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Google Play or Spotify

ggibson913

ggibson913

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 11, 2006
1,119
643
Hey guys,


I am currently the owner of an ATT Galaxy S5. About a year ago I switched to streaming music services and picked spotify. I regularly listen to music on my phone, through earphones, car, BT speakers and Sonos.

One thing I hate about Android is Bloatware, I have Google Play Music on my phone regardless of what I do and was wondering if it is worth while switching it to Google Play. How is Music discovery? I had a free trial awhile back but didn't fully explore. Any thoughts?
 
Technarchy

Technarchy

macrumors 604
May 21, 2012
6,753
4,927
ggibson913 said:
Hey guys,


I am currently the owner of an ATT Galaxy S5. About a year ago I switched to streaming music services and picked spotify. I regularly listen to music on my phone, through earphones, car, BT speakers and Sonos.

One thing I hate about Android is Bloatware, I have Google Play Music on my phone regardless of what I do and was wondering if it is worth while switching it to Google Play. How is Music discovery? I had a free trial awhile back but didn't fully explore. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I switched a couple of years ago, but only because I have a library already in GPM of about 2200 songs, mixed will all access.

However, I think Spotify is easier to use, and streams more reliable with slower data connections. The interface for Google play music is terrible, and the discovery is not all that great. Unless you have a library in GPM, I think Spotify is overall better, but the two are close where you can't go wrong either way.
 
F

Fynd

macrumors 6502
Aug 11, 2010
449
287
I use Google because of the $7.99 promotion... otherwise I'd probably consider Spotify. Uploading music and chromecast support are pretty big features too, though, so maybe not.
 
TacticalDesire

TacticalDesire

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2012
2,286
23
Michigan
Google play all access for me. I've been using it since the month it came out. And the fact that you can upload an insane amount of music makes it an easy choice for me.
 
Dr McKay

Dr McKay

macrumors 68040
Aug 11, 2010
3,531
264
Kirkland
I switched to Google purely because of the cheaper promotion price, both have the music I want so I don't have a preference.
 
A

abshole765

macrumors 6502a
Jun 10, 2013
670
0
I use the free version of Google Play. I've tried countless streaming music apps (Pandora, Slacker, Spotify, Beats, Apple Radio, etc.) and no matter what, I continuously heard the same songs over and over & it did nothing but irritate me.
 
Cnasty

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
Used both extensively and love the Spotify program on Mac that sets it apart in the ease and functionality of playlists and ease of use.

Big Spotify fan.
 
O

ozaz

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2011
1,615
577
I currently use Google Play All Access because I received 6 months free All Access when I bought a Sonos speaker a few months ago.

However, I have used Spotify extensively in the past and overall I do prefer Spotify. The main reason is I like the social and discovery aspects of Spotify which are better than with with Google Play. One specific discovery related thing I like is that that there are loads of Spotify playlists over the web curated by music journalists/publications and radio stations.

Once my All Access promotion ends I expect I'll be switching back to Spotify as my paid streaming service. I will still use Google Play as a player for my own personal library when needed.

One feature on Google Play that I prefer over Spotify is that it's able to cast music direct to Sonos, bypassing the Sonos controller app. But I don't think this will be enough to prevent me returning to Spotify.
 
L

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,878
10,987
Been using Google Play All Access for a while now and have absolutely no complaints. I tried the free and trial period for all the other music streaming services, but none persuaded me to make a switch.

Nowadays I mostly stream remixes and unsigned from Soundcloud.
 
MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
I have both. I got free spotify with my mobile carrier contract. However I subscribed to google play when they had the cheaper deal and i use it and let a relative use my spotify account. I much prefer google play music all round tbh.
 
F

FortWorthMac

macrumors 6502a
Oct 29, 2008
708
36
the parched earth of North Texas
Been using both and paying for both. But just today I canceled my Spotify account. Both are really good but since one can upload one's entire library to GPM and it keeps it synced with iTunes I decided I only needed one pay service and stuck with GPM. I'm sure I'll still use the free portions of Spotify.
 
S

shenfrey

macrumors 68030
May 23, 2010
2,507
778
Going to say Spotify, my experience is Google Play just drains battery quicker then any other app I have see to date.
 
J

Jibbajabba

macrumors 65816
Aug 13, 2011
1,024
5
I noticed that as soon as I signed up for google unlimited, I was unable to found a lot of my regular stuff.

Ministry of Sound, Burial and so on ... so whilst you have unlimited access, I wonder if some stuff is "hidden" due to licensing issues - and I couldn't find the option to still buy it so I cancelled it again.
 
burgman

burgman

macrumors 68030
Sep 24, 2013
2,798
2,385
I used both, however the updated Samsung Milk music app is what I use now for streaming. Try it out on your S5
 
F

Fanaticalism

macrumors 6502a
Apr 16, 2013
908
158
I just cancelled Spotify after using it for some time now. When I got my Nexus they offered me 6 months free so I ran them side by side to see which I preferred. GPM integration into android made it a no brainer for me coupled with the fact that you have access to music videos, ability to play YT in the background and my integration of my existing library, not to mention the visual overhaul is very nice.
 
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