Spotify vs Apple Music: Which Is Worth Tracking and Keeping?
Price comparison, audio quality, family plans, and student discounts — everything you need to decide between Spotify and Apple Music.
Verdict: Apple Music for audio quality, Spotify for compatibility
Both Spotify and Apple Music are excellent. The decision comes down to ecosystem, audio quality priorities, and price.
Price (2026)
Plan
Spotify
Apple Music
Individual
€11.99/mo
€10.99/mo
Student
€5.99/mo
€5.49/mo
Family (6)
€19.99/mo
€16.99/mo
Annual
~€100/yr
€109.99/yr
Apple Music is cheaper on individual and family plans.
Audio Quality
Spotify Premium: up to 320kbps Ogg Vorbis
Apple Music: Lossless (ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHz) + Dolby Atmos spatial audio — included free
For audiophiles with quality headphones or speakers, Apple Music's lossless quality is a significant advantage at no extra cost.
Library and Discovery
Both have ~100 million tracks. Spotify's algorithm-driven Discover Weekly and Daily Mixes are generally considered better for music discovery. Apple Music's editorial curation is strong but more manual.
Ecosystem Compatibility
Spotify: Every device, platform, smart TV, car, game console, smart speaker
Apple Music: Best on Apple. Works on Android and Windows but with limitations.
The Decision
- Android or Windows primary device → Spotify
- iPhone/Mac primary with AirPods → Apple Music
- Podcast listener → Spotify
- Audiophile → Apple Music (lossless at same price)
- Budget family → Apple Music Family (€16.99 vs €19.99)
Track whatever you decide to keep
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