YouTube Music vs Spotify: Which is the better platform?

In the world of streaming music, two giants stand out: YouTube Music and Spotify. Both offer a wide variety of songs and features, but which one is better? In this detailed analysis, we will explore the differences and similarities between these two services to help you make an informed decision.

Audio Quality

Audio quality is a crucial factor for music lovers. Spotify offers three levels of audio quality: Normal, High, and Very High. The Very High quality is 320 kbps, which is quite impressive for a streaming service.

On the other hand, YouTube Music also offers three levels of audio quality: Low, Normal, and High. However, it does not specify the bitrate of each level, making direct comparison with Spotify difficult. Nonetheless, users report that the audio quality is comparable to that of Spotify.

Variety of Music

Spotify is known for its extensive music library, which boasts over 70 million songs. In addition, it offers a variety of curated playlists and the option to create your own.

YouTube Music, on the other hand, benefits from YouTube's vast music library. This means that you not only have access to official songs but also live versions, remixes, and covers that you won't find on Spotify. However, organizing the library can be a bit chaotic due to the sheer amount of content.

User Experience

In terms of app design, Spotify is cleaner and easier to navigate. Functions are clearly labeled and the interface is intuitive, making music discovery and search easy.

Although not as polished as Spotify, YouTube Music has a pretty decent user interface. The app is easy to use and offers a smart search function that can find songs even if you don't remember the exact title.

Unique Features

Spotify stands out for its social features such as the ability to share playlists and see what your friends are listening to. It also offers Spotify Connect, which allows you to control music across different devices.

YouTube Music offers the option to watch music videos directly in the app. Additionally, if you're subscribed to YouTube Premium you can enjoy ad-free music and the ability to play music in background mode.

Plans & Pricing

Spotify offers an ad-supported free plan along with several paid subscription options including Individual Plan, Duo Plan, Family Plan, and Student Plan. Prices vary depending on plan location. Although, the best way to have Spotify Premium through family plan and sharing subscription on Sharingful.

YouTube Music provides an ad-supported free plan along with an ad-free Premium plan. The Premium plan also includes access to YouTube Premium offering ad-free videos, and the ability to play videos in background mode. As always, the best option is the family plan for YouTube Premium since it's very affordable, and you'll have ad-free YouTube Music and all advantages of YouTube Premium too.

Our Conclusion

Both Spotify and YouTube Music have their strengths and weaknesses. Spotify offers a better user experience and social features while YouTube Music stands out for its vast music library and the option to watch music videos. The choice between the two will largely depend on your personal preferences and needs.

From our point of view, we prefer YouTube because of the benefits of having Premium active on YouTube.