When you are trying to decide between the two major music services, you will probably want to consider what features they offer and what they cost. These factors will help you narrow down your choices and choose the best option for you. However, there are other things you should keep in mind, as well.
Sorting feature
The Apple Music and Spotify Sorting feature are both a part of iOS 16. However, there are some differences between the two.
While Apple Music has an icon-based design, Spotify’s main menu is more logical. It offers several lists based on bands, albums, and genres. In addition, there is a Concert tab.
When you’re searching for a song, Spotify uses an algorithm that considers user input, musical elements, and time of day. This makes for a more accurate recommendation.
Similarly, Apple Music’s Listen Now feature makes suggestions based on your listening habits. Although the recommendations are accurate, they are not as reliable as Spotify’s.
There is also a Sort pop-up menu located on the top right corner. This feature allows you to reorder your playlists and songs. You can sort by Artist, Title, Release Date, Playlist Order, and Date Added.
In addition, Spotify has added a Search by Lyrics function. This is useful for people who like to listen to songs with lyrics. Previously, there was no such feature.
Unlike iTunes, Spotify does not have a ‘Sticky’ option. Instead, your tracks are stored in a 256kbps AAC format. However, premium subscribers get a higher quality music experience.
One of the more interesting aspects of the Apple Music catalog is the category system. It has categories dedicated to artists, songwriters, and producers. These are all helpful for discovering new artists and musicians. Another good feature is Apple Music’s Smart Playlists. Using these features, you can curate playlists for others.
The Browse page features a selection of new releases and updated charts. This page is designed with stylized graphics and fun statistics. Moreover, the year-end Wrapped playlist gives you insight into how you’ve been listening.
Cross-compatibility
Spotify and Apple Music are rivals in the streaming music industry. These two services have different features, pricing, and user bases. So, which is the better choice?
Firstly, Spotify is a popular music streaming service that offers over 70 million songs, as well as podcasts, collaborative playlists, and other content. It also has an ad-supported free tier. With a Premium subscription, you can enjoy ad-free listening and access to Spotify’s premium features.
Secondly, Apple Music is a music streaming service that is compatible with iOS, Mac, and Apple Watch. In addition, the service is available on Android devices, Windows phones, BlackBerry devices, PlayStations, and other mobile platforms.
Finally, Apple Music has a very large library. At the moment, there are more than 75 million songs in the Apple Music catalog. This includes albums, singles, and compilations. You can save your favorite tracks to your personal library, which can be accessed across devices.
If you’re not yet an Apple Music subscriber, you may want to consider signing up for the free version for a few months. The service also comes pre-installed on millions of iPhones. However, you’ll only be able to save a limited amount of songs at a time.
Apple Music and Spotify offer similar music recommendation algorithms, which use your listening history to recommend songs. However, Spotify is better at cross-platform availability.
While Apple Music supports ad-free streaming, Spotify has a vastly larger content library. Spotify also has a more powerful search function. And, as a bonus, it has a streamlined player interface, with big buttons and a minimalist design.
As for the music itself, the biggest difference between these two services is the quality of the streaming. While both of them offer high-resolution streaming, Apple Music streams in AAC at 256Kbps, which is more glitch-free than the AAC format used by Spotify.
Similar pricing options
While the competition in the streaming space is fierce, Apple Music and Spotify offer similar pricing options. With more than 80 million subscribers and a combined user base of over 170 million, they’re a formidable pair.
Both companies boast features that will make your music listening experience an absolute delight. In fact, one company even has its own autoplay solution.
Although both companies have their own strengths, they have some glaring differences. For instance, Apple Music uses a proprietary audio coding format while Spotify primarily streams in Ogg Vorbis. They also have different feature sets. On top of that, they have different user bases. Regardless of whether you’re a Spotify or Apple Music pro, you’ll need to decide which company is right for you.
If you’re a newbie to the world of streaming, you might want to consider a free trial. Spotify offers a three month subscription for a modest fee, and you can try it out for yourself without having to pay anything. Plus, if you’re using a smartphone or tablet, you’ll be able to listen to ad-free music.
One of the reasons Apple beat Spotify in the streaming game is that it has more paid users. However, the number of active users is only 88 million, compared to Spotify’s 188 million. You can expect to see an increase in the number of subscribers if you choose to sign up for a paid plan.
Another reason you might choose to stick with Apple is that it has a more familiar UI design language. Additionally, it offers Siri support, which is handy if you’re driving or working on your laptop. And, it has a wide array of supporting devices.
Share music and playlists
It is possible to share music and playlists on Spotify and Apple Music. While each app is unique in its own way, it is not difficult to do.
Both Spotify and Apple Music offer a variety of features that make listening fun and easy. From sharing your own playlists to recommending new music, these apps will have something for everyone.
Apple Music offers a number of features that are exclusive to the service. For instance, you can watch music videos and hear interviews with the artists. Another feature is the iCloud Music Library. This allows you to access AAC 256kbps tracks through iTunes.
Apple Music also provides a variety of live performances. There is also a curated radio station that provides users with fresh and interesting content. In addition, Apple Music allows you to create your own Stations. These stations are based on topics and genres.
As for the quality, Apple Music is a 256kbps AAC service. If you want to listen to it in full resolution, you’ll need a set of wireless headphones.
On the other hand, Spotify offers a variety of spatial audio options. You can listen to the service through a browser or via the app. The company supports PlayStation, Xbox, Garmin, Samsung wearables, and Sonos devices.
There is an iOS version of the app, but the web version is also available. Both apps allow you to play music on your mobile device, tablet, and PC.
The app is free to download and use, but a premium subscription is required. Fortunately, there is a six month free trial. Plus, if you are a new user, you can get a free subscription to Apple Music for a year.
Karaoke-style lyrics
If you’re a karaoke fan, you’re probably jealous of the new Sing feature that Apple Music has added. It will allow you to sing along with millions of songs from the Apple Music catalog. You’ll also be able to adjust your vocals and perform duets.
Unlike the karaoke feature offered by Spotify, Apple Music Sing is designed to be more interactive. Rather than recording your voice, you’ll be able to take over the lyrics, blending your voice with the singer’s.
In addition, you’ll be able to adjust the vocal volume, which can be a real plus. Apple also plans to add a number of other features to the Sing feature, including a duet view, background duties, and multiple lyric views.
As for the background duties, you’ll be able to turn them off or on, as well as hide certain songs from appearing on playlists. Another cool feature is that you can skip to a specific line of a song.
There’s another karaoke-style function, called Replay, which lets you sing along with different vocals. And, finally, there’s a special new feature that shows you the lyrics in real-time.
With all of these features, you’ll be able to sing with your favorite artist, or even duet with a friend. But, if you’re looking for a little more control, there’s a way to use your iPhone’s microphone.
The new Sing feature will debut in the next few weeks. Apple also plans to roll it out to tens of millions of tracks later this month. After that, it will be available to all customers.
You can try out the Sing feature on your iPad or iPhone. Eventually, it will be available on the new Apple TV 4K.
