Subscription services: Spotify Premium vs. Apple One Premier
Quick Verdict
Apple One Premier is a better value if you use multiple Apple services, while Spotify Premium is more affordable and focused on music and podcasts.
- Apple One Premier offers lossless audio quality, while Spotify Premium offers up to 320kbps.
- Apple One Premier includes additional services like Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage, while Spotify Premium offers audiobooks and Spotify Kids.
- Spotify Premium has more flexible pricing tiers, including individual, duo, family, and student plans, while Apple One Premier has a single, more expensive family plan.
Key features – Side-by-Side
| Attribute | Spotify Premium | Apple One Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Music library size and variety | Over 100 million tracks, 6.5 million podcasts, and 350,000 audiobooks. | Over 100 million songs and 30,000 playlists |
| Audio quality (bitrate and format) | Ogg Vorbis format. Premium: up to 320kbps. Free: 128kbps-160kbps. Web player: AAC. | Lossless audio quality |
| Offline listening capability | Download songs, albums, and podcasts for offline listening. Connect online every 30 days to maintain downloads. Up to 10,000 tracks on each of up to 5 devices. | Users can download songs for offline listening |
| Ad-free listening experience | Ad-free listening for music with Premium. Ads may still appear in podcasts. | Ad-free listening experience |
| Family plan options and pricing | $19.99 per month for up to 6 family members at the same address. Includes individual accounts, parental controls, and Spotify Kids. | $37.95 per month, can be shared with up to five other family members |
| Additional services included | Premium Individual plans include 15 hours of audiobook listening per month. The Family plan also includes access to the Spotify Kids app. | Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and 2TB of iCloud storage. May also include Apple Invites and Apple News+ Food. |
| Price and subscription tiers | Individual: $11.99 - $12 per month. Duo: $16.99 - $17 per month. Family: $19.99 - $20 per month. Student: $5.99 - $6 per month. Audiobook-only: $9.99 per month. | $37.95 per month |
Overall Comparison
Audio Quality: Apple One wins; Additional Services: Apple One wins; Price: Spotify wins
Pros and Cons
Spotify Premium
Pros:
- Extensive music library
- Ad-free listening (for music)
- Offline listening capability
- Personalized playlists
- Integration with various devices
- Family plan options
- Access to podcasts
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Ads in podcasts
- Audio quality not as high as some competitors
- Need to connect online every 30 days for offline downloads
- Family plan members must reside at the same address
Apple One Premier
Pros:
- Vast music library
- Lossless audio quality
- Offline listening
- Ad-free experience
- Family sharing
- Integration with Apple devices
- Additional services like Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and iCloud storage
Cons:
- No major disadvantages reported.
User Experiences and Feedback
Spotify Premium
What Users Love
- Easy to download music for offline listening
- Intuitive and easy to navigate user interface
- Well-rounded feature set
Common Complaints
- Some users have reported experiencing ads despite having Premium
Value Perception
- Inclusion of audiobooks and the Spotify Kids app can be valuable additions
Apple One Premier
What Users Love
- No highlights reported.
Common Complaints
- No major complaints reported.
Value Perception
- iCloud+ provides storage for photos, videos, and device backups, with features like iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email.
- Apple TV+ offers original TV shows and movies.
- Apple Arcade provides access to over 200 ad-free games.
- Apple News+ delivers access to magazines and newspapers.
- Apple Fitness+ offers guided workouts across various fitness categories.
- Apple Invites is a platform to create and share invitations, manage RSVPs, and engage with Apple Music playlists.
- Apple News+ Food provides recipes, food-related articles, and content about restaurants.