Today, listening to music has completely transformed the manner in which we listen to music. The days of downloading individual songs and the use of music players are long gone. The world is now a place where you can have millions of songs at your fingertips and on demand. Whether you should or should not subscribe to a music streaming service is not the real challenge anymore. It is the challenge of selecting the appropriate one to suit your budget and tastes.
There are three giant competitors in the Indian music streaming market, which include Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. There is something different in each of the platforms. Some are free to listen to with advertisements, and others charge money from the first day. In your case, whether you are about to embark on your own music streaming adventure and/or considering moving out of your current service, this comprehensive comparison will guide you to the right decision.
Spotify Premium: Pricing And Plans In India
Spotify offers four subscription plans in India. Let’s break them down:
The very affordable paid subscription is Spotify Premium Lite with a price of Rs. 139 monthly. In case you are seeking additional capabilities, the Standard plan will cost Rs. 199 per month. There is the Platinum plan priced at Rs. 299 per month that will give you everything that Spotify has to offer.
This is an intriguing fact, though: Standard and Platinum plans both permit sharing one account with up to three users. There is, however, a snag to this: all users will be required to reside at the same address.
The Spotify Premium Student plan lets students save money as long as they prove they are a student with a valid ID card.
Spotify Premium includes everything you get with Spotify Free.
The experience is much better when you pay for Spotify:
More Read
- None of those commercials that breaks your music.
- Up to 320 kbps streaming of high-quality audio.
- Get the music to listen to offline.
- Lossless on more premium subscriptions.
- The AI DJ feature that plays like a radio host.
- Custom mixes and AI playlist tools.
- Full playback (play, pause, skip whatever you like)
- Professional use of DJ software.
Spotify is unique because of the AI functionality. The AI DJ really communicates with you and presents songs, and it seems like you have a personal radio station.
Apple Music: Cheap, High-Quality Streaming
India Apple Music makes it simple with simple pricing.
The individual plan is the cheapest one, costing only Rs. 99 per month. If you have others to listen to at the same time, the Family plan is a good deal at only Rs. 149 per month. This one subscription is applicable to up to six individuals utilizing their own gadgets.
Apple Music presents the best offer to students. The Student plan is the cheapest premium music streaming plan in India at the moment, as it costs just Rs. 59 a month.
Apple Music Advantages
Apple Music is concerned with the quality of sound and integration with the ecosystem:
- Unlimited ad-free listening.
- Audio that does not lose original recording quality.
- Great sound quality with lossless support.
- Immersive Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio.
- Music offline downloads.
- Offers flawless interconnection with iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.
- Complimentary access to the Apple Music Classical app.
- Family Sharing with individual libraries for each user.
In case you have Apple devices, the integration is extremely seamless. Your music accompanies you everywhere on all your gadgets without problems.
YouTube Music Premium: Video Meets Audio
YouTube Music has four premium subscriptions in India. The Personal plan will cost Rs. 119 per month. In the case of families, the Family plan will be priced at Rs. 149 per month and will allow support for multiple users. It also has a Two-Person plan at Rs. 179 per month, which is ideal for couples. The Student plan costs students only Rs. 59 per month.
This is the big difference: you can become a YouTube Premium member, beginning at Rs. 149 per month. This subscription will remove YouTube ads from regular YouTube videos, and the members will have YouTube Music Premium. It is like having two services under one roof.
YouTube Music Premium Benefits
YouTube Music is an audio-video blend that is both interesting:
- Uninterrupted ad-free music streaming.
- Background music plays, so you can change apps.
- Listening to podcasts offline anywhere.
- Audio as well as video switching on the same song.
- YouTube Premium perks in case of upgrade.
- Individualized family member profiles.
Video-audio switching is a special feature. You have the opportunity to watch a music video, after which you can put it in audio-only mode to save data or battery.
Free Tiers: What’s The Catch?
Spotify has a free version, so does YouTube Music, but these versions are limited:
- Advertisements appear between the songs frequently.
- You cannot skip songs freely.
- Audio quality is lower.
- Background playback is not available on mobile.
- Offline downloading is not provided.
- There is limited playback control.
Apple Music does not have a free tier available. The service requires a subscription.
Spotify Vs Apple Music Vs YouTube Music Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Here’s a comparison of what each platform does best:
Sound Quality
Apple Music wins here. It has high-resolution lossless audio and lossless Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at higher levels. Spotify offers up to 320 kbps quality and lossless audio on higher levels. YouTube Music does not provide lossless quality, though it allows switching between audio and video versions.
Smart Features
Spotify leads with AI. With AI playlist features and AI DJ, artificial intelligence is used to generate individual experiences. Apple Music is well personalized and lacks an AI DJ. YouTube Music is based on what you see and what you hear.
Device Integration
Apple users should use Apple Music. Apple Music is compatible with iPhone, Mac, and iPad. Spotify is compatible with most platforms. YouTube Music is compatible with YouTube and Android.
Music Discovery
Spotify is excellent at discovering new music. Its algorithm gets to know your taste in no time and recommends the songs you are likely to enjoy. YouTube Music relies on your YouTube history as well, and this provides the application with unique insights. Apple Music is well curated but not pushy in offers.
Value For Money
Apple Music is better priced at Rs 99 per month and has the best sound quality for the individual user. Apple Music and YouTube Music are great deals for families who are willing to pay Rs 149 every month. For students, both Apple and YouTube Music at Rs 59 per month are equally pocket-friendly.
Spotify Vs Apple Music Vs YouTube Music
| Feature | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ₹139 | ₹99 | ₹119 |
| Family Plan | ₹299 (3 users, same address) | ₹149 (6 users) | ₹149 (6 users) |
| Student Plan | ₹59 | ₹59 | ₹59 |
| Audio Quality | Up to 320 kbps + Lossless | Lossless + Hi-Res + Dolby Atmos | Standard + Video/Audio Switch |
| Smart Features | AI DJ, AI Playlists | Personalized playlists | YouTube-based recommendations |
| Free Tier | Yes | No | Yes |
| Offline Downloads | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Discovery & AI features | Best sound quality | Music + Videos combo |
Conclusion
There is no single best music streaming service. What is important to you will determine which one to buy: sound quality, price, features, or ecosystem integration.
The Individual plan of Apple Music is the best in terms of audio quality and cost efficiency. Spotify is better at music discovery and AI. YouTube Music provides the exclusive benefit of integrating music and video streaming.
You want to think about your budget and the devices you are using, and what features are the most important to you. The three services have great libraries that contain millions of songs. You cannot lose with either of them.
A significant number of platforms have free trials. Use these trials to try all services and make sure that you commit to a subscription. Your ears and tastes will explain what platform suits you.
Follow Us: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest
