Amazon, Spotify or You tube music?
Discussion
I have Prime (not the extra for music), Spotify and Apple.
I've used Spotify from day 1 and to be fair have been pretty happy with it. I use it 90% of the time.
The thing that I like most about it is its radio stations created off songs/albums that I choose. I use this to discover new music quite regularly.
However....
Apple Music is hands down better audio quality. Spotify is nowhere near as good. I don't have Tidal, to compare Apple to, but there is a definite step change vs Spotify. I find Apple harder to use for "algorithm"-based songs and playlists, but Apple is much better for real DJ curations etc. So depends what you prefer.
With that in mind, I've resolved myself over the next year or so to try and transition fully to Apple, since I have it as part of Apple One (pay for it with a bunch of other stuff), as it means I won't be paying for both...
Also, Podcasts have been historically really good on Apple, but to be fair, Spotify has really come on leaps and bounds recently, so not much in it between them for me now, as I only listen to a handful.
Prime music I found by far the worst, I tried to stick with it for a while and it was just crap on all counts for me... Bad quality, bad selection, terrible curation/suggestions.
I'd happily recommend Spotify or Apple to friends (with the above comments), depending on what they prefer.
I've used Spotify from day 1 and to be fair have been pretty happy with it. I use it 90% of the time.
The thing that I like most about it is its radio stations created off songs/albums that I choose. I use this to discover new music quite regularly.
However....
Apple Music is hands down better audio quality. Spotify is nowhere near as good. I don't have Tidal, to compare Apple to, but there is a definite step change vs Spotify. I find Apple harder to use for "algorithm"-based songs and playlists, but Apple is much better for real DJ curations etc. So depends what you prefer.
With that in mind, I've resolved myself over the next year or so to try and transition fully to Apple, since I have it as part of Apple One (pay for it with a bunch of other stuff), as it means I won't be paying for both...
Also, Podcasts have been historically really good on Apple, but to be fair, Spotify has really come on leaps and bounds recently, so not much in it between them for me now, as I only listen to a handful.
Prime music I found by far the worst, I tried to stick with it for a while and it was just crap on all counts for me... Bad quality, bad selection, terrible curation/suggestions.
I'd happily recommend Spotify or Apple to friends (with the above comments), depending on what they prefer.
I've been very impressed with Spotify; its helped me find lots of new artists and as said above, the 'radio stations' and DJ function are great when you just want to put some music on. The user interface is very straightforward via apps.
Ample range of podcasts too.
I've not used Amazon Music or Youtube to make a comparison.
I'd imagine they'd all give you a free trial so you can see which you prefer.
Ample range of podcasts too.
I've not used Amazon Music or Youtube to make a comparison.
I'd imagine they'd all give you a free trial so you can see which you prefer.
SuperPav said:
I have Prime (not the extra for music), Spotify and Apple.
I've used Spotify from day 1 and to be fair have been pretty happy with it. I use it 90% of the time.
The thing that I like most about it is its radio stations created off songs/albums that I choose. I use this to discover new music quite regularly.
However....
Apple Music is hands down better audio quality. Spotify is nowhere near as good. I don't have Tidal, to compare Apple to, but there is a definite step change vs Spotify. I find Apple harder to use for "algorithm"-based songs and playlists, but Apple is much better for real DJ curations etc. So depends what you prefer.
With that in mind, I've resolved myself over the next year or so to try and transition fully to Apple, since I have it as part of Apple One (pay for it with a bunch of other stuff), as it means I won't be paying for both...
Also, Podcasts have been historically really good on Apple, but to be fair, Spotify has really come on leaps and bounds recently, so not much in it between them for me now, as I only listen to a handful.
Prime music I found by far the worst, I tried to stick with it for a while and it was just crap on all counts for me... Bad quality, bad selection, terrible curation/suggestions.
I'd happily recommend Spotify or Apple to friends (with the above comments), depending on what they prefer.
Note that Spotify are rolling out lossless now as well. I've used Spotify from day 1 and to be fair have been pretty happy with it. I use it 90% of the time.
The thing that I like most about it is its radio stations created off songs/albums that I choose. I use this to discover new music quite regularly.
However....
Apple Music is hands down better audio quality. Spotify is nowhere near as good. I don't have Tidal, to compare Apple to, but there is a definite step change vs Spotify. I find Apple harder to use for "algorithm"-based songs and playlists, but Apple is much better for real DJ curations etc. So depends what you prefer.
With that in mind, I've resolved myself over the next year or so to try and transition fully to Apple, since I have it as part of Apple One (pay for it with a bunch of other stuff), as it means I won't be paying for both...
Also, Podcasts have been historically really good on Apple, but to be fair, Spotify has really come on leaps and bounds recently, so not much in it between them for me now, as I only listen to a handful.
Prime music I found by far the worst, I tried to stick with it for a while and it was just crap on all counts for me... Bad quality, bad selection, terrible curation/suggestions.
I'd happily recommend Spotify or Apple to friends (with the above comments), depending on what they prefer.
And it all depends on what you listen to it on. The vast majority of people won't notice a difference if they have an average sound system/car speakers/headphones
Spotify has lossless now.
I have Spotify (sister pays for it as a family) , Youtube Music (part of Youtube premium) and Amazon Music (Prime).
I use Spotify 99% of the time, I occasionally use Youtube Music to access albums that aren't available online that I uploaded years ago when it was called Google Play Music.
I have Spotify (sister pays for it as a family) , Youtube Music (part of Youtube premium) and Amazon Music (Prime).
I use Spotify 99% of the time, I occasionally use Youtube Music to access albums that aren't available online that I uploaded years ago when it was called Google Play Music.
AFAIK, Spotify are putting the price up, so depends on your budget flexibility too:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/10/spo...
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/10/spo...
Been with Spotify for almost 20 years now and have amassed a massive amount of playlists etc so really should clear it out.
However... this latest price hike has led me to cancel (not like I've had any loyalty discounts for being with them since 2007) and new services allow all my playlists to be copied over to Amazon so I'm going to give that a try for a few months (have 3 month free trial to use). We practically listen to that anyway on the Alexa's as despite everything I've tried Amazon refuse to accept that Spotify was my preferred music service and insists on playing from Amazon Music (free).
In the car I use an app called Replaio radio for Android Auto to listen to global radio stations and ones in the UK not local to me like BuzzMCR, Regency Brighton, Radio Monaco, KCRW Santa Monica, The Beat Oslo, Tomorrowland, FiP stations in France. Far more diversity and selection and ones that fit my moods than the tin-pot stations available up here.
However... this latest price hike has led me to cancel (not like I've had any loyalty discounts for being with them since 2007) and new services allow all my playlists to be copied over to Amazon so I'm going to give that a try for a few months (have 3 month free trial to use). We practically listen to that anyway on the Alexa's as despite everything I've tried Amazon refuse to accept that Spotify was my preferred music service and insists on playing from Amazon Music (free).
In the car I use an app called Replaio radio for Android Auto to listen to global radio stations and ones in the UK not local to me like BuzzMCR, Regency Brighton, Radio Monaco, KCRW Santa Monica, The Beat Oslo, Tomorrowland, FiP stations in France. Far more diversity and selection and ones that fit my moods than the tin-pot stations available up here.
Edited by ab11 on Tuesday 11th November 16:28
I've got Prime and Spotify, and I only ever use Spotify.
I like the DJ function and it's vast selection, FLAC is now available so I've configured that for when I am on WiFi.
There's also something like 15 hours per month of audio books included so if that's your thing it's a useful add on. I generally use Apple for Podcasts though, but again they're in Spotify also.
I like the DJ function and it's vast selection, FLAC is now available so I've configured that for when I am on WiFi.
There's also something like 15 hours per month of audio books included so if that's your thing it's a useful add on. I generally use Apple for Podcasts though, but again they're in Spotify also.
I've used Spotify for years and I've stuck with it after trying other services as the playlists are just so much higher quality.
I tend to be an album listener, but when I'm working (I'm a software dev) I like playlists that just keep going, and Spotify is very good at just picking more songs with the same style.
I did a youtube music trial a while back, and what a mess! Most of the music appears to have been uploaded by users. All the synthwave playlists were just 3 hour songs which were hand made mixes. I had no idea what song was actually playing. Bit of a shame as I was a big fan of Google Music back when it existed.
I tend to be an album listener, but when I'm working (I'm a software dev) I like playlists that just keep going, and Spotify is very good at just picking more songs with the same style.
I did a youtube music trial a while back, and what a mess! Most of the music appears to have been uploaded by users. All the synthwave playlists were just 3 hour songs which were hand made mixes. I had no idea what song was actually playing. Bit of a shame as I was a big fan of Google Music back when it existed.
Spotify were running adverts for ICE officers in the US. Amazon and Apple have been sucking up to Trump in the most pathetic ways.
YouTube? I have no idea. I like it for videos.
Spotify, I use the free with adverts version which is good for festival playlists but utterly unlistenable most of the time. Huge amount of advertising.
I have Amazon but I want to get rid of it as Prime is pretty much useless here in the UK and I only watch the TV, which now has adverts even though you pay for it.
Apple Music certainly has the best sound and I've always used Mac's and am in the Apple ecosystem for Music, Movies and backup.
So despite my ethical dislikes, I'll stick with Apple for now.
I've sold all my cassettes, CD's and associated hardware. So it would be a long journey back.
YouTube? I have no idea. I like it for videos.
Spotify, I use the free with adverts version which is good for festival playlists but utterly unlistenable most of the time. Huge amount of advertising.
I have Amazon but I want to get rid of it as Prime is pretty much useless here in the UK and I only watch the TV, which now has adverts even though you pay for it.
Apple Music certainly has the best sound and I've always used Mac's and am in the Apple ecosystem for Music, Movies and backup.
So despite my ethical dislikes, I'll stick with Apple for now.
I've sold all my cassettes, CD's and associated hardware. So it would be a long journey back.
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