

YouTube Music Premium costs $11.99 per month for individual subscriptions, $18.99 per month for family plans (up to 6 accounts), and $5.99 per month for students.

Source
YouTube Music: Does YouTube Music have a free tier?

Yes, YouTube Music offers a free version with access to music and music videos but includes occasional unskippable ads. Free users can create playlists and discover music but lack premium features like offline downloads.

Source
YouTube Music: What makes YouTube Music different from other streaming services?

YouTube Music uniquely provides access to official songs, music videos, live performances, remixes, and user-uploaded content not available on other platforms. Users can seamlessly switch between audio and official music videos.

Source
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Related pages

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