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Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs YouTube TV

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

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

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube TV logo

YouTube TV

Entertainment

Cable reimagined: live TV streaming with unlimited cloud DVR storage

From
$59.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; YouTube TV base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Music and YouTube TV differ
AttributeApple MusicYouTube TV
Starting price$10.99/month$59.99/month
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebWeb
Founded2015Unknown

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 Apple Music

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

Only in YouTube TV

Nothing recorded that Apple Music does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Apple Music

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

YouTube TV

  • Watching live sports with multiview capability to watch up to 4 games simultaneouslynot Apple Music
  • Accessing 100+ broadcast and cable channels for entertainment and showsnot Apple Music
  • Streaming news coverage from CNN, FOX News, and local stationsnot Apple Music
  • Sharing household accounts with up to 6 individual family membersnot Apple Music
  • Recording unlimited content with DVR storage across devicesnot Apple Music

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

YouTube TV

  • Base Plan streams to only 3 devices simultaneously; the 4K Plus add-on is required for unlimited concurrent streams, per tv.youtube.com pricing page (Aug 2026)
  • Base Plan is priced at $82.99 per month as of August 2026 per YouTube TV's own pricing page, with a discounted $67.99 rate only for the first 3 months

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

YouTube TV

$59.99/month
  • YouTube TV Standard$82.99/month
    • 100+ channels
    • Unlimited DVR storage
    • 6 individual accounts
  • YouTube TV Sports$64.99/month
    • 30+ sports channels
  • YouTube TV Promotional (New Users)$59.99/month
    • Standard plan
    • First 3 months promotional rate
  • Add-Ons$1.99/month
    • 4K Plus ($9.99/month)
    • Entertainment Plus ($29.99/month)
    • Sports Plus ($10.99/month)

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Music if

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

Choose YouTube TV if

Nothing in the data separates YouTube TV from Apple Music on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

YouTube TV review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or YouTube TV better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and YouTube TV at $59.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or YouTube TV?
Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and YouTube TV at $59.99/month.
Does Apple Music or YouTube TV run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. YouTube TV runs on Web.
What is Apple Music best used for?
Apple Music is most often used for music listening, music discovery, playlist creation, offline listening. Of those, music listening and music discovery are not what YouTube TV is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that YouTube TV cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio.

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
YouTube TV: Do I need a contract or annual commitment for YouTube TV?

No, YouTube TV has no contracts or hidden fees. You can cancel anytime.

Source
YouTube TV: Can multiple household members watch YouTube TV at the same time?

Yes, YouTube TV allows up to 4 simultaneous streams and supports 6 individual household accounts with personalized recommendations for each member.

Source
YouTube TV: How much DVR storage does YouTube TV include?

YouTube TV includes unlimited DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing you to record as much content as you want.

Source
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