Spotify vs YouTube Music: Price, Sound Quality and Free Plans

Pick Spotify if you care about sound quality, desktop apps, audiobooks and a clear, published price. Pick YouTube Music if you want live performances, covers, remixes and music videos alongside songs, or you already pay for YouTube Premium.

Both have a free, ad-supported tier and a paid plan that removes ads. They differ in catalog, audio quality, extras and where they run.

Spotify vs YouTube Music at a glance

Which is cheaper, Spotify or YouTube Music?

Spotify is cheaper on the prices we could confirm. Spotify's US Premium page lists Premium Individual at $0 for the first month, then $12.99 a month. Students pay $6.99, Duo is $18.99 for 2 accounts, and Family is $21.99 for up to 6 accounts.

For YouTube Music, the only US prices we could read on an official page were in Apple's App Store, where YouTube Music is a $15.99 in-app purchase and YouTube Music Family is $24.99. YouTube Premium, which also removes ads from regular YouTube, is $20.99 there. Subscriptions bought through Apple can cost more than the same plan bought on the web, so check YouTube's own page before you subscribe.

If you already pay for YouTube Premium for ad-free videos, YouTube Music Premium comes with it, which can make YouTube Music the cheaper choice for your household overall.

Which sounds better?

Spotify, on the evidence we found. Spotify's Premium page promises lossless music with sound quality up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.

The YouTube Music App Store listing we read does not mention lossless audio. It lists ad-free listening, background play and switching between song audio and music videos as the Premium features, and YouTube's help center adds offline downloads. So if lossless matters to you, Spotify is the safer pick.

What does each free plan allow?

Both free plans play music with ads. The big difference is background play. YouTube's help center lists background play, meaning music keeps playing while you use other apps, as a Music Premium benefit, along with ad-free listening and offline downloads. So on the free tier, playback is tied to the YouTube Music app being open.

Spotify's Premium page lists what you gain by paying: ad-free listening, lossless audio, offline downloads with an automatic Offline Backup, and playing songs in any order.

On 6 November 2026, we compared the two official listings. Spotify's US Premium page showed Premium Individual at $12.99 a month after a $0 first month, including 15 hours a month of audiobook listening. The US App Store listed YouTube Music at $15.99 a month as an in-app purchase, and its description noted that Music Premium is "available in select countries" and that members "may still see, hear, or experience branding or promotions embedded by creators".

Which has the better catalog?

It depends on what you listen to. YouTube Music describes its catalog as including live performances, covers, remixes and "music content you can't find elsewhere", because it draws on YouTube. You can also upload songs from your own devices and play them alongside the streaming catalog, and switch a song to its music video.

Spotify's extra is audiobooks. Its Premium Individual plan in the US includes 15 hours of audiobook listening each month from its subscriber catalog.

Where can you listen?

Both work almost everywhere, but Spotify has proper desktop apps. Spotify offers downloads for Windows and Mac, a Linux client, a web player and mobile apps, and it connects to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and smartwatches.

YouTube Music says you can listen on your phone, desktop, smart speaker, smart TV, car and smartwatch, and on the web at music.youtube.com. It works with Google Maps, Waze and Google Assistant.

Still not sure either is right? Our list of Deezer alternatives also compares Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Which should you choose?

• You want the best sound quality: Spotify Premium, with lossless up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.
• You already pay for YouTube Premium: YouTube Music, since it is included.
• You listen to live versions, covers and remixes: YouTube Music.
• You use a Linux or Windows desktop app: Spotify.
• You also want audiobooks: Spotify Premium Individual, with 15 hours a month in the US.
• You are a student: Spotify Premium Student at $6.99 a month.

FAQ

Is YouTube Music free?

Yes, with ads. Background play, offline downloads and ad-free listening need Music Premium, which is only available in some countries.

How much is Spotify Premium?

In the US, Premium Individual is $12.99 a month after a $0 first month for new subscribers. Student is $6.99, Duo $18.99 and Family $21.99.

Does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music?

Yes. YouTube's help center says YouTube Premium members get a YouTube Music Premium subscription at no extra cost, on top of ad-free videos on YouTube.

Does Spotify have lossless audio?

Yes. Spotify Premium includes lossless music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.