When it comes to music streaming services, Apple Music and Spotify are two of the most popular options. Both have their unique features, advantages, and pricing plans. But, which one is more expensive? In this article, we’ll delve into the details of both services, comparing their prices, features, and value for money.
Apple Music: The New Kid on the Block
Apple Music, launched in 2015, is a relatively new entrant in the music streaming market. Despite being the new kid on the block, it has managed to gain a significant user base, thanks to its seamless integration with Apple devices and exclusive content.
Pricing Plans
Apple Music offers three pricing plans:
- Individual: $9.99 per month
- Student: $4.99 per month (available for students with a valid .edu email address)
- Family: $14.99 per month (up to six users)
Free Trial: Apple Music offers a three-month free trial, which is a great way to test the service before committing to a paid plan.
Spotify: The Pioneer
Spotify, launched in 2008, is one of the pioneers in the music streaming market. With over 200 million active users, it’s one of the most popular music streaming services worldwide.
Pricing Plans
Spotify offers three pricing plans:
- Individual: $9.99 per month
- Student: $4.99 per month (available for students with a valid .edu email address)
- Family: $14.99 per month (up to six users)
- Free: With ads and limited features
Free Trial: Spotify doesn’t offer a free trial period like Apple Music. However, its free plan is a great way to get started and experience the service before upgrading to a paid plan.
Feature Comparison
Both Apple Music and Spotify offer a wide range of features, including:
<h3ミュージック Library
- Both services have an extensive music library with millions of songs, including popular and obscure tracks.
- Apple Music has exclusive content from popular artists, including Taylor Swift and Drake.
- Spotify has a larger music library, with over 50 million tracks.
Playlist Discovery
- Both services offer personalized playlist discovery features, including Discover Weekly and Release Radar on Spotify, and New Music Mix and Favorites Mix on Apple Music.
- Spotify’s Discover Weekly is widely regarded as one of the best playlist discovery features in the industry.
Audio Quality
- Both services offer high-quality audio streaming, with Apple Music supporting up to 256 kbps AAC and Spotify supporting up to 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis.
- However, Apple Music’s audio quality is generally considered to be better than Spotify’s.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to pricing, both Apple Music and Spotify have similar plans, with the individual plan costing $9.99 per month. However, there are some differences:
Student Plan
- Apple Music’s student plan is only available for students with a valid .edu email address, whereas Spotify’s student plan is available for students with a valid student ID.
- Spotify’s student plan is also available for a longer period, up to four years, whereas Apple Music’s student plan is only available for a year.
Family Plan
- Both services offer a family plan for up to six users, but Apple Music’s family plan is more expensive than Spotify’s at $14.99 per month.
Value for Money
When it comes to value for money, both Apple Music and Spotify offer a great deal. However, the choice ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Apple Music’s Strengths
- Exclusive content from popular artists
- Better audio quality
- Seamless integration with Apple devices
- Three-month free trial
Spotify’s Strengths
- Larger music library
- Better playlist discovery features
- Available on a wider range of devices
- Free plan with ads
Conclusion
So, what’s more expensive, Apple Music or Spotify? The answer is, both services offer similar pricing plans, with the individual plan costing $9.99 per month. However, Apple Music’s family plan is more expensive than Spotify’s.
Ultimately, the choice between Apple Music and Spotify depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re an Apple user and value exclusive content and better audio quality, Apple Music might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a larger music library and better playlist discovery features, Spotify might be the way to go.
Which one do you choose?
What is the main difference between Apple Music and Spotify?
The main difference between Apple Music and Spotify lies in their approach to music streaming. Apple Music is a more premium service that offers exclusive content, including live radio stations and original podcasts. It also provides a more seamless integration with Apple devices and offers a free trial period of three months.
On the other hand, Spotify is a more laid-back service that focuses on music discovery and community features. It offers a free version with ad-support, making it more accessible to a wider audience. Spotify also has a larger music library and more features for playlist creation and sharing. Ultimately, the choice between Apple Music and Spotify depends on your personal preferences and listening habits.
Which service has a larger music library?
Spotify has a larger music library compared to Apple Music. With over 50 million tracks in its catalog, Spotify offers a more extensive selection of songs, albums, and genres. This is because Spotify has been in the music streaming business for longer and has managed to secure more licensing deals with record labels and artists.
Apple Music, on the other hand, has around 45 million tracks in its catalog. While this is still a significant number, it lags behind Spotify in terms of sheer volume. However, Apple Music makes up for this with its exclusive content, including live radio stations and original podcasts, which can’t be found on Spotify.
What are the pricing plans for Apple Music and Spotify?
Both Apple Music and Spotify offer similar pricing plans. Apple Music offers a free trial period of three months, after which it costs $9.99 per month for an individual plan. It also offers a family plan that costs $14.99 per month, which can be shared with up to six people. Students can get a discounted plan for $4.99 per month.
Spotify also offers a free version with ad-support, which is a significant differentiator. It then offers a premium plan that costs $9.99 per month, which removes ads and offers offline playback. Spotify also offers a duo plan for two people that costs $12.99 per month, and a family plan that costs $14.99 per month, which can be shared with up to six people. Students can get a discounted plan for $4.99 per month.
Which service offers more exclusive content?
Apple Music offers more exclusive content compared to Spotify. With its strong ties to the music industry, Apple has been able to secure exclusive deals with popular artists, including Taylor Swift, Drake, and The Weeknd. It also offers live radio stations, including Beats 1, which features prominent DJs and artists.
Apple Music also offers original podcasts, including shows from popular creators and celebrities. This exclusive content is not available on Spotify, which focuses more on music discovery and community features. However, Spotify does offer some exclusive content, including podcasts and live sessions, but it lags behind Apple Music in terms of sheer volume and quality.
Which service has better music discovery features?
Spotify is known for its robust music discovery features, including its Discover Weekly and Release Radar playlists. These playlists use machine learning algorithms to recommend music based on your listening habits and preferences. Spotify also offers a feature called “Friend Activity,” which allows you to see what your friends are listening to.
Apple Music also offers music discovery features, including its “For You” section, which recommends music based on your listening habits. However, these features are not as robust as Spotify’s, and Apple Music does not offer a feature like “Friend Activity.” That being said, Apple Music’s human-curated playlists are often praised for their quality and attention to detail.
Which service has better integration with other devices?
Apple Music has better integration with Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. This is because Apple Music is a native Apple app, and it can seamlessly integrate with other Apple services, including Siri and Apple TV.
Spotify, on the other hand, has better integration with a wider range of devices, including Android devices, smart home devices, and gaming consoles. Spotify also offers a feature called “Spotify Connect,” which allows you to control music playback on multiple devices from a single app. However, Spotify’s integration with Apple devices is not as seamless as Apple Music’s.
Which service is more popular?
Spotify is currently the more popular service, with over 200 million active users worldwide. Apple Music, on the other hand, has around 60 million active users. This is likely due to Spotify’s earlier entry into the market and its wider availability on a range of devices.
However, Apple Music is growing rapidly, and its exclusive content and strong ties to the music industry are attracting new users. Apple Music is also expected to continue growing as more people switch to Apple devices and adopt the service as part of their ecosystem. Ultimately, the popularity of both services will depend on their ability to innovate and adapt to changing user preferences.