Do you recall a time when you couldn’t just listen to any song that suited your mood? It wasn’t that long ago that music streaming services were a dream of the future.

Now, we have so many options that we are essentially overwhelmed with choices. What was once an exciting innovation is now standard technology for many people. However, that means there’s not always a clear answer on which music streaming service to use. When it comes to YouTube Music vs. Spotify, there’s a lot to think about.

In this post, we are breaking down the main differences between YouTube Music vs. Spotify, including pros and cons and use cases for particular scenarios. Keep reading to find out who wins in the world of music streaming (hint: there is no clear winner, only an option that’s best for you).

YouTube Music vs. Spotify: Comparing Specific Categories

Are there even differences between YouTube Music vs. Spotify? Don’t they do the same thing?

While the offerings seem similar, there are a lot of subtle differences in the streaming services. That means that which option is better depends on what you need in a music streaming platform, what you prefer, and what you value. For that reason, we are breaking down Spotify vs. YouTube Music across several areas, so that you can judge which is better based on what’s most important to you.

Overall Selection

YouTube Music offers a vast library that includes official tracks, music videos, and user-uploaded content. It excels in live performances and remixes due to its integration with YouTube.

Spotify features a large catalog of songs, albums, and playlists curated by both algorithms and human editors. It has a strong focus on mainstream music but also includes a variety of independent artists.

Many online reviews say that YT Music has more songs: nearly every song that Spotify has, plus a few more. That’s because YT Music allows users to listen to any audio from any YouTube video within the app. This means that any unreleased songs, any live performances, covers, Tiny Desk Concerts, parodies, and medleys are available to listen to, as long as they are on YouTube. It can be harder to find those sorts of niche recordings on Spotify.

Streaming Quality

YouTube Music offers streaming quality up to 256 KBPS for Premium users, with other options for video streaming quality that might impact audio. Spotify provides higher streaming quality options: up to 320 KBPS for Premium users. It also has a feature where users can adjust the quality based on their network conditions.

Another feature that’s unique to Spotify is the “connect” functionality. Think of this tool as a sort of remote control or link between devices, which can be very useful but also difficult to get used to. You can use this feature to switch between devices, such as when you are listening to music on your phone but want to pause it on your laptop. Or, you might be hosting a party and have your tablet connected to your Bluetooth speaker while curating a playlist through your phone. Even the ability to play the same track from two different devices at the same time can end up being important.  This is one of the flagship features of Spotify and one that users say is hard to live without once you get used to. It’s a good thing to keep in mind when choosing between YouTube Music vs. Spotify.

Pricing

Generally speaking, YouTube Music is considered to offer more bang for your buck. As of now, the individual YT Music subscription is the same as Spotify ($10.99 each, per month).

But, for $3 extra each month, you get the added benefit of downloadable, background-listenable, ad-free YouTube videos. You can also get some free movies and a few other minor perks that are worth exploring. If you already consider yourself a YouTube “person” over another video streaming platform like Netflix, then you’ll get more with your YouTube subscription.

YouTube Music - A free ad-supported version or a Premium subscription for $10.99 per month. This provides ad-free listening, offline downloads, and background play.

Spotify - Also has a free tier with ads and a Premium subscription priced at $10.00 per month. They also offer family and student plans that can reduce costs.

Features

There are some features that are table-stakes - any music streaming platform has to have them and they need to be simple and easy. Other features are more advanced and really set technology apart.

YouTube Music has features like personalized playlists, music videos, and the ability to switch between audio and video easily. It also has a "Discover Mix" feature that suggests new songs based on listening habits.

Spotify is known for its robust algorithmic playlists such as Discover Weekly and Release Radar. It has collaborative playlists, social sharing options, and extensive podcast integrations.

In addition to those feature sets, each platform has some other unique functionality that can improve the listening experience. Let’s dig into those elements.

Artist Following

YT Music connects to YT videos by allowing people to follow artists. Spotify allows you to follow an artist, kind of like a social media platform. However, on YouTube Music, you need to subscribe to an artist to be able to follow. That means you’re also subscribing to the artist on your YouTube account. That won’t bother a lot of people, but if you want distinction between types of content that you consume, you may find it a nuisance.

Additionally, Spotify shows you the monthly listeners for an artist, while YouTube Music shows how many subscribers an artist has. Some online reviews point out that those are fundamentally different statistics. On Spotify, you only have to play a song to be part of the monthly listeners. On YouTube Music, you must actively subscribe to someone. Spotify also tracks the number of plays listed, while YT Music lists the number of likes. If you want to compare the same artist on both platforms, you’re likely to find big differences in the numbers, which can be misleading.

Playlists

The general consensus online seems to be that YouTube Music still needs some work in terms of playlists. This is another area where the blending of your YouTube account with the Music offering will be present. Every liked song, every search, etc. is all connected to your existing YouTube account. Some people like this but others don’t.

If you are someone who makes dozens of playlists per year, you’ll see all of them show up on your YouTube homepage. You should also be prepared to deal with a lack of folder structure. If you are big on organization, a lack of folders is going to annoy you, especially if you create lots of playlists.

On Spotify, users can have playlists organized by mood, genre, dates, and a lot more. On YT Music, your playlists are all presented on one long page that you need to scroll through. If you name your playlists creatively, you’ll need to remember the names in order to search since there is no folder structure. In the future, perhaps playlist folders will be added to YouTube Music, and that would be a big improvement according to many users.

Finally, it’s worth noting that if you leave Spotify, you’ll be giving up any playlists that you’ve created. Many people have a hard time with this when switching platforms. There are sites and programs that can help you to transfer these playlists, so there is a workaround, but it’s still something to be aware of.

Smart Downloads

What YouTube is lacking in playlist functionality, they make up for in Smart Downloads. This feature basically allows the app to download a set amount of songs (or a set amount of data) every day based on your listening habits. You can turn this setting on or off whenever you want, and you can set exactly how many songs you’ll allow it to download (for example, 100 songs). This function will only download when you have sufficient battery life and are connected to Wi-Fi. Many user reviews mentioned taking advantage of this feature, referencing countless situations where they might be in a dead cell zone and they were happy to have the songs downloaded.

Podcasts

If podcasts are more your thing, then you’ll probably prefer Spotify. YT Music is more concerned with music options or other content on its video platform. Spotify is generally considered the better option for finding and listening to this type of informational content, for several reasons:

• Extensive podcast library - Spotify has invested heavily in building a vast library of podcasts, including exclusive shows and original content. This extensive selection covers a wide range of genres and topics, making it easier for users to find content that interests them.
• Exclusive content - As we just mentioned, Spotify has entered into exclusive deals with various podcast creators and networks, which means that some popular podcasts are only available on its platform. This exclusivity draws in users who want access to specific shows that they can't find elsewhere.
• Enhanced discovery features - Spotify offers tailored podcast recommendations based on user listening habits. They have a great algorithm that suggests new podcasts that align with users' interests, making it easier for them to discover new shows.
• Integrated listening experience - Spotify provides a seamless experience for users who want to switch between music and podcasts. Users can easily browse and listen to both types of content without needing to switch apps, which provides a lot of convenience.
• User engagement features - Spotify includes features designed to improve user engagement, such as the ability to follow podcasts, receive notifications for new episodes, and create playlists that include both music and podcast episodes. This makes it easy for listeners to keep track of their favorite shows.
• Podcast-related tools - Spotify has developed tools specifically for podcast creators, such as analytics and monetization options, which attract a diverse range of creators to the platform. This further enriches the podcasting ecosystem on Spotify.

Social

When comparing the social features of Spotify vs. YouTube Music, Spotify generally offers a more robust and engaging social experience. Here’s a detailed look at the social features of each platform.

Spotify’s Social Features

• Collaborative playlists - Spotify allows users to create playlists that friends can contribute to, fostering collaboration and shared music discovery.
• Following friends and artists - Users can follow friends to see what they are listening to in real time, as well as follow their favorite artists to stay updated on new releases and activities.
• Sharing capabilities - Spotify makes it easy to share songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts directly on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Users can also share links via messaging apps.
• Spotify Wrapped -  At the end of each year, Spotify provides users with a personalized summary of their listening habits, which can be easily shared on social media, encouraging engagement and conversation among friends.
• Social listening - Spotify has introduced features that allow users to listen to music together in real-time, even if they are apart. This includes features like "Group Session," which enables multiple users to control playback from their devices.
• Activity feed - Users can see what their friends are listening to on their profiles, enhancing the sense of community and shared music experiences.

YouTube Music's Social Features

• Sharing music videos - YouTube Music allows users to share music videos and playlists through various platforms, but it lacks the depth of social engagement that Spotify offers.
• User comments - The platform provides a section for comments on music videos where users can interact, but this is more focused on video content rather than music discovery or playlist collaboration.
• Limited collaborative features - Unlike Spotify, YouTube Music does not have collaborative playlists, making it harder for users to engage in shared music experiences.
• User-generated content - The ability to engage with user-generated content, such as covers and remixes, allows for some level of interaction, but it's not designed for social sharing in the same way as Spotify.

App Experience

We all know how much first impressions matter, and music apps are no exception. Luckily, both of these apps are pretty intuitive. When it comes to Spotify vs. YouTube Music, you’ll likely be able to navigate both with a short learning curve. If you’ve ever used a music streaming service, you’ll be able to pick up either option fairly quickly and easily.

The YouTube Music user interface is designed to cater to both music and video, and offers seamless transitions that consumers enjoy. However, some users find the app less intuitive for pure audio listening. Furthermore, the desktop app isn’t as user-friendly, and some people choose to use the YT Music website (which means they can’t access their music without an internet connection). Spotify, on the other hand, has options for browsing your library and playlists even when not online.

Spotify is often praised for its user-friendly interface, simple navigation, and well-organized content. The app naturally focuses a lot more on audio options and providing a smooth experience for music discovery. Other than those differences, both apps have a great user experience that gets strong reviews from users. If you are going to be offline more often, you may lean toward Spotify, but otherwise each platform offers a great experience.

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Search

When you want to listen to something specific, you want to find it right now. A prolonged search experience can be frustrating, especially if it doesn’t lead to the precise songs you want.

It seems like a Google company (YouTube) should have perfected the search feature, but some reviews say there is still a lot to be desired in the Music functionality. The search bar seems to highly prioritize auto-complete rather than returning results. Spotify, on the other hand, tends to produce the opposite. Many users say that on Spotify, they can find and play the exact track they want without having to type out the entire thing.

Additionally, Spotify seems a bit “smarter” on including personal preferences in search options. For example, online reviews mention that Spotify is smart enough to know their saved music and listening habits to folder out things that don’t pertain to their search intent. If YT Music users type in a song request, they may need to type in both the song name and the band to return accurate results. YT Music is more likely to return options that are more general and not as attractive to the particular user.

YouTube Music vs. Spotify: Unique Audiences

Other than basic features and functionality, you might lean toward Spotify vs. YouTube Music for different purposes. Here are some notes on which music streaming option is best for a few different use cases.

For Students

Preferred Service - Spotify

Spotify offers a student discount for its Premium service, making it more affordable. Additionally, its extensive playlists and music discovery features are great for students looking to explore new music for studying or socializing. Being able to save and share playlists easily means students can include music in more of their social activity and have more fun with musical collaboration.

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For Businesses

Preferred Service - YouTube Music

YouTube Music provides a unique advantage with its music video options, which can enhance presentations or events. The availability of live performances and user-generated content can also add variety to background playlists in a business setting. Plus, YouTube Music relies on Google’s search functionality and integrates with video options, making it a smart option for a variety of communications or displays.

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For Kids

Preferred Service - YouTube Music

YouTube Music offers a wide range of content, including popular children's songs and music videos that appeal to younger audiences. Additionally, parents can control what kids are exposed to by using the platform's video features. While Spotify also has content catering to children, it can be harder to find and not as intuitive for young listeners.

As a Gift

Preferred Service - Spotify

Spotify offers gift cards and subscription options that can easily be purchased and given. Its well-rounded features, including curated playlists and an extensive music library, make it a versatile choice for any music lover.

For Music Nerds

Preferred Service - Spotify

Spotify’s curated playlists, detailed artist profiles, and algorithmic recommendations cater to music enthusiasts looking to discover niche genres and new artists. Its integration of podcasts also allows for deeper exploration of music topics. Based on the search functionality that takes behavior into account, users can find new music that is suited to their individual preferences, no matter how obscure.

In summary, Spotify excels for students, businesses, and music nerds, while YouTube Music is better suited for kids and certain business environments. Each platform has unique strengths that cater to different audience needs.

It’s worth noting that both of these apps integrate well with Shift. You can explore all of the apps and extensions that can be streamlined with Shift, including both Spotify and YouTube Music.

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