Entertainment
Which music streaming service is better: Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music?
Looking to decide which music streaming service is best for you? Read this post and compare the features, pricing, and quality of Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music so you can make an informed decision.
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Discover the right music streaming service for you with our complete guide!
If you’re an avid music fan, chances are you’ve heard of the major music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. But with so many options available, it can be tricky to determine which one is best for your needs.
With the ability to access millions of songs at the touch of a button and features that help customize your listening experience, these popular streaming platforms have revolutionized the way we consume music today.
However, there’s no single service out there that works perfectly for everyone. That’s why we’re breaking down the pros and cons of each service – from pricing plans to music libraries – so you can choose which one suits your listening needs best.
So keep reading to learn which music streaming platform offers the best service: Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music.
5 of the best streaming services to subscribe!
Wondering which streaming service is right for you? Look no further! We've got a list of the five best streaming services for 2023.
Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music: Plans and pricing
All three streaming platforms offer the same basic plans for subscribers: Individual, Student, and Family.
Apple Music and Spotify also offer one additional plan each if those listed below don’t suit your needs: The Apple Music Voice plan, and the Spotify Duo plan.
If you can’t afford another streaming service and don’t really mind ads between songs and podcasts, Spotify and YouTube Music have free plans in which you can access their entire catalog free of charge.
Here’s what Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music offer and how much it costs per month:
Individual | Family | Student | Additional | |
Spotify | $9.99 | $15.99 | $4.99 | $12.99 |
Apple Music | $10.99 | $16.99 | $5.99 | $4.99 |
YouTube Music | $9.99 | $14.99 | $4.99 | – |
Additionally, all three platforms offer a free trial period for you to test their services. Both Apple Music and YouTube Music allow you to test the waters for a month.
Spotify offers two months at no cost in their Individual and Student plans.
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What about audio quality?
Finding the ideal subscription plan to fit your monthly budget is important. However, some would argue that getting the best quality audio is even more.
Between Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, Apple may take the lead on this category.
In comparison, Apple offers more details and a louder sound, and you can really notice the instrument separation.
YouTube Music comes second, and can even match Apple when it comes to details and loudness depending on what you’re listening to.
Additionally, Apple Music is the only service between the three that offers high-resolution lossless audio. However, it still presents some issues when pairing this option with wireless headphones.
People with the right hardware can still enjoy this feature and will find that the service offers them at great value.
Spatial Audio is a fun feature which music lovers will enjoy whenever they’re listening to a well-mixed track.
Basically, if you appreciate getting more details on the songs you like, Apple Music is the way to go. Unfortunately, Spotify still has a long road ahead when it comes to audio quality.
Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music: Track discovery
Audio quality may put Spotify last in comparison to Apple Music and YouTube Music, but the streaming service shines when it comes to recommendations and track discovery.
In that category, Spotify has some of the best algorithms in place.
When you use the “explore” page, every new song will lead you to a new collection of music that is not currently on your playlists or listening history.
Of course after a certain period these recommendations will get repetitive, but it takes a while for that to happen.
With YouTube Music, this repetitive pattern begins after just a couple of weeks of use.
And as for Apple Music, the streaming platform hasn’t perfected its recommendations page as of yet, and rarely suggests new songs.
Therefore if one of your goals is to discover new music to listen to, Spotify wins the round.
Not only do they often recommend new tracks, but they also make special playlists of songs that sound similar to what you usually listen to.
So which music stream is worth it: Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music?
Between these three music streaming giants, you actually have two choices when it comes to picking the best one.
You can choose a platform that invests more in audio quality, or you can choose one that prioritizes new discoveries and a simple application.
If you want the best possible audio quality, then Apple Music will suit your needs better.
Their audio files offer a superior sound, you can have access to Spatial Audio tracks, and upload your own music library using the iCloud feature.
But if you don’t care for superior quality and would like to discover new music to add to your library, Spotify is the way to go.
It’s important to note that Spotify does not offer bad quality audio, and it also features millions of songs at your disposal.
As for YouTube Music, the streaming platform offers a good service and falls somewhere in between Spotify and Apple Music when it comes to audio quality and new discoveries.
If you’re still unsure which is better, you can always take advantage of their free-trial!
Can music boost your performance while you’re exercising?
And once you choose the best stream for you between Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, you can take advantage of their services to boost your workouts!
Did you ever wonder why so many people plug in their headphones and crank up the tunes when they’re hitting the gym?
It turns out there may be more to this than meets the eye – it might actually be helping them get a better work-out.
Whether you’re running on a treadmill, lifting weights at home or playing some pick-up basketball with friends, research suggests that music can have an uplifting effect, enhancing your performance and pushing you to beat personal bests.
So how does listening to music while exercising help us do better? Check the following link for a closer look!
Can music boost your performance while exercising?
Studies show that listening to music while exercising helps boost performance. Read the content below and learn how to choose the right tunes!
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