By Eden Gentry 

Staff Writer

   Every December, as Spotify Wrapped and Apple Replay are released, the age-old question resurfaces: which streaming service is truly the best? Both platforms have evolved rapidly in recent years, adding features to appeal to a widening global audience. Despite their similarities, each service offers a distinct experience that continues to divide listeners.

    One of the many differences between Spotify and Apple Music is Spotify’s personalised playlists and the use of AI to give an individualized experience to each user, the most notable being the ability to join someone’s jam, DJ, and Daylist. Spotify also makes sharing and collaborating on playlists much easier, making shared listening more accessible and enjoyable.

    “I use Spotify because it’s how I share music with friends, and it’s more social than Apple Music,” R.J. Reynolds’ teacher Gabrielle Perez said. “Now there are things like collaborative playlists, and you can even message people on Spotify. So it’s now built for a more social experience.”

    While Spotify has many advantages, it also has drawbacks. Many people are put off by Spotify’s free version of the app, with many complaining that the number of ads is way too high, they can’t search for a song and have the one they want to play immediately, and they only have the ability to skip a few songs a day. Many give up and use a different free service with fewer ads. With a recent update to the app, free users can now search for and play any song they want and have more skips, but the problems with the ads remain.

    “They’re greedy,” junior Jayden Miller said. “And if you don’t have Spotify Premium, they give you so many ads and barely any skips, and it’s not like I get six skips every hour, I get six skips per day.”

    Users who are frustrated with Spotify often find Apple Music appealing for several reasons. The service offers a massive library, letting users jump from nostalgic tracks to the newest releases without feeling restricted. Its sound quality remains a major selling point, with features like Lossless and Spatial Audio giving songs a more immersive, detailed feel. And with curated playlists and constantly updated stations, Apple Music provides a steady mix of discovery and familiarity, making it a strong choice for people who want streaming to feel personalised rather than overwhelming. Another feature that attracts users to both services is the shared family plan, which allows multiple accounts under a single subscription.

    “The reason I’ve used Apple Music for as long as I have is that I initially had a family plan,” Perez said, “Like when it 1st came out, like 10 years ago. So, I’ve just used it for a long time, and then it has all of my music that I’ve loved for years.”

    While Spotify has a free option for listening to music, Apple Music does not. With there not being a free option, the app only limits itself to users willing to pay $10.99 per month for the standard plan by Apple, and that puts off many users from using the app. Apple Music also has a cluttered interface, which makes the navigation of the app much more difficult.

    “I don’t like Apple Music because it’s harder to find music than on Spotify, and you can’t use it unless you pay for it,” sophomore Emma Torrey said.

  In the end, music is something that brings people together, no matter what streaming service anyone uses. While both platforms have clear strengths and a few weaknesses, each one ultimately succeeds in giving users a reliable way to explore, enjoy, and share the music they love. Whether you’re chasing the best playlists or the best audio, the “better” choice depends on what matters most to each specific user.