Apple Music vs Spotify is the question every student, freelancer and creator must answer before hitting play in 2025. Whether you crave Apple’s pristine Lossless catalogue or Spotify’s algorithmic playlists, choosing the wrong platform could cost you time and money. That’s why Cheapzy steps in with discounted Apple Music and Spotify Premium plans, letting you test, switch or settle without overpaying for the soundtrack of your life.
Quick-Look Scorecard (Price, Sound, Discovery, Social)
Choosing between Apple Music and Spotify usually comes down to four pillars:
- Price
- Sound quality
- Discovery smarts
- Social buzz
Apple Music still charges $10.99 for its Individual tier, while Spotify recently nudged its Premium price to $11.99 (though it does keep an ad-supported free tier for true penny-pinchers).
Apple throws in Lossless and Spatial Audio at no extra cost, whereas Spotify counters with algorithmic gems such as Discover Weekly, Daylist, and its new AI DJ.
The table below distils those differences at a glance so you can decide in seconds which service and deal fits your vibe. Scan the winners, then jump to Our Products to lock in the lowest premium rates for whichever platform speaks to you.
| Metric | Apple Music | Spotify | Best for… |
| Monthly price (standard) | $10.99 | $11.99 + free tier | Bargain-hunters: Spotify (free) |
| Audio quality | Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz + Spatial Audio | 320 kbps Ogg; HiFi pending | Audiophiles: Apple Music |
| Discovery tools | Human-curated + algorithmic Personal Mix | AI DJ, Discover Weekly, Daylist | Playlist explorers: Spotify |
| Social & sharing | SharePlay, Collaborative Playlists, Replay | Wrapped, Blend, Jams | Social buzz: Spotify |
Why Price Still Matters
Even a single-dollar price jump adds up over twelve months, so understanding each tier is crucial before you subscribe. Here’s the current snapshot:
Apple Music
- Individual: $10.99
- Student: $5.99 (50 % discount)
- Family (up to 6 people): $16.99
Spotify
- Individual: $11.99
- Student: $5.99 (includes Hulu in the US)
- Duo (2 people): $16.99
- Family (up to 6 people): $19.99
- Free tier: $0—but expect ads between tracks and limited skips
What the RRP really costs: A year of Apple Music Individual totals about $132, while Spotify’s new rate hits $144. Students save roughly 45%, but only on a single account; partners need Spotify Duo or Apple’s full Family plan.
How Cheapzy flips the script: Grab a 12-month Spotify Premium for $34.99 (~$2.90/mo) or Apple Music for $41.99 (~$3.50/mo)—up to 75% less than paying monthly. Want to see the maths behind those savings? See how Cheapzy works and keep your cash for concert tickets instead of subscription fees.
Catalog Depth & Exclusive Content
While both Apple Music and Spotify now top the 100-million-song mark, their strengths diverge sharply once you dig into rarities, podcasts, audiobooks, and live radio exclusives.
100 Million Songs and Counting
Both platforms now boast catalogs of about 100 million tracks. Apple hit the milestone first in 2022, while Spotify matched it in 2023. Real-world testers still note that Apple’s iTunes heritage gives it a slight edge for older albums, B-sides, and obscure releases that occasionally vanish from Spotify’s shelves.
Verdict: For everyday hits, parity reigns. For crate-digging rarities, Apple often wins.
Podcasts, Audiobooks & Artist Radio
If you want everything in one app, Spotify weaves together over 5 million podcasts and around 350,000 audiobooks, plus 15 hours of audiobook listening a month for Premium users. Apple Music skips long-form podcasts but counters with 24/7 live radio channels (Apple Music 1, Hits, Country) and artist-led specials that drop exclusive premieres and interviews you won’t hear elsewhere.
Verdict: Spotify is the audio “super-app,” while Apple leans on radio exclusives to deepen fan connection.
Audio Quality Showdown
If fidelity tops your wish list, Apple and Spotify part ways fast—one already streams in studio detail, the other is still warming up its amps.
At a glance
- Apple Music: Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz plus Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, available on every plan for free.
Bluetooth can’t carry hi-res audio, so to actually hear 24-bit/192 kHz, you’ll need a wired connection—think USB-C or 3.5 mm headphones and, ideally, a dedicated DAC for the cleanest signal.
- Spotify: “Very High” tops out at 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis today; the long-promised HiFi/Music Pro add-on (true lossless) is pencilled in for 2025 and is expected to cost extra.
In a nutshell: Audiophiles can enjoy studio-master quality today on Apple Music, while Spotify fans must wait (and possibly pay more) for true lossless.
Money-saving tip
Apple charges students $5.99 a month for Lossless and Spatial Audio—about $71.88 a year. Cheapzy’s Apple Music Yearly pass costs just $41.99 (≈$3.50/mo), slashing your hi-res ticket by nearly 45%. Grab it via Our Products and spend the savings on a quality wired headset.
User Experience—Mobile, Desktop & Everywhere In-Between
Apple and Spotify both nail the basics, but their design choices and device reach feel very different the moment you pick up your phone, open your laptop, or hand off playback to a smart speaker.
Mobile UI Trends
Apple Music keeps a clean, album-art–first layout that hides most advanced options one level deep, so the surface feels calm while power features stay close at hand.
Spotify, meanwhile, overhauled its home screen into an ever-scrolling, TikTok-style feed of song, podcast, and audiobook previews, encouraging quick swipes and constant discovery.
Desktop Power Moves
On Macs and PCs, Apple still offers Smart Playlists, rule-based mixes you build once and let auto-update—great for “Last 30 days” bangers or five-star favourites.
Spotify’s desktop edge is its Friend Activity sidebar, a live ticker of what your mutuals are spinning so you can cue up the same track (or judge their taste) with a click.
Device Ecosystem
Apple leans into its walled garden: play instantly on HomePod, Apple Watch, CarPlay, AirPlay-2 TVs and more, all managed through one Apple ID.
Spotify counters with Spotify Connect, which beams your session to thousands of third-party speakers, smart TVs, game consoles, and even some cars—no iPhone required.
In short, Apple is seamless inside its own universe; Spotify is fluent almost everywhere else.
Music Discovery & Personalisation
Whether you prefer AI-powered suggestions or expert-curated gems, both Apple Music and Spotify have serious discovery engines built to keep your listening fresh.
Spotify leans hard on algorithms that study every skip and replay you make. Discover Weekly arrives each Monday with 30 fresh tracks chosen by collaborative-filtering AI. The viral AI DJ talks you through a bespoke mix in real time, and the ever-shifting Daylist rebuilds itself several times a day to match your changing mood.
Apple Music balances machine learning with a large editorial team. Its playlists and radio shows are programmed by genre specialists, then fine-tuned by algorithms—an approach Apple calls “human curation at the core”. Tap the Personal Station card in Listen Now, and a radio stream appears with songs chosen solely for you, updating endlessly as your tastes evolve.
Pro tip: Both services learn fastest when you’re decisive. Hit the Like/Dislike buttons (or Add → Remove on Spotify) to reinforce good picks and banish the duds, and your personalised playlists will sharpen within days instead of weeks.
Social & Community Features
The two giants take very different, and constantly evolving, approaches to social listening. Below is a quick primer on how each service turns solo sessions into communal experiences, plus a note for creators who want to take those vibes on-air.
Spotify – Social proof, viral bragging rights
Spotify has built a reputation for turning listening stats into share-worthy moments:
- Wrapped: year-end listening stats that dominate social feeds each December.
- Blend: merges two users’ tastes into one constantly updating playlist.
- Jams (Group Sessions 2.0): lets up to 32 friends queue and control tracks in real time—perfect for parties.
Apple Music – Private listening meets shared control
Apple’s social layer is lighter but growing:
- Replay: annual recap of your most-played artists, albums, and songs.
- Collaborative Playlists (iOS 17.3+): anyone you invite can drop tracks and emoji reactions into the same list.
- SharePlay: co-listen inside FaceTime or Messages so every participant hears the same beat, perfectly synced.
Which is better for streamers?
Neither service allows full-song broadcasts on Twitch or YouTube, but Spotify’s public playlist links and embeddable web player make it simpler to share track lists with viewers. Apple’s links sit behind its paywall, limiting non-subscribers to 30-second previews, so streamers generally lean toward Spotify.
Plans Tailored for Students, Families & Streamers
Getting the right tier can halve, or even quarter, your yearly bill. Below is a bite-sized rundown of each service’s headline rates and how Cheapzy squeezes them even lower.
| Listener Type | Apple Music | Spotify | Where Cheapzy Saves You |
| Students | $5.99/mo (1 account) | $5.99/mo (1 account + Hulu in US) | Year pass from $3.50/mo—up to 40% off |
| Couples | No Duo plan | Duo $16.99/mo (2 accounts) | Buy two discounted singles for less than Duo |
| Families | Six profiles for $16.99/mo | Six profiles for $19.99/mo | Family codes available—check Cheapzy for the latest bulk deal, typically well below retail |
| Streamers / Solo Creators | Standard $10.99/mo | Standard $11.99/mo | Annual Spotify Premium at $2.90/mo |
Every price above is the current retail rate; Cheapzy’s prepaid codes undercut them by 45–75%. Head to Our Products and pick the plan that matches your crew.
Real-User Proof: What Cheapzy Customers Say
Curious whether Cheapzy’s discounts really deliver? A quick scroll through its 700-plus five-star Trustpilot posts shows customers raving about fast activation and responsive support.
“Got Spotify Premium for my personal account and it’s been working great for over a month. Support even followed up to make sure everything was working. Couldn’t be happier.” — Rachel M.
“I used Cheapzy to get YouTube Premium on my Google account and it worked perfectly. Setup was clear and I had access the same day. Definitely worth the price.” — Leah R.
“This is my second time ordering from Cheapzy, this time for YouTube Premium. Paid through PayPal again with no issues. Fast delivery and huge savings, highly recommend.” — Kevin D.
Browse dozens of five-star Trustpilot testimonials on our dedicated Reviews page today before making your subscription decision.
Decision Matrix—Which Is Better, Apple Music or Spotify?
If you’re still undecided, match your priorities to the profile below and the winner usually reveals itself in seconds. Remember that, whatever you pick, Cheapzy’s discounted codes mean you never pay full price for premium access.
- Audiophiles → Apple Music
Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz and built-in Spatial Audio give Apple the clear-as-glass edge for critical listening. - Social sharers & podcast fans → Spotify
Wrapped, Blend, Jams, plus five million-plus podcasts and 15 hours of audiobooks each month cement Spotify’s social-first status. - Multi-device households → It depends
Apple shines inside its own ecosystem (iPhone, HomePod, CarPlay); Spotify Connect wins for mixed brands—smart TVs, consoles, smart speakers, and more. - Money-savvy listeners → Cheapzy, whichever service you choose
Annual passes drop Apple Music to about $3.50 a month and Spotify Premium to under $3, turning either platform into the best-value option.
How to Switch (or Save) in 3 Minutes
- Pick your plan: Visit the Cheapzy Products page and choose the Apple Music or Spotify Premium code that fits your budget.
- Activate in seconds: Follow the step-by-step guide outlined under How Does It Work? You’ll receive an order-confirmation email with your redemption details.
- Stream for less, cancel anytime: Apply the code to your existing account (or create a new one) and start enjoying ad-free, full-feature access at up to 75% below retail. Codes are pre-paid and non-recurring, so you stay in control. Renew through Cheapzy next year or walk away with no strings attached.
FAQ
Which is better — Apple Music or Spotify?
It depends on what you value most. Apple Music wins for audiophile-grade sound because every plan includes lossless tracks up to 24-bit/192 kHz and Spatial Audio. Spotify edges ahead for social sharing, podcasts, and discovery tools such as Wrapped, AI DJ, and Daylist. If price is your top concern, either platform becomes the “best” once you redeem a Cheapzy prepaid code and cut your annual bill by more than half.
Does Spotify offer lossless audio yet?
Not today. Spotify’s highest setting streams at 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis. The company has announced a forthcoming HiFi/Music Pro tier with true lossless quality, but as of July 2025, that option is not publicly available and no official price has been confirmed.
What’s the cheapest way for students to get premium streaming?
Both services discount student plans to about $5.99 per month for a single account (Spotify even bundles Hulu in the U.S.). Cheapzy undercuts those rates with 12-month Apple Music and Spotify Premium codes that average roughly $3–$3.50 per month, saving an additional 40% without sacrificing any features.
Is Spotify’s free tier worth using?
Spotify Free costs nothing but comes with ads, limited skips, and no offline playback or high-bit-rate streaming. It’s fine for casual, background listening; however, anyone who wants uninterrupted music, downloads, or higher audio quality will be happier upgrading. A Cheapzy annual code often costs less per month than the price of a single coffee.
How does Cheapzy sell discounted subscriptions— is it legal?
Cheapzy bulk-purchases legitimate, region-specific gift codes and resells them at a lower cost. You redeem the code directly in your existing Apple or Spotify account, so you’re dealing with the official platform, not a third-party app. The codes are prepaid and non-recurring, meaning you can renew through Cheapzy next year or walk away with no cancellation hoops.
