Spotify vs YouTube Music and Apple Music: Top features, India prices, everything else compared

India Today

05-08-2025

Spotify remains a strong option for its mix of features
YouTube Music, on the other hand, offers great value for the price
Apple Music is appealing for those in the Apple ecosystem
If you enjoy streaming music in India, chances are you've looked at Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music at some point. All three services offer huge song libraries, ad-free listening on paid plans, and features like offline playback. But there are important differences in pricing, features, and what you actually get for your money. Spotify has recently increased its subscription prices in India for the first time since launching in 2019, while YouTube Music continues to offer one of the most affordable premium plans, and Apple Music packs in lossless audio and spatial sound for the same price as its rivals. If you're wondering which one is right for you, here's a breakdown of each service in detail. Spotify: Top features and pricing
Spotify Premium in India now costs Rs 139 per month for the Individual plan, Rs 179 for Duo, Rs 229 for Family, and Rs 69 for Student. This is a bump from the earlier prices of Rs 119, Rs 149, Rs 179, and Rs 59, respectively. Spotify says the increase is due to rising costs and is part of a global price adjustment.
Despite the change, Spotify remains a strong option for its mix of features. Premium subscribers get ad-free music, offline downloads, and higher-quality audio than the free version. The app also learns your taste over time, offering highly personalised recommendations and curated playlists. Features like 'Concerts Near You' and 'Upcoming Releases' make it easy to stay connected with your favourite artists, while the 'Music Following Feed' gives updates from musicians you follow. Whether you go for the Individual, Duo, Family, or Student plan, the core experience remains smooth and focused on discovery. YouTube Music: Top features and pricing
YouTube Music is available for free with ads, but its Premium version removes interruptions and adds background playback and offline downloads. It's priced at Rs 99 per month, making it cheaper than Spotify's Individual plan. You can also get YouTube Premium for Rs 129 per month, which includes all the YouTube Music Premium features plus ad-free videos, background playback, and offline viewing for YouTube itself. There are family plans too â€' Rs 149 for Music Premium and Rs 189 for YouTube Premium, covering up to six members.
Key features of YouTube Music include personalised mixes, curated playlists, an audio-only mode to save data, and the ability to switch between audio and video versions of a song. It's especially appealing if you already watch a lot of YouTube content, as the Premium bundle offers more value. Apple Music: Top features and pricing
Apple Music keeps things simple with three plans: Rs 99 per month for Individual, Rs 149 for Family (up to six accounts), and Rs 49 for Student. It offers over 100 million songs, thousands of playlists, and exclusive content, all ad-free.
Standout features include Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for an immersive soundstage, Lossless Audio for the highest fidelity, and real-time lyrics. Apple Music also includes a dedicated classical music app, Apple Music Classical, for those with a taste for orchestral works, plus Apple Music Sing for karaoke-style sessions. Integration with Siri makes it easy to control playback hands-free, and features like Crossfade and AutoPlay keep the music flowing without awkward pauses. Which one is right for you?
Ultimately, the best choice is the one that fits your lifestyle. Each service has its strengths, so your choice really depends on your listening habits and priorities.
If you love discovering new music and want playlists that feel tailor-made for you, Spotify's recommendation system is hard to beat. It's also ideal if you follow artists closely and like staying updated on their latest releases or upcoming concerts.
YouTube Music, on the other hand, offers great value for the price, especially if you already spend time watching videos on YouTube. The Premium bundle essentially gives you two services in one, making it a solid pick for those who want both music and video benefits.
Apple Music is the clear winner for those who care about audio quality above all else, thanks to Lossless and Spatial Audio support. It's also appealing if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, with seamless integration across devices and Siri voice control. If you have a family or share with friends, its Family plan is competitively priced and generous in features.
If you enjoy streaming music in India, chances are you've looked at Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music at some point. All three services offer huge song libraries, ad-free listening on paid plans, and features like offline playback. But there are important differences in pricing, features, and what you actually get for your money. Spotify has recently increased its subscription prices in India for the first time since launching in 2019, while YouTube Music continues to offer one of the most affordable premium plans, and Apple Music packs in lossless audio and spatial sound for the same price as its rivals. If you're wondering which one is right for you, here's a breakdown of each service in detail. Spotify: Top features and pricing
Spotify Premium in India now costs Rs 139 per month for the Individual plan, Rs 179 for Duo, Rs 229 for Family, and Rs 69 for Student. This is a bump from the earlier prices of Rs 119, Rs 149, Rs 179, and Rs 59, respectively. Spotify says the increase is due to rising costs and is part of a global price adjustment.
Despite the change, Spotify remains a strong option for its mix of features. Premium subscribers get ad-free music, offline downloads, and higher-quality audio than the free version. The app also learns your taste over time, offering highly personalised recommendations and curated playlists. Features like 'Concerts Near You' and 'Upcoming Releases' make it easy to stay connected with your favourite artists, while the 'Music Following Feed' gives updates from musicians you follow. Whether you go for the Individual, Duo, Family, or Student plan, the core experience remains smooth and focused on discovery. YouTube Music: Top features and pricing
YouTube Music is available for free with ads, but its Premium version removes interruptions and adds background playback and offline downloads. It's priced at Rs 99 per month, making it cheaper than Spotify's Individual plan. You can also get YouTube Premium for Rs 129 per month, which includes all the YouTube Music Premium features plus ad-free videos, background playback, and offline viewing for YouTube itself. There are family plans too â€' Rs 149 for Music Premium and Rs 189 for YouTube Premium, covering up to six members.
Key features of YouTube Music include personalised mixes, curated playlists, an audio-only mode to save data, and the ability to switch between audio and video versions of a song. It's especially appealing if you already watch a lot of YouTube content, as the Premium bundle offers more value. Apple Music: Top features and pricing
Apple Music keeps things simple with three plans: Rs 99 per month for Individual, Rs 149 for Family (up to six accounts), and Rs 49 for Student. It offers over 100 million songs, thousands of playlists, and exclusive content, all ad-free.
Standout features include Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for an immersive soundstage, Lossless Audio for the highest fidelity, and real-time lyrics. Apple Music also includes a dedicated classical music app, Apple Music Classical, for those with a taste for orchestral works, plus Apple Music Sing for karaoke-style sessions. Integration with Siri makes it easy to control playback hands-free, and features like Crossfade and AutoPlay keep the music flowing without awkward pauses. Which one is right for you?
Ultimately, the best choice is the one that fits your lifestyle. Each service has its strengths, so your choice really depends on your listening habits and priorities.
If you love discovering new music and want playlists that feel tailor-made for you, Spotify's recommendation system is hard to beat. It's also ideal if you follow artists closely and like staying updated on their latest releases or upcoming concerts.
YouTube Music, on the other hand, offers great value for the price, especially if you already spend time watching videos on YouTube. The Premium bundle essentially gives you two services in one, making it a solid pick for those who want both music and video benefits.
Apple Music is the clear winner for those who care about audio quality above all else, thanks to Lossless and Spatial Audio support. It's also appealing if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, with seamless integration across devices and Siri voice control. If you have a family or share with friends, its Family plan is competitively priced and generous in features. Join our WhatsApp Channel