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Both Spotify and Apple Music are incredibly popular music streaming services, boasting huge user bases. However, many people don't understand the specific differences between the two music streaming services, leaving them unsure which one to choose. This article will provide detailed information on the differences in the number of songs available and pricing plans for those wondering, "What's the difference between Apple Music and Spotify?" This thorough comparison of Spotify and Apple Music will help you find the music service that's perfect for you. Please read to the end.

Spotify vs. Apple Music

Comparing Spotify and Apple Music: From the perspective of sound quality, number of songs, number of users, etc.

Differences in pricing plans

Spotify and Apple MusicPricing PlansWhen comparing the two, there are some important differences.

First of all, in terms of price, Apple Music's pricing plans are generally higher than Spotify's. Also, while Apple Music offers both monthly and yearly subscriptions, SpotifyMonthly plan onlyAnother big difference is that Apple MusicFully paid systemIn contrast, Spotify offers a free plan that allows basic music listening even for free members. However, the free plan has usage restrictions such as song skipping restrictions and the inability to download songs. Please refer to the table below for a detailed comparison of each pricing plan.

Pricing Plans Apple Music Spotify
Individual plan (monthly) 1,080 yen 980 yen
Individual plan (yearly) 10,800 yen none
Premium DUO Plan none 1,280 yen
Student Plan 580 yen 480 yen
Family Plan 1,680 yen 1,580 yen
Free Plan none can be

Differences in sound quality

When comparing the sound quality of Spotify and Apple Music, the difference between the two is quite noticeable.

Overall, Apple Music's sound quality is clearly superior to Spotify's. Spotify's sound quality is at least 24kbps and at most 320kbps (maximum 160kbps for the free plan), while Apple Music supports at least CD quality (16bit/44.1kHz) and at most CD quality (24bit/192kHz). This is why Apple Music is ranked as the best in sound quality comparisons.Overwhelmingly superiorFor a detailed comparison of sound quality, please refer to the table below.

Spotify paid version Apple Music
Low quality 24kbps CD quality 16-bit/44.1kHz
(approximately 1,411 kbps)
Medium quality 96kbps CD high quality 24-bit/48kHz
(approximately 2,304 kbps)
Highest quality 320kbps (paid version)
High quality 160kbps (free version)
Highest CD quality 24-bit/192kHz
(approximately 9,216 kbps)

Differences in number of songs and users

When comparing Spotify and Apple Music in terms of the number of songs and users, the difference in the number of songs between the two services is not that great, but there is a significant difference in the number of users.

In terms of the number of songs, both Spotify and Apple Music have extensive song libraries that cover everything from classical music to the latest releases from Japan and abroad. However, the big difference is that while Apple Music specializes in music, Spotify also offers podcast and audiobook services.

In terms of user numbers, according to incomplete statistics as of 2025, Apple Music has approximately 110 million users, while Spotify has over 675 million monthly active users, of which over 263 million are paid subscribers. This difference is mainly due to Spotify's multi-platform support andFree PlanThis can be said to be due to the appeal of the service. Please refer to the table below for a detailed comparison of the number of songs and users.

Apple Music Spotify
Number of songs Over 100 million songs Over 100 million songs
Number of users Over 110 million people Monthly active users: 675 million
Number of paid subscribers: 263 million

Differences in features and experience between Spotify and Apple Music

There are no major differences in functionality between Spotify and Apple Music, and the difference in usability is mainly due to the degree of optimization for each device.

There are five easy-to-understand buttons at the bottom of the Apple Music screen. Recommended music, new song search, radio, saved songs, and search are all gathered here. Compared to Apple Music, all of Spotify's functions are gathered on the home screen, making it intuitive to use. Also, Apple Music is compatible with iPhones, Macs, etc.Apple productsIt works very well with Spotify, so you can enjoy songs you've previously purchased. It's also attractive that you can get great deals by bundling it with other Apple services. On the other hand, Spotify's strength is that it lets you enjoy not only music but also news and talk shows as easily as listening to radio.

In terms of user experience, Spotify's design isBeautiful appearanceIt emphasizes the visual appeal of the app and is more visually appealing than Apple Music.PracticalityBecause it prioritizes music streaming, it's easier to keep up with current music trends and popular songs than Spotify. However, Apple Music doesn't work well with devices other than Apple products, so it can't be used comfortably on anything other than an iPhone or Mac. Spotify, on the other hand, is perfectly compatible with all models and can be used smoothly and without stress on any device. This is where Apple Music falls short.

Comparing music recommendations on Spotify and Apple Music

Comparing the trends in music recommendations on Spotify and Apple Music, SpotifyIndie musicThis is the main strength of Spotify.AI recommendation systemSpotify is adept at discovering new music, making bolder recommendations, and excelling at unearthing quality music that is not yet known. This is mainly thanks to Spotify's powerful AI algorithm, which automatically learns user preferences andPersonalizationWe recommend the content you have viewed.

On the other hand, compared to Spotify, Apple MusicPrestigious classical music and the latest pop musicThis is mainly due to Apple Music's deep partnerships with major labels, giving it a greater advantage in these areas. At the same time, Apple Music's music recommendations are biased towards manual curation based on user preferences, resulting in more comprehensive recommendations.StabilityIt is tailored to mainstream music and the preferences that users have already expressed.

The pros and cons of Spotify and Apple Music

After comparing the features of Spotify and Apple Music, it became clear that the two services emphasize different things. To help you understand the differences more intuitively, we've summarized the advantages and disadvantages of both below. Please use this as a reference when making your decision.

Spotify's pros and cons

The main advantages of Spotify are its low price and the fact that it is available for free membership, as well as its highly accurate personalized music recommendations and wide selection of podcasts.

However, compared to Apple Music, the sound quality is inferior, the free version has many ads, and song management is complicated, and these are the main disadvantages.

Advantages:

  • Paid plans are cheaper
  • Free users can listen to music without any restrictions
  • Highly accurate music recommendations
  • A wide range of podcast programs

Cons:

  • The sound quality is slightly poor
  • The free version has frequent ads and limited functionality
  • Difficult to manage your own music library
  • Downloaded songs cannot be freely saved or moved

Pros and Cons of Apple Music

The main advantages of Apple Music are its high sound quality and compatibility with Apple products, as well as the quality of the recommended songs and the ease of managing your music through iTunes.

However, compared to Spotify, there is no free plan and the pricing plans are expensive. Also, while it has high compatibility with Apple products, it has the problem of poor compatibility with other operating systems and platforms, which is its main disadvantage.

Advantages:

  • High-quality sound
  • Extremely compatible with Apple products
  • High quality music recommendations
  • Easily manage your iTunes library and local music

Cons:

  • Paid plans are expensive
  • Not available to free users
  • Poor compatibility with operating systems other than iOS
  • Downloaded songs cannot be freely saved or moved

Which one to choose? The best option for you

So far, we've compared the similarities and differences between Spotify and Apple Music in various aspects, such as pricing plans, sound quality, number of songs, number of users, and music recommendations, as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages. Now you should have a rough idea of which music streaming service is best for you.

If you are on a budget and want to try a music service for the first time, I recommend Spotify.freeSpotify is a better choice for users who are interested in podcasts, audiobooks, and more, than Apple Music. Compared to Apple Music, Spotify offers a variety of radio channels in addition to music.TV shows and podcastsAll the necessary items are available.

On the other hand, if you have a certain budget, especially for music,Sound qualityIf you are particular about quality, we recommend Apple Music. Although Apple Music is a bit pricey, the sound quality of the music service it offers clearly exceeds that of Spotify, providing users with a better listening experience. If you use Apple products such as an iPhone or iPad, we recommend this. Apple Music isApple productsIt's so optimized that it's no exaggeration to say it was designed specifically for Apple, providing a better and more comfortable experience on Apple devices compared to Spotify.

However, the best way to decide which music streaming service is right for you is to try them out for yourself.free trialWe offer both, so try them both out and choose the service that best suits your needs.

Recommended music converter for both Spotify and Apple Music

As is clear from the comparison of Spotify and Apple Music so far, neither service allows you to freely move or save downloaded songs.Common disadvantagesI have the following problems.

So, what should you do if you want to easily download songs from Spotify or Apple Music? For those who want to save songs locally or convert music formats to streamline management, we have an all-in-one music download and conversion software called "StreamByte for Music" is recommended.

By using this software, you can enjoy Apple Music andEasily convert Spotify songs, albums, and playlists to MP3 and other popular formatsYes, you can. In addition, you can still play downloaded songs even after canceling your Spotify or Apple Music subscription, and even Spotify free plan users can download songs without any restrictions.

StreamByte for Music

StreamByte for Music

This is the perfect music converter for those who want to enjoy streaming music with the original sound quality. It supports multiple music platforms and allows you to save music while maintaining high sound quality.

"Why we recommend StreamByte for Music"

  • Apple Music andFreely set the destination for downloaded music from SpotifyThis allows you to move and share freely.
  • You can download music in bulk from streaming music services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, LINE MUSIC, Deezer, SoundCloud, and Pandora.
  • It supports high-quality music downloads at up to 35x speed and a maximum bitrate of 320kbps.
  • It removes DRM protection and allows you to play downloaded music on different players.
  • Lossless downloads available in popular formats such as mp3, wav, flac, aiff, m4a (aac), m4a (alac).
  • It has a built-in web player, which can provide users with an official experience when downloading music.

Let's take Spotify as an example:StreamByte for MusicWe will show you how to easily download music using ``.

step 1Install "StreamByte for Music" on your computer and launch it.Log inThe main interface will then display all major music streaming services, including YouTube Music. Select Spotify from the list.

Select Spotify

Step 2After logging in with your account, find the audio you want to download,Add to conversion listClick the button.StreamByte for Music" supports bulk downloads, so you can add multiple songs at once.

Add to conversion list

Step 3You can adjust the output format, bitrate, etc. Select MP3 as the output format.

Output Settings

Step 4Once you've added all the music you want to save,"Convert All"Click the button. You can check the conversion progress on the screen, and the downloaded songs will be"Conversion complete"You can check it in the tab.

Download now

"StreamByte for Music" allows you to easily download songs from Spotify and Apple Music in just a few steps.DRM RemovalThis feature allows you to transfer downloaded music to other devices without restrictions. Spotify users can use "StreamByte for Music" toDownload Spotify songs even with a free membershipThis allows you to save and play the audio in high quality.

If you want to easily download songs from Spotify and Apple Music, please give it a try.

Free Download

100% safe and virus free

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Spotify/Apple Music FAQ

Can I download songs to play offline even if I'm a free Spotify member?

If you are using the official Spotify app, unfortunately you cannot download songs and play them offline, even if you are a free Spotify member. The free plan only allows you to play songs, and the download function and the ability to fast forward and rewind songs are also limited. However,StreamByte for Music" allows you to download music even if you are a free Spotify member.Offline playbackThis can be achieved.

Does Apple Music let you listen to songs for free?

Compared to Spotify, Apple MusicFree for a limited timeYou can listen to music on Apple Music, but the period of use is limited. Apple Music usually offers a one- to three-month free trial for new users (the period varies depending on the region and campaign), during which you can enjoy all the benefits of a paid membership, such as unlimited listening to all songs, offline playback by downloading, and no ads. However, if you do not continue your Apple Music subscription after the free trial period ends, the songs you can play will be limited to songs purchased from the iTunes Store and personally owned music content uploaded to your iCloud Music Library.

summary

This article compares Spotify and Apple Music, detailing the differences in pricing plans, sound quality, music recommendations, number of songs, and number of users. We analyzed the features, usage experience, advantages and disadvantages of both services, and clarified which users each service is suited to. Finally, to meet the music download needs of Spotify and Apple Music users,All-in-one music download and conversion software"StreamByte for Music"We would like to introduce you to "

"StreamByte for Music" is a service that allows you to listen to Spotify and Apple Music songs.Up to 35x speedAll-in-one music download software that allows for ultra-fast downloads.Highest quality at 320kbpsIt maintains the quality of the original app, so you can enjoy music with quality comparable to that of the original app.DRM removal technology overcomes download restrictionsYou can freely manage your saved music. You can enjoy music on your favorite player even in offline environments such as in the car or on your commute.

"StreamByte for Music"teethFree trialIf you want to download music from music streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music, feel free to download the software and give it a try!

Free Download

100% safe and virus free

Free Download

100% safe and virus free

Born in Tokyo. Studied music culture at Tokyo Woman's Christian University, and after graduating, worked in the music distribution and download industry, gaining experience as an editor and writer. Has a deep understanding of a wide range of music genres, from rock, J-POP, classical, and metal, and is familiar with major services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

He has written over 300 articles, with a total of 6 million page views. He strives to provide accurate and easy-to-understand information so that readers can enjoy music more conveniently and safely. He currently writes articles for the StreamByte editorial department, focusing on how to use and utilize music download and conversion software.

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