Apple Music vs Spotify

Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Apple Music

Apple's music streaming service with lossless audio, Dolby Atmos and apps for Android and Windows too.

Paid

Visit Apple Music Apple Music profile

Spotify

The world's largest music streaming service, with a free ad-supported tier, podcasts and audiobooks.

Free plan + paid

Visit Spotify Spotify profile

The short answer

Spotify is the better fit for most listeners who want strong recommendations, a free tier, podcasts and apps on almost any device; Apple Music suits Apple device owners who want lossless and Dolby Atmos included. The biggest difference is discovery versus audio and ecosystem: Spotify leads on personalised playlists, Apple Music on sound quality and Apple integration.

Apple Music or Spotify: our take

Both offer catalogues of over 100 million songs, so the choice comes down to features, devices and price model. Spotify's main draw is personalisation: Discover Weekly, Daylist, DJ and other algorithmic playlists keep many people subscribed. It also carries millions of podcasts and, in some markets, audiobooks, all in the same app. Apple Music leans on audio quality and Apple integration, with lossless audio and Spatial Audio in Dolby Atmos at no extra cost, time-synced lyrics, live radio, and the separate Apple Music Classical app included.

Pricing models differ. Spotify has a free tier with ads and some mobile restrictions, and Premium plans for Individual, Duo, Family and Student that remove ads and allow downloads. Apple Music has no free tier: after a one-month free trial for new subscribers, the Individual plan costs $11.99/month, with Family and Student options and inclusion in the Apple One bundle. Spotify added lossless for Premium in 2025, up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC; Apple Music's lossless and Atmos come with every plan.

Devices may decide it. Apple Music is deeply woven into iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV and CarPlay and can merge streaming with your own purchased or uploaded library, but its Android, Windows and web apps are less polished. Spotify works almost everywhere, including smart speakers, cars and game consoles, with Spotify Connect to hand playback between devices. Both have critics: Spotify for low per-stream payouts to artists and a home screen crowded with podcasts, Apple Music for weaker recommendations.

Choose Spotify if you value discovery, podcasts, a free option or a mix of non-Apple devices. Choose Apple Music if you are invested in Apple hardware, care about lossless and Atmos, or already pay for Apple One.

Choose Apple Music if…

Apple device owners who want lossless and Dolby Atmos without paying extra
Lossless and Spatial Audio included at no extra cost
Apple Music Classical app included

Choose Spotify if…

Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device
You want a free option (Apple Music is paid only)
Excellent personalised playlists and recommendations
Free tier with ads

What is Apple Music?

Apple Music is Apple's subscription streaming service and the main rival to Spotify. It offers a catalogue of over 100 million songs, with lossless audio and Spatial Audio in Dolby Atmos included at no extra cost, curated and algorithmic playlists, live radio stations, time-synced lyrics and sing-along features, and the separate Apple Music Classical app included with the subscription. It integrates deeply with iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV and CarPlay, and can merge streaming with your own uploaded or purchased library. There is no free ad-supported tier: after a free trial you pay for an Individual, Family or Student plan, and it is also part of the Apple One bundle. Android, Windows and web apps exist, but they lag behind the experience on Apple's own devices, and its recommendations are generally seen as weaker than Spotify's. It runs on iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, the web and many smart TVs and speakers.

What is Spotify?

Spotify is the Swedish streaming service that made on-demand music mainstream, and it remains the largest by users and subscribers. Beyond a catalogue of over 100 million tracks it carries millions of podcasts and, in some markets, audiobooks, and its biggest strength is personalisation: Discover Weekly, Daylist, DJ and other algorithmic playlists are why many people stay. The free tier lets you listen with ads and some restrictions on mobile, while Premium plans, Individual, Duo, Family and Student, remove ads and add offline downloads, and Spotify added lossless audio for Premium in 2025. It works almost everywhere, from phones and desktops to smart speakers, cars and game consoles, with Spotify Connect for handing playback between devices. Criticisms include low per-stream payouts to artists, a home screen increasingly filled with podcasts and audiobooks, and fewer hi-res options than Qobuz or Tidal. It runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, the web and many connected devices.

Side by side

Attribute	Apple Music	Spotify
Pricing	Paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Web	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Best for	Apple device owners who want lossless and Dolby Atmos without paying extra	Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device
Status	Active	Active