Spotify vs Apple Music: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Both are ad-free on paid plans, offer lossless audio, a family plan for six and a free month for new subscribers. Spotify adds a Duo plan, 15 hours of audiobooks a month and Hulu (With Ads) with Student; Apple Music adds Spatial Audio, the Apple Music Classical app and Apple TV with Student — and lists no free plan.
Option A
$12.99/moPremium Individual
Official price before tax: $12.99
Price checked
Spotify Premium price and plans
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Spotify Premium | Apple Music |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Individual, Duo, Family, Student | Individual, Family, Student |
| Free plan | Yes, with ads | None listed |
| Audiobooks | 15 h/month | No |
| Audio | Lossless | Lossless, Spatial Audio |
| Family | Up to 6 accounts | You plus five |
| Student bonus | Hulu (With Ads) | Apple TV |
Spotify and Apple Music are the two biggest music subscriptions in the US. The catalogs are similar; the extras and the ecosystem differ.
If you don’t want to read further
Audiobooks, a two-person plan or a free tier to fall back on — Spotify. Spatial Audio, classical music or a household already on Apple devices — Apple Music.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Is there a free plan?
Spotify Premium
Yes — Spotify has a free, ad-supported tier.
Apple Music
Apple’s plans page lists no free plan.
If you cancel Spotify, you keep a free version.
Audiobooks?
Spotify Premium
15 hours a month on Individual and for the plan manager on Duo and Family.
Apple Music
Not part of Apple Music.
Audiobook listeners get more from Spotify.
Plans for two?
Spotify Premium
Duo — two accounts at the same address.
Apple Music
No Duo; Family covers you plus five.
Couples have a cheaper tier with Spotify.
Audio extras?
Spotify Premium
Lossless up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.
Apple Music
Lossless and Spatial Audio, plus the Apple Music Classical app.
For Spatial Audio and classical, Apple Music.
Student bonus?
Spotify Premium
Hulu (With Ads).
Apple Music
Apple TV.
Pick the video service you’d rather have.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
Ad-free and offline
Both paid plans are ad-free with downloads.
Family for six
Spotify Family up to 6 accounts; Apple Music you plus five.
A free month
Both offer a free month to new subscribers.
Works beyond its own devices
Apple Music also runs on Android and Windows.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You listen to audiobooks | Spotify Premium | 15 hours a month. |
| A couple at one address | Spotify Duo | Same address required. |
| You want Spatial Audio or classical | Apple Music | Apple Music Classical included. |
| Your household uses several Apple services | Apple Music or Apple One | Compare Apple One first. |
- Spotify Duo and Family require everyone at the same address.
- On Spotify Duo and Family only the plan manager gets audiobook hours.
- Cancel Apple Music at least 24 hours before the trial ends to avoid a charge.
- Spotify’s free month is only for people who haven’t tried Premium.
Where the facts come from
Sources: Spotify’s US Premium pages and Apple’s US Apple Music pages. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Spotify Premium or Apple Music
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Music streaming” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — spatial audio: Apple Music Individual
Spotify Premium Premium Individual: no (2,0/5) · Apple Music Individual: yes (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — sound quality: Apple Music Individual
Spotify Premium Premium Individual: lossless (24-bit / 44.1–48 kHz) (4,0/5) · Apple Music Individual: Hi-Res (24-bit, up to 192 kHz) (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: Apple Music Individual
Spotify Premium Premium Individual: 4,8 out of 5 (4,8/5) · Apple Music Individual: 4,9 out of 5 (4,9/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: