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Spotify and Apple Music are two of the main music streaming providers, fashionable for his or her huge music libraries. Past the music, nonetheless, Apple Music provides subscribers entry to the corporate’s reside studio performances, radio interviews, and music movies, whereas Spotify’s extra subscription perks lean closely into audiobooks and podcasts.
In contrast to Apple’s {hardware} units, Apple Music does not block many options to Android customers, except their gadget does not help Dolby Atmos. In any other case, Android customers can expertise a strong Apple Music expertise.
I’ve used each streaming providers for a number of years, and this is the very best recommendation I can provide you earlier than you resolve on which service is best for you.
Options
Apple Music | Spotify | |
Value | $10.99/mo particular person plan | $12.99/moparticular person plan |
Included perks | Apple Music Radio reveals and interviews; music movies; in-studio performances; native radio broadcasters | Podcasts; audiobooks; artist performances close to you |
Lossless audio | Sure | Sure |
Dolby Atmos | Sure | No |
Equalizer | EQ presets on iOS; five-band EQ on Android | six-band EQ on iOS; five-band EQ on Android |
You need to select Apple Music if…
1. You take pleasure in a visible expertise
Together with accessing your favourite music, Apple Music provides music movies, in-studio performances, on-camera interviews, and Apple Music Reside performances you may watch. Apple Music’s platform may be very artist-centric, providing a number of Apple Music-branded radio reveals centered on an artist’s new music, artistic course, inspiration, and memorable performances, with some reveals spotlighting worldwide genres and artists.
Additionally: 3 causes to make use of Apple Music on Android – particularly when you have iOS 26 envy
Apple Music’s Radio tab additionally provides subscribers entry to a number of iHeartRadio-licensed reside broadcasts, with stations starting from Sacramento to New York Metropolis.
2. You need Dolby Atmos
Apple Music’s catalog contains a number of tracks combined in Dolby Atmos, however correct Atmos listening requires a appropriate audio supply (smartphone) and listening gadget (headphones or speaker). Dolby Atmos on Apple Music is particularly pleasing when you have a house encompass sound system or headphones appropriate with Dolby Atmos and head monitoring, which provides the spatial audio expertise.
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Some Android smartphones usually are not appropriate with Dolby Atmos, equivalent to Google’s Pixel 6 via Pixel 9 telephones. In different circumstances, equivalent to with Samsung, you may stream in Atmos out of your smartphone, however with out head-tracking headphones, you will miss out on spatial audio.
3. You employ Apple’s different providers
For those who subscribe to Apple’s different providers, it is best to take into account Apple One, which helps you to bundle them for a lower cost. An Particular person Apple One subscription contains Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and 50 GB of iCloud+ storage for $20 a month.
Additionally: This iOS 26 function successfully transformed this Spotify consumer to Apple Music – and he or she’s right here to remain
Household and Premier Apple One plans embrace extra entry to Apple Information and Apple Health+. Apple One activation requires an Apple ID and an iOS gadget.
You need to select Spotify if…
1. You want podcasts
Spotify provides subscribers entry to an enormous library of podcasts, starting from true crime and present occasions to popular culture and movie star discuss reveals. Spotify’s podcast tab is extremely expansive, and there is a excessive likelihood your favourite podcaster is on Spotify. Many podcasts on Spotify additionally help a visible part, so in case your favourite podcasters movie a video to accompany their audio, you may watch it straight within the Spotify app.
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Compared, Apple Music doesn’t host podcasts, and Apple as an alternative encourages clients to subscribe to Apple Podcasts (which can’t be bundled in Apple One).
2. You want audiobooks
Spotify additionally provides audiobooks, however limits Premium subscribers to fifteen hours of listening monthly; unused hours don’t roll over. Spotify’s audiobooks tab additionally options Web page Match, which lets customers scan a web page from a bodily or e-book and soar to that web page within the audiobook, and vice versa.
Additionally: Spotify’s new Web page Match function fixes my largest frustration with audiobooks – this is how
If you would like greater than 15 hours of ebooks monthly, you will should pay $13 for 10 hours. The 15 free hours included with a Premium subscription are nice for individuals who do not typically take heed to audiobooks, so having 15 hours monthly looks like an added perk. Apple Music does not provide audiobooks; as an alternative, an Apple Books subscription is an choice.
Author’s alternative
I want Apple Music to Spotify. A person Apple Music subscription is cheaper than Spotify, and I do not take heed to podcasts or audiobooks, so I would pay a number of further {dollars} for options I do not want. Moreover, I stream Apple Music on my Sonos residence theater and pay attention on the go together with my AirPods, so I typically take pleasure in Dolby Atmos spatial audio.
