Across the globe, the music streaming industry is yet another online facility that boomed during the pandemic and is currently valued at a staggering $29.45 billion.
Tencent Music Entertainment, Spotify, and Amazon Music were quick to maximize this trend, but classic music apps like Apple Music and YouTube Music are still among the most popular ways to enjoy your tunes online.
Are you undecided about which one is the best fit for you? Let’s take a deep dive into Apple Music vs YouTube music.
What Is Apple Music?
Apple Inc. launched Apple Music in 2015, long before streaming became as popular as it is nowadays. Since then, it’s refined the music locker to include over 90 million songs accessible via a paid subscription.
By 2021, the service had 88 million subscribers globally, growing its client base by over 16 million subscribers in a year.
One of the best benefits of Apple Music is the ability to integrate it with your iTunes library. That means you can stream all your songs from one place, regardless of whether you got them from the iTunes store or elsewhere.
You can download videos and music to enjoy offline and enjoy many exclusive features, a back catalog of shows broadcast on the Apple Beats 1 radio station, and early access to new releases.
The app gives you access to high-quality music videos, personalized playlists, and live radio stations around the clock. It integrates with all your other Apple devices, i.e. iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac PC.
You can also share your experiences with other Apple Music users by sharing and viewing each other’s playlists, or following your friends to see what their current favorites are.
Apple Music is available in over 100 countries.
What Is YouTube Music?
YouTube has been around since 2005, but only launched YouTube Music in 2018. The video streaming platform is one of the most popular in the world, enjoyed by 62% of internet users.
Unlike its online platform, which features all kinds of video content, and many ads, YouTube Music focuses mainly on providing a personal music library, personalized radio stations, and curated playlists.
The app currently offers access to over 60 million licensed tracks for its 50 million subscribers. You can also access live music remixes, and covers that aren’t available anywhere else.
With the YouTube app, you can access your tunes from 50 countries, but it’s easy to get YouTube unblocked if you’re using it in a foreign country or anywhere YouTube isn’t allowed.
Apple Music vs YouTube Music Price
Depending on your personal preferences, either of these music apps might suit you better. They have a similar pricing structure, as follows:
- Single user – $9.99 per month
- Family Subscription – $14.99 per month
- Students – $4.99 per month
Both platforms offer a free trial period, although Apple’s three-month offering beats YouTube in this case. You only get one month free with YouTube Music.
With YouTube, you can upgrade to a Premium subscription for an extra $2 per month and enjoy an ad-free experience as well as offline playback. You also get access to Google Play Music with your YouTube Music subscription.
The Apple Music Voice plan allows you to use the app via Siri for an extra $4.99 per month.
Design and Operation
The Apple Music interface has a sophisticated gray design and a simple layout. You can use the tabs along the top or bottom of your device to navigate easily between your browser, radio, and library.
The For You tab feature a selection of albums, playlists, and artists based on how you’ve interacted with the app recently. Apple Music compiles a playlist for every member of the family if you choose the family subscription.
Likewise, YouTube Music has a simple design based on its online platform. The color scheme is the same, and it’s simple to operate.
Google has recently upgraded the playlist section to make it even simpler to use.
One of the major differences between these two apps is accessibility. They both work on iOS and Android devices and PCs.
YouTube also works with Fire tablets and FireTV as well as Alexa-powered speakers and all smartwatches. Apple Music is only compatible with Apple TVs and Watches, HomePod, and Sonos speakers.
Apple Music and YouTube Music Libraries
A highlight of the Apple Music app is the integration of the iTunes library, which makes it a flexible choice if you like to synchronize your devices.
YouTube Music doesn’t have a library function. You do get access to plenty of live concert videos, well-organized official albums, and single songs uploaded by YouTubers.
You can personalize your playlists, download music for listening offline, and use the intelligent search function to streamline your experience.
All Google Play Music users’ playlists, preferences, and collections automatically migrate to YouTube Music.
Sound Quality
The current sound quality for YouTube Music is 128 kbps, while Apple Music streams at 256 kbps in AAV. This means YouTube Music isn’t acceptable for commercial use or high-demand streaming.
So, if you’re fussy about things like this, or you’re a professional musician or artist, Apple Music is the better choice for you.
Play It Your Way
Depending on your personal preference, either of these apps might suit you best. Both offer an excellent choice of music, affordable prices, and user-friendly operation.
If you enjoyed Google Play Music, you’re better off with YouTube Music. For fans of Apple technology and those who value seamlessly organizing their playlists, Apple Music is the way to go.
Whichever you choose, you’re assured of hours of enjoyment on the go.
If you like to stay on top of the latest tech trends, bookmark our site and check back regularly for updates.
