Music & Audio Apps · head to head
YouTube Music vs Spotify
YouTube Music
Music & Audio Apps
A new music streaming service from YouTube
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: YouTube Music free tier includes unskippable ads which interrupts music listening; Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
- They diverge on capability: YouTube Music covers Music videos, Spotify covers Podcast streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which YouTube Music and Spotify actually diverge.
| Attribute | YouTube Music | Spotify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers | Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers |
| Category | Music & Audio Apps | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2005 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
- Android Auto
- Google account security
- Family controls
- Ios support
Only in Spotify
- Podcast streaming
- Playlist creation
- Music discovery
- Social sharing
- Offline downloads
- Cross-device sync
- Audio quality options
- Spotify Connect
Both cover
- Music streaming
- Smart speakers
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
YouTube Music
- Music streamingnot Spotify
- Video watchingnot Spotify
- Discoverynot Spotify
Spotify
- Music listeningnot YouTube Music
- Podcast consumptionnot YouTube Music
- Playlist sharingnot YouTube Music
- Music discoverynot YouTube Music
- Background musicnot 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
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
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
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 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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is YouTube Music or Spotify better?
- Neither clearly leads. YouTube Music starts at Free and Spotify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, YouTube Music or Spotify?
- YouTube Music starts at Free and Spotify at Free.
- Does YouTube Music or Spotify run on more platforms?
- YouTube Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
- Can I use YouTube Music for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Spotify is typically brought in for.
- What can YouTube Music do that Spotify cannot?
- YouTube Music covers Music videos, Live performances, Personalization, Google services. Spotify covers Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery, Social sharing. Both handle Music streaming, Smart speakers, Web 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.
SourceYouTube 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.
SourceYouTube 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