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A few years back, every music lover dreamt of having a massive music collection and listening to their favourite track. Thanks to the Internet and the launch of music streaming services like YouTube and Spotify, that made music just a tap away. However, what to choose from YouTube Music vs. Spotify has yet to be discovered as both have unique strengths. 

As per the reports of Exploding Topics, music streaming generates 89% of the revenue of the music industry, which has grown by more than 10% since last year. 78% of users use these platforms, making its revenue $17.5 billion. 

Although the selection between YouTube music vs Spotify is tough, you can make the right choice by understanding their main differences. In this article, we’ll share the top 7 tips to help you determine which service best suits your listening habits.

7 Tips to Choose Between YouTube Music vs Spotify

As there are many music streaming platforms, YouTube and Spotify come to the top. In a comparison of Spotify vs YouTube, you will get to know their distinct features due to which a specific platform stands out. 

Not only for music, but students also use them for their studies and to learn about effective essay writing techniques. But still, if you need guidance for your essay, you can seek it from a professional essay writing service. These platforms put students at ease by streamlining their workflow and effectively completing the project on time.

The following are the top 7 tips to help you choose between the two by knowing their unique features. 

1. Audio Quality

Here are some features of the audio of YouTube Music:

• It provides consistent basic streaming choices.
• According to Shift Browser, YT Music provides an average audio quality to premium consumers up to 256 kbps.
• It streams effectively by using Opus codes at minimal bits per second.
• The network connections may affect the audio quality of the YouTube music.

Here are some features of audio of Spotify to choose from YouTube Music vs Spotify:

• It gives you several kinds of audio qualities that you want, such as low, normal, high, and very high.
• It provides the highest audio quality, up to 320 kbps, for their premium users.
• Spotify HiFi is about to be introduced to support lossless streaming.
• It provides you with consistent audio quality on different types of devices and apps.

Tip: You may choose Spotify Music if you are looking for the highest quality of audio because it has a higher maximum bitrate than YouTube Music and provides you with a consistent streaming quality of audio also, it is about to introduce a HiFi option.

2. Background Music Playback

Here are some features of YouTube’s background music playback:

• You may need a subscription to YouTube to play music in the background; otherwise, the music will stop when you switch to other apps.
• Only their premium consumer may use this option of playing background music.
• Premium users can enjoy background playback without interruptions.
• It allows its users to switch between audio and video modes.

Here are some features of Spotify’s background music playback:

• You can play background music without any charges by watching its ads.
• Premium users can play and use all the functions of Spotify smoothly without seeing any ads.
• It allows you to switch devices smoothly with Spotify Connect. 

Tip: Spotify will be a better option than YouTube Music vs Spotify if you want to play offline music without a subscription. But YouTube music allows you to smoothly switch between audio and video.

3. Video Content Availability

The following are features of YouTube Music about video content:

• It allows you to see live concerts, music videos, and friendly created materials.
• You can easily or smoothly switch audio and video.
• It also has an extensive collection of music-related information that extends other than official releases.

The following are features of Spotify for video content:

• The main intent of Spotify is on audio streaming.
• It provides you a less video content than YouTube music, including podcasts and interviews. 
• It does not allow you to switch audio to video mode for a running track.

Tip: You should choose YouTube music if you like watching music videos, live concerts, and user-generated material because it presents a compelling multimedia experience.

4. Subscription Plans and Pricing

Here is the pricing of YouTube Music:

• Ads and unavailability of background music are included in the free plan.
• A YouTube premium plan offers 100 million songs that you can listen to even on a locked screen.
• $10.99​/month is the price for the individual YouTube premium plan that provides multiple downloads, access to background play, and no advertisements.
• For students and families, it offers various discounts, like $5.49​/month for a student.

Here is the pricing of Spotify:

• There is a free plan, but it comes with advertisements and a few skips.
• Spotify offers a premium plan for individuals that costs $11.99 for a month with zero ads, offline availability, and a few skips. 
• Provides cheap family, duo, and student plans.
• It offers more varied price choices than YouTube Music.

Tip: If you frequently use YouTube to watch videos and listen to music, The YouTube Premium bundle offers added value by providing an ad-free experience at a more budget-friendly pricing. So, in a comparison of YouTube Music vs Spotify, you can go for YT Music.

5. Music Discovery and Personalisation

YouTube Music’s features include:

• It allows Google AI to create suggestions for you on the base of your listening preferences.
• It also gives you access to different playlists such as “Discover Mix,” “New Release Mix,” and “Your Mix” playlists for your customised material.
• It provides you a recommended content based on your searches and watch history.

Spotify’s music discovery features include:

• It provides you with a recommendation based on their advanced algorithm.
• It includes the “Release Radar” and “Discover Weekly” playlists.
• that provides a carefully selected playlist according to trends, categories, and moods.
• It gives you customised daily mixtures that improve with time. 

Tip: The algorithm of Spotify is usually preferable if you enjoy finding new music as it has intelligent recommendations and a significant selection of carefully chosen playlists. It can also fulfil your New Year’s resolution by listening to motivational tracks on your favourite app. 

6. Offline Listening and Downloads

Here are some features of YouTube Music offline listening and downloads:

• It provides access to downloads of songs, albums, and playlists to their regular premium consumers.
• It has a feature called Smart Downloads, which automatically downloads songs that are regularly played. 
• You should maintain their subscription to contain the availability of downloads. 

Here are some features of Spotify offline listening and downloads:

• The branded consumers of Spotify music can also have access to download individual songs, albums, and playlists. 
• If you need an undisturbed environment with listening, it offers you this type of offline listening. 
• The subscription of this application must be needed to retain the downloaded songs for a longer time.
• Retains downloaded songs as long as the user stays subscribed.

Tip: Both applications YouTube Music vs Spotify, have a solid offline ability. Still, YouTube Music has the upper hand as it provides you with direct availability of your favourite downloaded tracks without actively selecting them.

7. Cross-Platform Availability and Device Support

Here are some features of YouTube Music regarding its availability:

• Access to YouTube music is available on many devices, including Android, iOS, Web, and Smart TVs.
• It is only compatible with Google assistance devices.
• It does not support or restrict other outside gadgets like smart speakers.

Here are some features of Spotify about its availability:

• It may also be available on many devices such as Android, iOS, Web, Smart TVs, game consoles, and smartwatches.
• Its functions also support Apple’s Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
• It is popular to support many outside devices such as home automation, speakers, and cars.

Tip: You should prefer Spotify Music in case you need an application with more device connectivity and smooth interaction with smart home devices. 

Is it Better to Get Spotify or YouTube Music?

Well, choosing a platform that fits your needs is entirely your choice. If you are a music enthusiast whose sole purpose is to listen to the best quality music and make your personalised playlist, then Spotify wins over the race for premium users. 

However, if you are already using YouTube frequently and want to enjoy the music videos alongside then YouTube Music is a better option for you.

Is it Worth it to Switch from Spotify to YouTube Music?

Yes, moving toward YouTube Music from Spotify is worthwhile if you prefer to watch music videos and enjoy performances. It also gives you a chance to integrate with YouTube and enjoy your favourite shows. But if you prefer to listen to quality audio and create your playlist, Spotify will remain the better choice.

Do More People Listen to Music on YouTube or Spotify?

According to the Thumbnail Test, YouTube music had 868.4 million users at the end of 2023, which will reach 1 billion by 2026. On the other hand, as per notta, Spotify had 626 million users recorded in a month in 2024. These statistics show that YouTube Music has more users than Spotify.

Conclusion

Users have always been confused about what to choose from YouTube Music vs Spotify. It not only helps you to stick to the right platform but also fulfils your needs. Here, we have covered a thorough guide on choosing the best option between YouTube Music and Spotify. It provides essential tips to understand your priorities and pick the best music streaming service.

Additionally, these platforms are helpful tools for study purposes, including writing winning essays. However, consult custom essay writing firms in the UK if you still need personalised assistance. Their experts have the proper knowledge and expertise to help you write your essay excellently and win over the others. 

Lastly, if you prefer the audio quality and the music discovery, Spotify is the better option. But if you love watching video content and listening to music and need smart downloads, you can go for YouTube Premium. 

Author Bio

Latoya R. Martin is an expert essay writer and a music lover who helps students make the right choice about using a platform. Her passion for music makes her explore this industry and differentiate between YouTube Music and Spotify. She also assists students in crafting compelling essays and completing their academic projects timely with excellence.