If you’re looking for a new music streaming service to help you keep up with your favorite bands and artists, you might be wondering which one should you pick between Spotify Premium vs Apple Music. Both offer a variety of features that may be of interest to you. However, there are some notable differences between the two.
It’s free
If you’re in the market for a music streaming service, you may be wondering which app is better. Apple Music and Spotify both have their own set of features and benefits.
Apple has one of the most intuitive interfaces of any music app, and it is also available on numerous mobile devices and desktop computers. However, while it does offer many features, it lacks the fidelity of Spotify. Its spatial audio advantages may eventually be overcome, but for now, you won’t get the full experience unless you have wireless headphones or speakers.
Likewise, it does not offer additional services like access to podcasts, Hulu, and other content. You can however download tracks when you are not connected to Wi-Fi, and you can even use Apple’s own automotive solution, Apple CarPlay.
On the other hand, Spotify does offer some non-music streaming perks. One such feature is its shuffle mode, which reorders your playlists based on your listening habits.
Unlike Apple’s free trial, however, Spotify offers a free, ad-supported version of its Premium service. This tier doesn’t have any special features, but it is a good deal for those who don’t care much about the music.
Another freebie is the Discover Weekly playlist. Each week, Spotify identifies music based on your listening habits and generates hours of new music to listen to.
Similarly, Apple has a “For You” playlist. The music suggestions are similar to those from Spotify, but you can only hear them if you’re connected to an internet connection.
While both apps have their own set of perks, it’s hard to deny that Apple’s offering is the better deal for long-term users. There are some other features you can only get with Apple Music, like the ability to download tracks when you aren’t connected to Wi-Fi.
It’s subscription-based
Apple Music and Spotify are two of the largest music streaming services in the world. Each offers a unique set of features and benefits. While there are some differences between the two, there is one thing that they share in common.
Both services have a free version, but there are also paid versions. Regardless of which plan you choose, you can get a three month free trial.
For those who don’t care about the songs or artists on the app, the free tier is a good choice. However, it comes with several limitations. Among those are frequent ad breaks and a reduced sound quality.
On the other hand, the premium tier offers no adverts and unlimited downloads. It also features a slick, user-friendly interface that works across multiple devices. And, as long as you don’t need a premium service, you can download tracks when you’re out of Wi-Fi range.
Another key feature of the premium tier is the ability to skip songs. In the free version, you can only skip six songs per hour. This isn’t so great for those who love to listen to their favorite songs over and over again.
There’s no doubt that Apple Music has more content than its rival. You can access over 90 million songs in the app. As well as a massive library of podcasts and radio stations, the app also features personal playlists and live events.
However, the Apple Music app is fiddly, while Spotify’s is intuitive and easy to use. And, although it’s not as comprehensive as its rival, Apple’s library does a better job at showcasing different genres.
Ultimately, the best way to determine which app is best for you is to test both out. If you like one, you may be happy with the other.
It’s more fleshed-out than Apple Music
Apple Music and Spotify both offer streaming music services, but they operate in different ways. The main differences are in how the playlists are sorted and the recommendations that are given.
One of the biggest differences is that Apple Music offers more features than Spotify. Its iCloud music library is integrated with its streaming service, and it also offers radio stations. Another benefit is that it gives listeners more control over how to discover new music.
For example, if you’re a fan of one artist, you can follow that artist’s profile. You’ll learn about the artists’ background and listen to their most popular songs.
Another feature is the Listen Now section, which recommends songs based on your past listening. Each day, Spotify updates this feature with a new list of songs. If you’re looking for a song, you can tap on the Search button and type in the title or lyrics.
In addition to music, Spotify also has podcasts. There are four million podcasts available for subscribers to listen to.
Both services allow you to create playlists. Apple Music’s playlists are curated, whereas Spotify’s are created by users. Also, Spotify’s playlists can be customized to include your own personal music.
Spotify’s interface is easy to navigate. You can search for new songs and albums, and you can follow or edit existing playlists. On the Android app, the menu is hidden to the left side of the screen.
Spotify’s free tier features 15 playlists that are based on your taste. These include over 40 hours of music to listen to. However, these playlists don’t offer the same experience as paid subscribers.
Premium subscribers have access to all the content in the Spotify library. They can also use a variety of audio quality settings. Plus, you can create and collaborate on a shared playlist.
It’s transparent about royalty payouts
If you’re a music fan, you probably know that Spotify is one of the largest music streaming services in the world. But do you know what’s going on with their royalty payments?
While Spotify makes it seem like they’re trying to be as transparent as possible, they’ve really been hiding behind a wall of complexity. To make it easier to understand, the company launched a website called “Loud & Clear” in March 2021. It offers a detailed breakdown of their royalties payouts.
The site’s mission is to show the transparency that is needed to increase the amount of money musicians are getting. They have created a video to show how it all works, and they’ve even compiled a tool to test how well their service is doing.
The site claims that as of 2020, Spotify has paid over $23 billion in royalties to rights holders. That’s a lot of money, and it’s a good start. However, it’s hard to determine how much of it actually goes to artists.
For example, the site claims that 12% of all of Spotify’s streams in the US came from the 50 biggest artists in the country. Yet, that’s still 0.01% of the total. In other words, they’re not paying out enough to musicians.
Similarly, the site claims that while the Spotify royalty system is a technological feat, it’s not the most efficient. As of 2019, it pays artists between $0.004 and 0.0084 per stream.
This is because, as of now, there is no consistent flat rate per stream. Rather, the royalty system works on a different basis for each market. So while Spotify’s streaming share in the US might be 12%, it might be different in other markets.
It’s social media integration
It’s not uncommon for brands to turn to Spotify to create and distribute playlists. The company has launched a number of branded playlists over the last year, including those for BMW and Johnnie Walker.
Spotify has also partnered with other social media sites. For example, users can publish their listening history to Facebook, allowing friends to comment and follow. Another feature allows users to share music through Instagram Stories.
Having a Spotify account gives you access to an extensive library of music. You can also create your own playlists. By default, playlists remain private between users. However, you can enable or disable public sharing.
Spotify offers a free, ad-supported service. You can also pay a monthly fee for the Premium service. Unlike its free service, the Premium option allows you to listen to music offline. In addition, you don’t see ads. Moreover, if you sign up for a Premium account, you’ll be able to control playback on multiple devices.
As of January 2015, Spotify had over 30 million free users and 15 million paying customers. During that period, the company gained more than two million new paid subscribers. That makes the total active user count for the company around 450 million.
Spotify has also developed its own social media features. For example, the company’s community page is targeted at the youth and includes information about pop culture. Also, it offers student discounts.
The freemium model is a strategy that’s worked for Spotify, increasing its user base. Users may choose to keep hundreds of songs in their accounts. But it’s unlikely that the company will be able to attract smaller brands to its platform.