The battle for the best music streaming service is a heated one. It’s a war that’s only getting tougher as the two giants, Apple and Spotify, face off for supremacy. But which should you choose? Let’s take a look at what’s on offer and how each service can help you find the music you love.
Find new songs
Both Spotify and Apple Music have vast libraries and a great deal of overlap in content. They offer curated playlists and new releases. They also allow users to listen to their own MP3s through the apps. However, Spotify has a slightly better interface.
One of the most important things that both apps do is recommend new songs. They both use algorithms to analyze your listening habits to recommend songs. They both have their own unique ways of doing it.
Apple has a few features that help it stand out. For instance, Apple has a special category called “Behind the Songs,” which includes a section dedicated to songwriters. Likewise, the new Replay feature resurfaces the most popular tracks throughout the year. This is the kind of thing that other services might not be able to deliver.
Apple also has a unique way of recommending new songs. In fact, it has a separate “Made for You” section that showcases the results of its algorithmic recommendation system. It is similar to the feature that Facebook recently added to its app, which suggests people you may want to follow based on your Facebook friends.
It is possible to get a taste of both of these services for free. But if you’re looking for a more robust experience, you should consider a subscription.
You can try both services out for three months for free. You’ll also have access to the iCloud Music Library. This is a great way to add music you have uploaded to your iCloud account to the service.
Create playlists
There are two big players in the music streaming world. One is Spotify, which offers a free tier, and the other is Apple Music, which has a paid tier. While both offer a rich library and the opportunity to share your favorite tracks, their features and abilities vary.
Both apps are vast, but Spotify takes the top spot when it comes to playlists. The service’s free tier includes 15 playlists handpicked by listeners, plus over 40 hours of music. You can listen to these for as long as you want, or save them as individual playlists for your own enjoyment.
In terms of sound quality, Apple Music offers the upper hand. The company’s iCloud Music Library is useful, as it allows you to store your music in your iCloud account. The app also supports Sonos and Xbox. However, this isn’t the only advantage it holds over its competitors.
Spotify has a well designed interface that makes playlist management a breeze. The app features a sleek, modern look, with expansive album artwork. Some of the best features include a group session and an autofill feature that helps you create a playlist without having to type anything in manually.
The app also supports many voice assistants, including Siri. Although the service is not a free trial, it does give you three months for free. If you are looking to buy, you’ll want to take a closer look at the free tier, as it’s a good deal for the money.
Listen to podcasts
If you’re interested in listening to podcasts, you might be wondering how to choose between Spotify and Apple Music. Both services offer a large library of songs and audiobooks.
Both apps have been designed to be easy to navigate. Both have a clean, white interface with tabs at the bottom. Both support a variety of devices. In addition to iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Android phones, both companies also support Windows, Xbox, Roku, PlayStation, and Samsung wearables.
While both services offer a wide range of exclusive content, Apple Music has a wider selection. For instance, it offers radio programs, music videos, audiobooks, and workout-themed playlists. Its library is diverse and features artists and producers. However, it doesn’t have binge-listening controls like Spotify.
While both services are gaining ground in their areas of focus, they have significant overlap on their music content. Both offer ad-supported, free tiers, and subscriptions. You can choose from a variety of audio quality settings on both platforms, including lossless.
Unlike Apple, however, Spotify does not offer live radio programming. Its podcasts are all downloadable and are currently housed in a separate app. Nevertheless, the company is making major efforts to expand its offering.
In 2020, Spotify will launch video podcasts. Additionally, it’s acquired Locker Room, a live sports talk app. Its Sound Up program will help promote underrepresented podcasters.
While Spotify’s playlists aren’t as varied as those from Apple, the latter offers a wider selection of genres. It also features custom playlists based on the artist or activity you’re following.
Connect to Airplay
When listening to Spotify music on your iOS device, you have the option of using the built-in AirPlay. This lets you cast videos and other audio to your TV or other speakers. Although it’s not as robust as native Apple Music, it can be a convenient solution.
If you have an older iPhone, you may need to use 3D Touch to enable AirPlay. However, if you have a newer model, the functionality is more straightforward.
The most basic way to connect to Airplay is to set up a wireless network. These networks work by sending and receiving wireless audio across a home Wi-Fi network. This means you can play games on your phone while listening to music on your speaker.
You can also connect to Spotify from a Mac. This is useful if you want to stream music to your iPhone from your desktop. You can use the Mac’s Menu bar to play Spotify on your iPhone or iPad.
Another feature to consider is Spotify Connect. This is a cool way to control your Spotify from any device. The best part is you don’t even need to have the Spotify app installed on your phone.
The most important thing to remember is to make sure that both devices have the same Wi-Fi connection. This is essential if you’re going to be playing songs on both your smartphone and your speaker.
See what friends and followers are listening to
If you’re trying to decide between Apple Music and Spotify, you might not realize that there’s a lot of overlap in terms of music content. Both platforms offer personalized playlists, new music releases, and radio programs.
Both apps use algorithms to learn your musical tastes and suggest new songs for you. However, there are differences between the two. In the Apple Music app, the design is based on large images and a tile-like UI.
In contrast, Spotify’s design is more fluid and streamlined. Its design features include neon green flashes and a darker color scheme. It also has a few small design variations based on system icons.
The app allows users to follow artists, listen to specific albums, and create collaborative playlists. The “Friend Feed” option lets you view what your friends are listening to. You can also see your friends’ public playlists, and share your own with them.
Apple Music also supports Samsung wearables, Fitbit, and Google Wear OS devices. The app uses a sliding menu icon to access the navigation bar. Its music library includes audiobooks, podcasts, and radio programs. It’s available on iOS and Android.
In addition, both apps feature bonus games console support. Apple Music supports Sonos, Xbox, PlayStation5, and Roku. It also offers a three-month free trial.
Spotify is the industry leader when it comes to sheer usability. The app’s music library has over 5 years’ worth of saved songs. Its search function is similar to Google’s. It offers a filter function and a Release Radar segment. Its Replay resurfaces the most played tracks throughout the year.
Discover new artists
Apple Music and Spotify both offer users the chance to discover new artists. But which is better? While both have a large collection of songs, only one provides the opportunity to listen to music in full resolution.
In terms of exclusive albums, both services have some notable releases. However, Spotify’s catalog is slightly larger. In fact, you can find over 90 million songs on the platform, compared to Apple’s 40 million.
Spotify also has some features that other services don’t have, including ad-supported playback. This gives artists a tiny amount of money for each stream. And while it’s not the only option, it’s a good way to get more exposure.
It’s also possible to listen to music through Spotify’s mobile app. The interface is clean and smooth. It’s available on iOS and Android, and it’s compatible with a wide variety of devices. It also works on a variety of wearables.
However, you’ll need to use an internet connection to access it. It’s also not suitable for wireless headphones. While Spotify has a free tier, it doesn’t provide the same level of audio quality as Apple Music.
However, it does feature a lot of cool features that make it easy to discover new artists. For example, the Discover Weekly playlist is a custom mix that is updated every Monday. This automatically generates hours of new tunes for you to listen to.