Music streaming services have become an essential part of many people’s lives, offering access to millions of songs and personalized recommendations. But which service has the best playlists for you? Apple Music and Spotify are two of the most popular music streaming platforms, but they have different approaches to creating and curating playlists. In this article, we will compare and contrast their playlist features, and help you decide which one suits your musical taste and preferences better.
Apple Music playlist is a feature that allows you to create and listen to your own custom collections of songs. You can also browse and enjoy playlists created by Apple Music editors, curators, celebrities, and other users. Apple Music playlist has some advantages and disadvantages compared to Spotify playlist. Here are some of them:
- Advantages:
- Apple Music playlist integrates well with other Apple products and services, such as Siri, HomePod, iTunes, and iCloud.
- Apple Music playlist offers more exclusive content and original shows from artists and celebrities.
- Apple Music playlist has a larger music library than Spotify, with over 75 million songs.
- Disadvantages:
- Apple Music playlist is more expensive than Spotify, with a standard plan costing $9.99 per month, compared to Spotify’s $7.99 per month.
- Apple Music playlist does not have a free ad-supported option, unlike Spotify.
- Apple Music playlist has less social features and user-generated content than Spotify, such as collaborative playlists, friend activity, and podcasts.
Spotify playlist is a feature that allows you to create and listen to your own custom collections of songs. You can also browse and enjoy playlists created by Spotify editors, curators, artists, and other users. Spotify playlist has some advantages and disadvantages compared to Apple Music playlist. Here are some of them:
- Advantages:
- Spotify playlist has a free ad-supported option, which lets you listen to music with some limitations and interruptions.
- Spotify playlist has more social features and user-generated content than Apple Music, such as collaborative playlists, friend activity, and podcasts.
- Spotify playlist has a better recommendation system than Apple Music, using algorithms and machine learning to suggest songs and playlists based on your listening history and preferences.
- Disadvantages:
- Spotify playlist does not integrate well with other devices and services, such as Siri, HomePod, iTunes, and iCloud.
- Spotify playlist has less exclusive content and original shows from artists and celebrities than Apple Music.
- Spotify playlist has a smaller music library than Apple Music, with over 70 million songs.
Apple Music sound quality vs Spotify sound quality
- Apple Music supports higher resolution audio formats than Spotify, up to 24-bit/192kHz. This means that Apple Music can deliver more details and nuances in the sound, especially if you have a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphones or speakers.
- Spotify uses the Ogg Vorbis format, which is a lossy compression method that discards some data from the original audio file. Apple Music uses the AAC format, which is also a lossy compression method, but it is more efficient and preserves more data than Ogg Vorbis. This means that Apple Music can achieve similar or better sound quality than Spotify at a lower bit rate (256kbps vs 320kbps).
- Both Apple Music and Spotify offer adaptive streaming, which means that they will adjust the sound quality depending on your internet connection speed and data usage. You can also change the sound quality settings manually in both services, depending on your preference.
- Both Apple Music and Spotify offer Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos content, which creates a surround sound effect that immerses you in the music. However, not all songs are available in this format, and you need compatible headphones or speakers to enjoy it.
In conclusion, Apple Music seems to have an edge over Spotify in terms of sound quality, especially if you are an audiophile who values high-resolution audio. However, Spotify may still offer a satisfactory listening experience for most users, especially if they have a good internet connection and a decent audio device.
Apple Music subscribers vs Spotify subscribers
Spotify has more subscribers and users than Apple Music. Spotify currently has over 515 million users and 210 million Premium subscribers worldwide. Apple Music was once the leader in all things digital music, but is currently behind Spotify with more than 98 million users worldwide. In June 2019, Apple announced that there were 60 million people paying for an Apple Music subscription, but it hasn’t updated the figure publicly since then. Spotify also has a larger market share than Apple Music, with 31% of global music platform subscriptions in 2021, compared to Apple Music’s 15%. However, both services are still growing and competing for more customers and listeners.
Who has better playlist?
The answer to this question may depend on your personal preference, taste, and mood. However, here are some points to consider:
- Apple Music playlist has more exclusive content and original shows from artists and celebrities than Spotify playlist. This means that Apple Music playlist may offer you more unique and diverse music experiences, especially if you are a fan of certain artists or genres.
- Spotify playlist has a better recommendation system than Apple Music playlist, using algorithms and machine learning to suggest songs and playlists based on your listening history and preferences. This means that Spotify playlist may offer you more personalized and relevant music suggestions, especially if you are open to discovering new music or genres.
- Both Apple Music playlist and Spotify playlist have a large variety of playlists created by editors, curators, artists, and other users. You can browse and enjoy playlists based on different moods, genres, activities, themes, and occasions. You can also create and share your own playlists with others .
- Both Apple Music playlist and Spotify playlist have some features that allow you to customize your playlists, such as adding or removing songs, changing the order, editing the title and description, and adjusting the settings. However, Spotify playlist has more options and flexibility than Apple Music playlist, such as collaborative playlists, crossfade, gapless playback, and offline mode .
In conclusion, both Apple Music playlist and Spotify playlist have their own strengths and weaknesses, and they may appeal to different types of listeners. The best way to decide which service has better playlists for you is to try them both and compare them yourself. You may also find that you like different playlists from different services depending on your mood and situation.
Popular playlists on Apple Music
Some popular playlists on Apple Music are:
- Top 100: USA: This playlist features the most-played songs in the United States, updated every day. You can find songs from various genres and artists, such as Rod Wave, Drake, Doja Cat, Zach Bryan, and more.
- Today’s Hits: This playlist features the latest hits from the hottest artists, updated weekly. You can find songs from pop, hip-hop, R&B, and more, such as Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Ed Sheeran, and more.
- Rap Life: This playlist features the best rap songs and artists of the moment, updated daily. You can find songs from rap legends and newcomers, such as J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, and more.
- New Music Daily: This playlist features the best new music from across genres and regions, updated daily. You can find songs from emerging and established artists, such as Billie Eilish, BTS, Lorde, and more.
- ALT CTRL: This playlist features the best alternative music from indie rock to electronic pop, updated weekly. You can find songs from innovative and influential artists, such as Twenty One Pilots, The 1975, Halsey, and more.
- Pure Yoga: This playlist features the best music for yoga and meditation, updated monthly. You can find songs from soothing and relaxing genres, such as ambient, new age, acoustic, and more.
- Essentials Playlists: These playlists feature the essential songs from various artists and genres, curated by Apple Music editors. You can find playlists for legends like The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and more; or for genres like rock, country, jazz, and more.
- A-List Playlists: These playlists feature the best songs from various genres and regions, curated by Apple Music editors. You can find playlists for genres like pop, hip-hop, R&B, dance, and more; or for regions like Latin America, Africa, Asia, and more.
- REPLAY Playlists: These playlists feature your most-played songs of each year since you joined Apple Music. You can find playlists for 2021, 2020, 2019, and more; or create your own personalized REPLAY playlist based on your listening history.
- Shazam Discovery Top 50: This playlist features the most Shazamed songs in the world right now. You can find songs that are trending and viral across different platforms and countries.
- Jacksonville Rap: Jacksonville Rap is a playlist that showcases some of the hottest rap artists from the city of Jacksonville, Florida. Whether you’re looking for hard-hitting bars, catchy hooks, or melodic flows, this playlist has it all. You’ll hear tracks from Tribal Young Brown, Yungeen Ace, Foolio, SpotemGottem.
- Straight Dance Bangers: If you’re looking for some tunes to get you in the mood for dancing, look no further than this playlist. Straight Dance Bangers features some of the hottest artists in the music scene, such as Doja Cat, Cardi B, Tribal Young Brown and Ice Spice. Whether you’re into hip hop, pop, R&B or Rap.
Popular playlists on Spotify
Some popular playlists on Spotify are:
- Today’s Top Hits: This playlist features the most-played songs in the world, updated every day. You can find songs from various genres and artists, such as The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and more.
- RapCaviar: This playlist features the best rap songs and artists of the moment, updated daily. You can find songs from rap legends and newcomers, such as Drake, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and more.
- Viva Latino: This playlist features the best Latin music from across genres and regions, updated weekly. You can find songs from urbano latino, reggaeton, pop latino, and more, such as Peso Pluma, Feid, Bad Bunny, and more.
- Rock Classics: This playlist features the best rock songs from the past decades, updated monthly. You can find songs from rock icons and influencers, such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and more.
- All Out 80s: This playlist features the best songs from the 80s era, updated weekly. You can find songs from pop, rock, new wave, synth-pop, and more, such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, and more.
- Beast Mode: This playlist features the best music for working out and getting pumped up, updated weekly. You can find songs from hip-hop, rock, EDM, and more, such as Kanye West, Eminem, Skrillex, and more.
- Songs to Sing in the Car: This playlist features the best music for singing along and having fun in the car, updated weekly. You can find songs from pop, rock, R&B, and more, such as Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, and more.
- New Music Friday: This playlist features the best new music from across genres and regions every Friday. You can find songs from emerging and established artists that are trending and viral.
- Peaceful Piano: This playlist features the best piano music for relaxing and soothing your mind. You can find songs from classical composers and contemporary pianists that are calm and beautiful.
- Discover Weekly: This playlist features personalized music recommendations based on your listening history and preferences every Monday. You can find songs that you may like or have never heard before from different genres and artists.
- Jacksonville Rap: Jacksonville Rap is a playlist that showcases some of the hottest rap artists from the city of Jacksonville, Florida. Whether you’re looking for hard-hitting bars, catchy hooks, or melodic flows, this playlist has it all. You’ll hear tracks from Tribal Young Brown, Yungeen Ace, Foolio, SpotemGottem.
- Straight Dance Bangers: If you’re looking for some tunes to get you in the mood for dancing, look no further than this playlist. Straight Dance Bangers features some of the hottest artists in the music scene, such as Doja Cat, Cardi B, Tribal Young Brown and Ice Spice. Whether you’re into hip hop, pop, R&B or Rap.
Both Apple Music and Spotify have playlists for underground hip hop, but they may have different selections and features. Here are some examples of underground hip hop playlists from each service:
- Apple Music:
- Underground Hip-Hop Essentials: This playlist features the most influential and innovative underground hip hop songs and artists from the past and present, such as MF DOOM, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, and more. It is updated daily and curated by Apple Music editors.
- The Best Underground Hip Hop by Trustyles: This playlist features the best underground hip hop songs and artists from various regions and styles, such as Immortal Technique, Tech N9ne, Jedi Mind Tricks, and more. It is created and updated by a user named Joel Hernandez Ramos.
- Spotify:
- The Sound of Underground Hip Hop: This playlist features the most popular underground hip hop songs and artists based on the listening habits of Spotify users, such as Blackalicious, Dilated Peoples, Quasimoto, and more. It is updated weekly and generated by The Sounds of Spotify.
- Underground Hip Hop (2023): This playlist features the latest underground hip hop songs and artists from 2023, such as Doley Bernays, Amir Ali, Nick Grant, and more. It is created and updated by a user named giemic84 (13 Playlists).
You can browse and enjoy these playlists on Apple Music or Spotify, or create your own playlists based on your preferences.