Apple Music vs Spotify

[-BigMac-]

Hi guys.

Long time user of Spotify, and last 2 years(?) user of Apple Music.

At the stage where I don’t know which one i prefer anymore.

Which one do you use and why?

Thanks so much

 

[Phil A.]

I was a long time user of Spotify and then moved to Apple Music when it launched. I resubscribed to Spotify recently as it’s supported by the (android based) head unit in my car (no car play or android auto support)

So, at the moment I have subscriptions to both and trying to decide which I prefer.

Spotify has a number of benefits: better performance, cleaner interface, better suggestions and auto playlists, lighter desktop app, easier integration with Sonos using the native app rather than the a Sonos one, integration with google home

Apple Music has a number of benefits: better integration with iOS and macOS, easier, more intuitive merging of purchased and streamed tracks, less restrictions (I can’t believe in 2017 that Spotify still has a 3 offline device limit and 10,000 song limit in your library). I also suspect it’s the only music service that will work with the home pod, at least initially.

Personally, I’m currently leaning towards Spotify because it gives a better UX for me on a day to day basis, but there’s little to choose between them IMO - they’re both good

 

[MrXiro]

I really dig Spotify's integration in all my other products that Apple Music can’t play on. Being able to play it on Echo devices and then moving it to my Yamaha receiver seamlessly is so much easier than being stuck to the option of airplay/bluetooth.

 

[tkermit]

Apple Music for me:

• love the library & metadata editing functionality, seamless integration into my existing library
• Genius Suggestions/Playlists work with Apple Music tracks
• AppleScriptable
• no 10k song limit
• iTunes has way more advanced management capabilities, is nicer to use and prettier

 

[nnoble]

Neither. I subscribe to Tidal (premium). It's not cheap but leaves Apple Music and even Spotify in the shade. Artists also get a better deal out of Tidal.

 

[MrXiro]

Neither. I subscribe to Tidal (premium). It's not cheap but leaves Apple Music and even Spotify in the shade. Artists also get a better deal out of Tidal.

As a casual music fan and an average consumer; cost to me > quality/whether or not artists make more money from me.

 

[Fthree]

I tried AM when it was first launched and i felt that it was too hard to use (maybe it was just me) It didn't seem as seamless as spotify. I could never tell exactly what I was doing or where i was in the app.

 

[iGeneo]

I'm really torn... Apple Music works really well in my BMW with Carplay. Spotify "works" but nowhere near as smooth. On the flipside, Spotify works well with our Echo's and now with Echo-Sonos integration, it's a solid setup. I can use Apple Music on the Sonos, but I have to open the Sonos App, Spotify plays to Sonos from within it's app.

So.. I use both, for now at least

 

[bingeciren]

For me, there are 3 important parameters: 1) Library content, 2) Price, 3) System integration.

I've been a long time Spotify Premium user even before Apple Music became available. During the 3 months free trial, I kicked the tires of Apple Music and run it against Spotify. I listen to Classical and Contemporary Jazz mostly and there was not a single incidence of finding something in either in Apple Music or Spotify that I couldn't find on the other one. Library content seems to be identical. As for the price, they are both pretty much the same. As far as the integration is concerned however, Apple Music scored better. For one thing, it works much better with my car when it comes to play my recently played music along with the rest of my library and works much better in conjunction with the iCloud Music Library.

As a result, I cancelled my Spotify membership and became a Family Member for the Apple Music.

But in all honesty, both services are neck to neck when it comes to delivering music and quality service. It all depends on one's particular usage and requirements.

 

[PPCmike]

I have both but I've been having a sub for Apple music now for about 2 years now and only one thing I hate and it buggs me to no end is sometime apple music might be playing my playlist or whatever and it just pauses and I have to press play to start it again..

As for Spotify I have a nice playlist on it as well still testing but no pauses or anything that I have found yet.

 

[iGeneo]

It seems Spotify does a much better with offline music. I just checked a couple of playlists and a few songs aren't downloading for some reason. Deleted/Added but they still won't download offline

 

[Lappen71]

Of course AM

 

[watchthesky]

apple music

never had much use for a streaming service until fairly recently since i preferred to purchase/download local copies, and spotify wasn't available in canada for a long time. eventually subscribed to apple music after my ipod touch died so i had access to more stuff from my phone without using up all the space transferring stuff. it's integrated and easy to use when i need to so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

however i managed to erase my purchase history lol

 

[Ralfi]

Biggest thing for me is the more accurate Discover Weekly playlist & playlists based on a song.

Apple Music's "For You" playlist is ok, but I find I'm skipping more songs in it.

 

[LizKat]

Apple Music. I've only used Spotify a few times, far enough back so it and Pandora experience were similar so I'm not a fair judge of Spotify any more.

With Apple music I tend to use it only on my laptop, downloading what I like for offline listening, and with a separate library that I started from scratch to keep it away from any of my other libraries of purchased music. I do have one iPod touch that I use just to download selected AM tracks if I find myself playing them pretty often on my laptop.

Bottom line for me I use Apple Music as a way getting extended audition time of entire works, when I'm trying to select a particular performance of long "classical" works including operas. I still like to have a CD of the performance I like best after I've finally made up my mind; the decision process can take months.

 

[Tanax]

Apple Music. It's the only one that allows you to sync your local music to the cloud.
It also pays more to artists.

 

[Peter Driban]

It seems Spotify does a much better with offline music. I just checked a couple of playlists and a few songs aren't downloading for some reason. Deleted/Added but they still won't download offline

I found an easy way to transfer whole playlists using the musconv tool.Try out MusConv to convert your music and playlists into different music platforms. It's very easy-to-use

 

[Chopper9]

Spotify and it’s not even close. I WANT Apple Music to be better.... but it’s not. The interface, the currated music, depth and functionality... it’s just superior.

 

[Anna16]

I like Spotify. Yes, hope Apple Music to better but it's not. Spotify is OK. Or sometimes will download some music offline to my iPhone with app.

 

[wireless-toyz09]

SPOTIFY for the win

 

[Tech198]

wow.. Apple Music is getting left behind in the dust here.. I guess every year we seem to flip from one to the other, then back again..

Reminds me of browser wars.... All music i need is on Apple music anyway..... Only few i found ones there arn't, but not enough reason to switch.

 

[tonyr6]

The Spotify app murders my battery life on my Android and iPod. Really the only other app that is just as bad is TuneIn Radio. That is why i would not recommend Spotify.

Of course Spotify recommendations are way better than Apple just read my Apple New Music is terrible complaint.

 

[Chopper9]

wow.. Apple Music is getting left behind in the dust here.. I guess every year we seem to flip from one to the other, then back again..

Really? Apple Music (which has only been around what... two years at most?) has never been THE one. It's been Spotify and Apply trying to play catch up. They all offer the same thing... one just organizes and presents it better. Much better. Hard to believe since Apple literally created the sector.

 

[whsbuss]

Really? Apple Music (which has only been around what... two years at most?) has never been THE one. It's been Spotify and Apply trying to play catch up. They all offer the same thing... one just organizes and presents it better. Much better. Hard to believe since Apple literally created the sector.

So tired of this comparison..... give us examples of how, exactly, one organizes and presents better; side-by-side

 

[jonnyb098]

So tired of this comparison..... give us examples of how, exactly, one organizes and presents better; side-by-side

The problem with these constant comparison discussions is that each service does some things better than the other. Like for example, radio is much better in apple music than Spotify, but Spotify's playlist selection is better. These kinds of differences muddy the water on which is better. It all depends on what you want out of the service. If you rely heavily on Apple devices though ( you have macs, iPads, iphones, watch) , then apple music integrates MUCH better between all of them.

One thing to keep in mind though is that Spotify's service is GOING to change no matter what people say or argue otherwise ....if they go public. My reasoning for this is twitter, facebook, and every other service that goes public is forced to change things since money is the key driver when becoming public. In my opinion a few things get better and a whole lotta things get worse. Example: Facebook now saying they want to make content from friends more relevant to people in 2018 (THE WAY IT USED TO BE BEFORE THEY WENT PUBLIC).