Youtube Music
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About Youtube Music
YouTube Music is Google's music streaming service, launched in its current form in 2018 as a replacement for Google Play Music (which shut down in 2020). YouTube Music uniquely bridges official studio recordings with YouTube's massive unofficial catalog — fan uploads, live concerts, covers, remixes, and rare recordings that no other streaming service can match. This makes YouTube Music the best platform for discovering rare or live versions of songs unavailable elsewhere. The service offers a free ad-supported tier and YouTube Music Premium at $10.99/month (or $13.99/month for YouTube Premium, which also removes ads from all of YouTube). YouTube Music Premium allows background play on mobile, offline downloads, and ad-free listening across the entire catalog. The catalog spans 100 million+ songs plus the entirety of YouTube's music video library. Google integrates YouTube Music deeply with Android — it's the default music app on many Android devices and Pixel phones. Discovery features include Mixes generated from listening history and an Explore tab surfacing trends. The service has grown to approximately 100 million subscribers (shared with YouTube Premium). For YouTube heavy users, bundling Music Premium into YouTube Premium is excellent value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between YouTube Music and YouTube Premium?
YouTube Music Premium ($10.99/month) removes ads and enables offline/background playback on YouTube Music only. YouTube Premium ($13.99/month) includes all of that plus ad-free access to all of YouTube's regular video content.
Does YouTube Music have a free tier?
Yes, YouTube Music has a free tier with ads and no background play on mobile. You can browse and play all content but ads interrupt playback and the screen must stay on.
Is YouTube Music better than Spotify?
YouTube Music has a unique advantage for live recordings and rare tracks unavailable on Spotify. However Spotify's recommendation engine, podcast integration, and social features are generally considered superior.
Top Alternatives to Youtube Music
Spotify
Superior discovery algorithms and podcast integration
Apple Music
Better iOS integration, lossless audio, and curated radio
Tidal
Hi-Res lossless audio for audiophiles
Amazon Music Unlimited
Included with Prime or cheaper standalone, HD lossless available
Deezer
FLAC quality with strong editorial curation
SoundCloud
Best for indie/underground artists and unreleased tracks
All Comparisons
Spotify vs YouTube Music
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