Audio
Spotify vs YouTube Music
Spotify and YouTube Music are both strong music streaming apps, but they fit different listening habits. Spotify is better for playlists, podcasts, discovery, and social listening. YouTube Music is stronger if you already use YouTube, watch music videos, remixes, live versions, and covers.
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Spotify
Spotify
A music streaming app built for playlists, discovery, podcasts, audiobooks, social listening, and daily recommendation habits.
VS
YouTube
YouTube Music
A music streaming app built around official songs, music videos, live performances, remixes, covers, YouTube listening history, and background play.
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Specifications
Pros & Cons
Spotify — Pros
✓Stronger playlist culture and personalized music discovery
✓Better if you want podcasts, music, and audiobooks in one audio app
✓Spotify Connect works well across many speakers, TVs, cars, consoles, and computers
✓Free ad-supported tier is useful if you don’t want to pay straight away
✓Duo plan is useful for two people living at the same address
Spotify — Cons
✕Individual Premium costs more than YouTube Music Premium Individual in checked US pricing
✕Family plan costs more than YouTube Music Family in checked US pricing
✕Music videos, live uploads, covers, and unofficial versions are not as central as YouTube Music
✕The app can feel crowded if you only want a simple music library
✕Audiobook access can depend on plan type, country, and monthly listening limits
YouTube Music — Pros
✓Stronger for music videos, live performances, remixes, covers, and rare uploads
✓Better fit if YouTube is already where you discover music
✓YouTube Music Premium is cheaper than Spotify Individual in checked US pricing
✓YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium plus wider YouTube benefits
✓Family sharing works through Google family groups for eligible household members
YouTube Music — Cons
✕Music discovery can feel less polished than Spotify’s playlist system
✕Podcast and audiobook experience is not as central as Spotify’s all-in-one audio model
✕The app can feel tied to your broader YouTube history, which not everyone wants
✕Social playlist culture is weaker than Spotify’s
✕Some features and prices can vary depending on country, billing platform, and YouTube plan type
Best used for
✦Discover new music through Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Daily Mixes, and personalized playlists
✦Listen to podcasts and music inside one app without moving between services
✦Use Spotify Connect across speakers, phones, computers, consoles, cars, and smart TVs
✦Share playlists, collaborative playlists, and listening activity with friends
✦Download songs, albums, and podcasts for commuting, flights, and offline listening
✦Use Premium Duo or Family when multiple listeners need separate accounts under one bill
Best used for
✦Listen to official tracks, music videos, remixes, covers, live sets, and fan uploads
✦Switch between song and video versions when a track has a music video available
✦Use YouTube Music Premium for ad-free music, offline listening, and background play
✦Build playlists from songs you discovered on YouTube
✦Use a Family plan with up to 5 household members through a Google family group
✦Subscribe through YouTube Premium if you also want ad-free YouTube video benefits
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Our Verdict
Spotify is usually the better fit if you want a music app that feels smart every day. Its playlists, recommendations, podcasts, audiobooks, social habits, and Spotify Connect make it the stronger everyday audio hub. YouTube Music is usually the better fit if your music life already happens on YouTube. It is better for music videos, live performances, covers, remixes, fan uploads, and songs that are hard to find on normal streaming catalogues. The real choice is polished discovery versus YouTube depth. Pick Spotify for a cleaner music-and-audio routine. Pick YouTube Music if video, rare versions, and YouTube Premium value matter more.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Spotify if...
→You want the strongest personalized playlists and music discovery
→You listen to podcasts, music, and audiobooks in one app
→You use smart speakers, game consoles, TVs, cars, laptops, and phones together
→You share playlists often or care about what friends are listening to
→You want a Duo plan for two people living at the same address
→You prefer a more polished music-only interface
Choose YouTube Music if...
→You already discover most music through YouTube
→You watch music videos, live performances, covers, remixes, or fan uploads
→You want a cheaper checked US Individual or Family music plan
→You are considering YouTube Premium anyway
→You want background play and offline listening for YouTube-based music
→You care more about catalogue depth than playlist polish
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Spotify or YouTube Music better in 2026?
A: Spotify is better for playlists, recommendations, podcasts, audiobooks, and social listening. YouTube Music is better for music videos, live performances, remixes, covers, and YouTube-based discovery. Choose Spotify for polish. Choose YouTube Music for depth.
Q: Which is cheaper, Spotify or YouTube Music?
A: YouTube Music is cheaper on the checked US Individual, Student, and Family prices. Spotify costs more, but it has stronger discovery, podcasts, audiobooks, Spotify Connect, and a Duo plan that YouTube Music does not directly match.
Q: Is YouTube Music included with YouTube Premium?
A: Yes. YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium, along with ad-free YouTube videos, downloads, and background play on YouTube. YouTube Music Premium by itself focuses on the music app, not the full YouTube video experience.
Q: Is Spotify better for playlists?
A: Yes. Spotify is usually better for playlist culture and daily recommendations. Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Daily Mixes, collaborative playlists, and social listening make Spotify feel more polished if you want the app to find music for you.
Q: Is YouTube Music better for rare songs?
A: Often, yes. YouTube Music can surface live versions, covers, remixes, fan uploads, and music videos that may not appear on traditional music services. This is its biggest advantage over Spotify for many listeners.
Q: Which app is better for podcasts?
A: Spotify is better if you want podcasts inside the same app as your music. YouTube has podcasts too, but Spotify’s audio-first setup makes podcasts feel more integrated with daily listening.
Q: Should I switch from Spotify to YouTube Music?
A: Switch if you already pay for YouTube Premium, watch music videos often, or care about rare uploads and live versions. Stay with Spotify if your playlists, recommendations, podcasts, and Spotify Connect setup are already working well.
Sources & References
Prices, features and specifications in this comparison were verified from official sources.
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