YouTube Music vs Spotify vs Apple Music: which music app should you choose?
YouTube Music suits listeners who want songs and videos, Spotify fits playlist-led discovery and podcasts, and Apple Music appeals to subscribers who value curated music and high-quality audio.
At a Glance
| App | Google Play rating | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 YouTube MusicGoogle LLC | 4.5 out of 57,720,055 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.05 - $999.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
 Spotify: Music and PodcastsSpotify AB | 4.3 out of 536,547,581 ratings | Free | Yes ($4.99 - $203.88 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
 Apple MusicApple | 4.6 out of 5741,045 ratings | Free | Yes ($5.99 - $199.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 11, 2026. Listings change over time.
How We Compared Them
All three apps stream large music catalogs, offer personalized or curated ways to find music, and let you build playlists. Their free access differs: YouTube Music and Spotify have ad-supported options, while Apple Music has no ongoing free tier beyond its trial.
The comparison below looks at each app’s catalog and discovery strengths, listening trade-offs, Google Play ratings and prices. It should help you choose based on how you listen, not just which app has the highest rating.
How we compared them
We compared the apps’ Google Play ratings, install counts, prices, in-app purchase ranges, and whether they contain ads, using figures read on November 11, 2026. Store ratings and installs indicate broad reach and user feedback, but do not establish which app will suit every listener.
We also considered each app’s stated music and discovery features and the strengths and drawbacks described for it. Spotify’s Google Play data safety declaration says it shares approximate location, device or other IDs, and other info; it also says it collects several categories of information, encrypts data in transit, and lets users request deletion. No data safety details were supplied for the other two apps, so we do not compare their privacy practices.
Best forlisteners who want music and video discovery together
YouTube Music
Google LLC
- Google Play
- 4.5 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age Rating
- Teen
YouTube Music’s clearest advantage is its connection to YouTube: listeners can move between music and video, with recommendations shaped by their listening. That makes it a natural fit for people who already discover artists and songs through videos.
The free version includes ads and fewer features, while offline downloads require Premium. Some tracks may play as videos, and the app is noted for high mobile data use. It has a 4.5 Google Play rating from 7,720,055 ratings and 5,000,000,000+ installs.
What We Like
- Music and video discovery in one app
- Personalized listening recommendations
- 5,000,000,000+ Google Play installs
What to Know
- Free listening includes ads and limited features
- Some tracks require video playback
Best forplaylist fans who also want podcasts
Spotify: Music and Podcasts
Spotify AB
- Google Play
- 4.3 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age Rating
- Teen
Spotify combines music and podcasts, and its curated playlists make it a strong choice for listeners who want help finding what to play. It has the largest rating count of these three on Google Play, with a 4.3 rating from 36,547,581 ratings and 1,000,000,000+ installs.
The free version includes ads and limits skips, while offline listening requires Premium. Some songs may be unavailable in certain regions. Spotify’s Google Play data safety declaration also says it shares and collects several types of information, including approximate location and device or other IDs.
What We Like
- Music and podcasts in one app
- Curated playlists support discovery
- Cross-platform availability
What to Know
- Free listening has ads and limited skips
- Offline listening requires Premium
Best forlisteners seeking curated music and high-quality audio options
Apple Music pairs a catalog of 100 million songs with curated playlists and high-quality audio streaming options. Unlike YouTube Music and Spotify, it contains no ads, and its family sharing supports up to six members. It has the highest Google Play rating among these three at 4.6, from 741,045 ratings.
Its main trade-off is access: there is no ongoing free tier beyond the trial period. The Android app also lacks some iOS features, and offline downloads use device storage. Its 100,000,000+ Google Play installs are fewer than the counts for the other two apps.
What We Like
- No ads
- High-quality audio streaming options
- Family sharing for up to six members
What to Know
- No ongoing free tier beyond the trial
- Android app lacks some iOS features
Which One Should You Pick?
Best for music videos
YouTube Music
Best for podcasts and playlists
Spotify: Music and Podcasts
Best for ad-free listening
Apple Music
Frequently Asked Questions
01Which of these music apps has a free tier?
YouTube Music and Spotify offer free versions with ads and feature limits. Apple Music has no ongoing free tier beyond its trial period.
02Which app is best for podcasts?
Spotify is the clearest fit if you want music and podcasts in the same app.
03Which app offers music videos?
YouTube Music is the strongest choice for combining music listening with YouTube video discovery. Some tracks may require video playback.
04Which app is ad-free?
Apple Music contains no ads. YouTube Music and Spotify contain ads in their free versions.
About This Comparison
Appwesome compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details are shown for reference and can change.