Spotify vs YouTube Music
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Spotify
The world's largest music streaming service, with a free ad-supported tier, podcasts and audiobooks.
YouTube Music
Google's music streaming service, mixing official albums with YouTube's videos, covers and live recordings.
The short answer
Spotify suits most listeners who want strong recommendations, podcasts and apps on every device; YouTube Music suits people who already pay for YouTube Premium or want live versions, covers and remixes that only exist on YouTube. The biggest difference is the catalogue source: YouTube Music draws on YouTube's vast library of uploads, while Spotify offers a more polished music-first app.
Spotify or YouTube Music: our take
Spotify is the largest streaming service, with 788 million users and 306 million subscribers across 184 markets. Its personalised playlists, such as Discover Weekly, Daylist and DJ, are its signature, and podcasts and, in some markets, audiobooks sit in the same app. YouTube Music is built on YouTube's music library, so alongside official releases it surfaces live performances, covers, remixes and rare uploads, and you can switch between a song and its video. Recommendations draw on your YouTube history, and you can upload your own music files.
Both are freemium. Spotify's free tier plays with ads and some mobile restrictions, and Premium plans for Individual, Duo, Family and Student remove ads and add downloads. YouTube Music's free tier is ad-supported and limits background playback on mobile; Music Premium adds ad-free listening, background play and downloads. It is also included with YouTube Premium, which removes ads across YouTube, so many people already have it as part of that bundle.
Audio and apps separate them further. Spotify added lossless for Premium in 2025, up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC, while YouTube Music has no lossless or hi-res option. Spotify runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, the web and many speakers, cars and consoles, with Spotify Connect between devices. YouTube Music runs on the web, Android, iOS, smart TVs, speakers and Wear OS, but has no official desktop app, and some find its mix of videos and audio tracks messy.
Choose Spotify for discovery, podcasts, desktop apps and better audio quality. Choose YouTube Music if you already pay for YouTube Premium, listen to a lot of live or user-uploaded material, or want to mix your own files with streaming.
Which should you pick?
Choose Spotify if…
- Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device
- You need Windows and macOS, which YouTube Music doesn't list
- Excellent personalised playlists and recommendations
- Free tier with ads
Choose YouTube Music if…
- People who already pay for YouTube Premium or want music videos, covers and live versions
- Access to live versions, covers and remixes from YouTube
- Included with YouTube Premium
About each app
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.
What is YouTube Music?
YouTube Music is Google's streaming service, built on top of YouTube's enormous music library. Alongside official albums and singles it can surface live performances, covers, remixes and rare uploads that never reach other services, and you can switch between a song and its music video. Recommendations draw on your YouTube history, and it has replaced Google Play Music, letting you upload your own files to the library. The free tier is ad-supported and limits background playback on mobile, while YouTube Music Premium adds ad-free listening, background play and downloads; it is also included with YouTube Premium, which removes ads across YouTube, so many people get it as part of that bundle. Audio quality tops out at 256kbps AAC with no lossless option, and the interface mixes music videos and audio tracks in ways some find messy. It runs on the web, Android and iOS, and on smart TVs, speakers and Wear OS.
Side by side
| Attribute | Spotify | YouTube Music |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device | People who already pay for YouTube Premium or want music videos, covers and live versions |
| Status | Active | Active |
Spotify vs YouTube Music pricing
Spotify: free plan + paid
Spotify pricing pageYouTube Music: free plan + paid
We couldn't verify YouTube Music's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
YouTube Music pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Spotify | YouTube Music |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Spotify facts
5 of 5 verified- Premium plans
- Individual, Duo, Family, Student
- Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Premium Individual 1 account - For one person. Premium Duo 2 accounts - For couples under one roof. Premium Family Up to 6 accounts - For family under one roof.”
- Free plan
- Yes, with ads
- Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Play millions of songs and podcasts for free”
- Lossless
- Up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Lossless: Equivalent up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC”
- Users
- 788 million, 306 million subscribers
- Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “We are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with 788 million users, including 306 million subscribers, in 184 markets.”
YouTube Music facts
0 of 0 verifiedNo sourced facts yet.
Pros and cons of Spotify
- Excellent personalised playlists and recommendations
- Free tier with ads
- Works on nearly every device via Spotify Connect
- Podcasts and audiobooks in the same app
- Low per-stream payouts to artists
- Lossless tops out at CD-level 24-bit/44.1kHz
- Home screen pushes podcasts and audiobooks
Pros and cons of YouTube Music
- Access to live versions, covers and remixes from YouTube
- Included with YouTube Premium
- You can upload your own music files
- No lossless or hi-res audio
- Free tier restricts background playback on mobile
- No official desktop app
Other apps to consider
Apple MusicInstead of Spotify
Lossless and Dolby Atmos at no extra cost, and a natural fit on Apple devices.
DeezerInstead of Spotify
Similar catalogue and free tier, with easy playlist import and its Flow mix.
Amazon MusicInstead of YouTube Music
Lossless with Unlimited, and some access already included with Prime.
Spotify vs YouTube Music: common questions
Is Spotify better than YouTube Music?
Spotify suits most listeners who want strong recommendations, podcasts and apps on every device; YouTube Music suits people who already pay for YouTube Premium or want live versions, covers and remixes that only exist on YouTube. The biggest difference is the catalogue source: YouTube Music draws on YouTube's vast library of uploads, while Spotify offers a more polished music-first app.
Is Spotify free?
Spotify has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is YouTube Music free?
YouTube Music has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Spotify or YouTube Music open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Spotify and YouTube Music support?
Spotify: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. YouTube Music: Web, iOS and Android.