Hey there! With so many streaming options out there nowadays, I know it can get confusing when deciding whether to upgrade to an ad-free premium subscription. You‘re probably wondering exactly what perks you‘ll get over the free version of YouTube or Spotify – not to mention which service is better value.
Well, you‘ve come to the right place! I‘ve closely analyzed YouTube Premium versus Spotify Premium to see how they stack up across 10 key factors: video and audio quality, library size, discovery tools, supported devices, family sharing abilities, offline downloads, skipping abilities, background listening options, exclusives and privacy controls.
After crunching the numbers and combing through expert evaluations, I‘m going to give you my take on the best choice between YouTube Premium vs Spotify Premium. Let‘s dig in!
YouTube Premium vs Spotify Premium: An At-a-Glance Comparison
First up, let‘s examine how YouTube Premium and Spotify Premium differ across some of their most crucial features. This high-level overview table summarizes the key pros, cons and differences between the two services:
| YouTube Premium | Spotify Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (monthly) | $11.99 | $9.99 |
| Library Size | Over 2 million creators Catalog of over 500 hours uploaded every minute | Over 82 million tracks 4 billion playlists |
| Audio Quality | 256kbps (YouTube Music) | 320kbps |
| Video Quality | 1080p (no 4K support) | 720p max (occasional 1080p) |
| Offline Access | Download videos, YouTube Music playlists | Download playlists, albums, podcasts |
| Family Sharing | $22.99/month for up to 5 family members | $15.99/month for up to 5 family members |
Some key differences stand out immediately that might influence which service better matches your listening and viewing preferences:
- Spotify has a much deeper music catalog size thanks to its focus purely on licensed music rather than user-generated videos.
- Spotify streams at a higher maximum audio bitrate quality than even YouTube Music.
- YouTube unsurprisingly offers higher-resolution video streaming up to crisp 1080p quality.
- Spotify‘s family plan pricing is considerably cheaper than YouTube‘s.
Let‘s dig deeper across 10 aspects that will help us crown the superior premium offering!
Audio Quality
When listening without video, Spotify Premium is the clear winner for sound quality…
Video Quality
Given YouTube‘s exclusive focus on video content, it‘s no surprise that YouTube Premium offers superior video quality over Spotify…
Library Size
YouTube may upload 500 hours of new content every minute, but Spotify‘s pure music focus gives it a commanding lead for tunes…
Discovery Features
Both platforms offer tools to uncover new media picks, but YouTube Premium benefits from Google‘s incredibly powerful recommendation algorithm…
Supported Devices
You can enjoy both services across phones, tablets, computers and TV streaming platforms, but Spotify in particular goes the extra mile…
Comparing User Statistics
Given Spotify‘s compelling audio quality and extensive music catalogs, it‘s no shock that over 50% of their listeners opt for Premium. However, less than 5% of YouTube viewers pay for Premium access. Let‘s look at why this discrepancy exists…
Pros and Cons of YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium isn‘t without its selling points over the free ad-supported tier, but it comes with some lingering drawbacks to consider as well:
Pros
- No video advertisements
- Download videos for offline playback
- Background audio play
- Early access to some new music and videos
- Bundled YouTube Music Premium subscription
Cons
- Occasional ads still appear in some videos
- Light on extra features beyond ad removal
- Struggles to generate original hit shows and movies
- Student plan lacks Family Sharing support
- Music library can‘t match Spotify‘s 82+ million track breadth
Pros and Cons of Spotify Premium
Meanwhile, Spotify Premium also touts some standout upsides over free Spotify, but a few limitations still sneak in:
Pros
- No audio ads whatsoever
- 320kbps high bitrate audio quality
- Download playlists, albums etc for offline listening
- Unrestricted track skipping
- Student Hub and exclusive student discounts
Cons
- Video content library is very limited
- Some big name artists still hold albums back
- Licensed song catalogs can change
- Search isn‘t as intuitive and effective as YouTube
- Family plan works out cheaper
And the Winner Is…Spotify Premium!
When weighing up the pros, cons, features and statistics between YouTube Premium versus Spotify Premium, I believe most users will find Spotify Premium provides superior overall value.
The combination of stunning 320kbps audio quality, 82+ million track music library, handy offline downloads and obliteration of all audio ads add up to a streaming music lover‘s dream package.
Plus, discounted plans for students and family sharing make Spotify Premium accessible for all ages. No wonder over 50% of Spotify listeners opt to upgrade and sing its praises!
Of course, YouTube Premium still offers ad-free video streaming, which some YouTube diehards will happily pay $11.99 per month to maintain.
But for most casual video streamers, the free ad-supported YouTube tier remains more than enough — especially when you can enjoy premium music streaming on Spotify for just $9.99 monthly.
So there you have it — based on audio quality, price, features and value, Spotify Premium edges out YouTube Premium! I hope breaking down all the key comparative details helped make your decision between the two easier. Let me know if you have any other questions!
