Apple Music offers superior audio quality, lossless streaming at no extra cost, and pays artists 2-3x more per stream, while Spotify dominates with 713 million users, a stronger free tier, and superior social features. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize artist support and sound quality (Apple Music) or user base and discovery features (Spotify).
Apple Music vs Spotify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple Music excels in audio fidelity and artist compensation, making it ideal for audiophiles and those supporting independent creators. Spotify's massive user base, social features, and freemium model make it the better choice for casual listeners and social music sharing. For most users, Spotify offers superior value; for serious listeners and artist advocates, Apple Music is worth the premium.
Apple's premium music streaming service with lossless audio and spatial sound support.
World's largest music streaming platform with 574 million users, advanced AI recommendations, and integrated podcast ecosystem.
Apple Music vs Spotify — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Apple Music vs Spotify with 184 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)
User Satisfaction with Discovery (2024 survey)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)
Artist Growth Multiplier (focused strategy)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
Annual Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
Discover Weekly Playlists Generated Weekly
Apple Music vs Spotify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Apple Music vs Spotify.
Is Apple Music or Spotify better for audio quality?
Apple Music is better for audio quality — it offers lossless audio (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio at no additional cost. Spotify Premium streams at up to 320 kbps OGG Vorbis with no lossless option yet available. For audiophiles with quality headphones or speakers, Apple Music has a clear advantage.
Yes — Spotify has an ad-supported free tier with shuffle-only playback on mobile, limited skips, and occasional ads. Apple Music has no free tier; it requires a paid subscription. Spotify's free tier is a major driver of its larger total user base.
Which is better for discovering new music?
Spotify's recommendation algorithms (Discover Weekly, Daily Mixes, Release Radar) are widely regarded as the best in the industry for music discovery. Apple Music's algorithmic recommendations have improved but most users find Spotify's personalization more accurate and enjoyable.
Yes — Apple Music has an Android app available on the Google Play Store. However, Apple Music is better integrated with Apple devices (iPhone, AirPods, HomePod, Apple Watch). Spotify works equally well across Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and web.