YouTube Music
Best for YouTube-connected discovery
YouTube Music vs Spotify vs Apple Music: which music app should you choose?
Choose YouTube Music for music discovery tied to video, Spotify for music and podcasts, or Apple Music for an ad-free catalog with lossless audio.
At a glance
| App | Google Play | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube MusicGoogle LLC | 4.5 out of 57,720,055 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.05 - $999.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
 Spotify: Music and PodcastsSpotify AB | 4.3 out of 536,547,581 ratings | Free | Yes ($4.99 - $203.88 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
 Apple MusicApple | 4.6 out of 5741,045 ratings | Free | Yes ($5.99 - $199.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
Ratings and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Prices change over time.
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How we compared them
YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music all stream large music catalogs, build recommendations around your taste, and offer offline listening through paid plans. Their free options differ: YouTube Music and Spotify include ads, while Apple Music has no free ad-supported tier.
The main choice is whether you value YouTube’s music-and-video ecosystem, Spotify’s combined music and podcast service, or Apple Music’s ad-free listening and lossless audio. This comparison weighs their Google Play ratings, reach, pricing signals, features, and declared data safety where available.
How we compared them
We compared the Google Play figures read on November 7, 2026: ratings, rating counts, install ranges, prices, in-app purchase ranges, and whether each app contains ads. These figures offer context, not a measure of sound quality or personal fit.
We also considered each service’s catalog and features, along with the strengths and trade-offs described for each app. Spotify’s Google Play data safety declaration says it shares approximate location, device or other IDs, and other info; collects several categories including app interactions and email address; encrypts data in transit; and allows deletion requests. No comparable data safety declaration was included for the other two.
YouTube Music
by Google LLC
4.5 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forpeople who discover music through YouTube
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 7,720,055
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Teen
YouTube Music’s strongest advantage is its connection to YouTube, making it a natural choice for listeners who want music discovery alongside the wider YouTube ecosystem. It offers personalized playlists and mixes, a broad music library, and high-quality audio streaming.
The free version includes ads and offers limited offline access; offline playback is available to subscribers. Spotify also has ads on its free tier, while Apple Music is ad-free but subscription-based. YouTube Music’s Google Play rating is 4.5 from 7,720,055 ratings, and its install count is 5,000,000,000+.
Pros
YouTube integration supports music discoveryPersonalized playlists and mixesOffline playback for subscribers
Cons
Ads and limited offline access on the free tierNo lyrics feature noted, unlike Apple Music’s richer listening focus
Spotify: Music and Podcasts
by Spotify AB
4.3 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forlisteners who want music and podcasts together
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 36,547,581
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Teen
Spotify is the clearest fit for people who want podcasts alongside music in one app. Its large catalog, approachable interface, and personalized playlists make it a versatile choice, and its Google Play rating comes from by far the largest number of ratings among these three.
The free version has ads and limited skips, while offline listening requires Premium. Apple Music offers an ad-free subscription experience and lossless audio, and YouTube Music connects more directly to YouTube. Spotify’s Google Play rating is 4.3 from 36,547,581 ratings, with 1,000,000,000+ installs.
Pros
Music and podcasts in one appPersonalized playlists and recommendationsHigh-quality streaming options
Cons
Free listening includes ads and limited skipsOffline listening requires Premium
Apple Music
by Apple
4.6 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forlisteners seeking ad-free music and lossless audio
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 741,045
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Teen
Apple Music is the only one of the three marked as containing no ads, and it offers lossless audio, curated playlists, and offline listening for downloaded tracks. That combination makes it appealing to listeners who prioritize sound quality and an uninterrupted subscription experience.
It has no free ad-supported tier, and full functionality requires an Apple ID; Android features are more limited than on iOS. Spotify is the stronger option for combining podcasts with music, while YouTube Music is more closely tied to YouTube. Apple Music’s Google Play rating is 4.6 from 741,045 ratings, with 100,000,000+ installs.
Pros
No adsLossless audio availableOffline listening for downloaded tracks
Cons
No free ad-supported tierAndroid features are more limited than on iOS
Which one should you pick?
Spotify: Music and Podcasts
Best for music and podcasts
Apple Music
Best for ad-free lossless listening
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
Apple Music has the highest rating at 4.6, compared with 4.5 for YouTube Music and 4.3 for Spotify.
Which of these music apps has a free tier?
YouTube Music and Spotify offer free, ad-supported listening. Apple Music has no free ad-supported tier.
Which app is best for podcasts?
Spotify is the clear choice among these three because it combines music and podcasts in one app.
Which apps support offline listening?
All three support offline listening through downloads or paid access: YouTube Music offers it to subscribers, Spotify requires Premium, and Apple Music lets subscribers download tracks.
Mobxio compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and prices are shown for reference and can change.