The competition between Apple Music vs Spotify has reached a new level in 2025, as Apple rolls out significant updates to challenge Spotify’s dominance. With Spotify still leading global music streaming, Apple has introduced features designed to make switching easier for users and regain lost market share.
Apple Music’s New Weapon: Playlist Transfers
One of the biggest announcements this week is Apple Music’s new tool that allows users to directly transfer playlists from Spotify and other music services. Until now, switching platforms often meant losing carefully curated playlists, which discouraged many from leaving Spotify. Apple’s latest update changes that.
According to reports, Apple has integrated a seamless migration feature, enabling subscribers to import entire music libraries, playlists, and even liked songs from Spotify. This move is a clear attempt to reduce friction for those considering Apple Music but hesitant to start over.
Spotify Still Holds the Crown
Despite Apple’s aggressive updates, Spotify remains the global leader in music streaming. At the end of 2024, Spotify controlled roughly 33% of the U.S. digital music subscription market, while Apple Music had dropped to 25%, down from 30% in 2020. The numbers reveal that while Apple Music is investing heavily in features and content, Spotify’s established user base and strong brand loyalty are hard to beat.
Spotify has also been expanding beyond music, integrating podcasts and audiobooks into its app, which many users appreciate. Apple Music, on the other hand, has kept its focus primarily on music, positioning itself as the service for “music purists” while Spotify leans into being a broader audio platform.
Radio and Exclusives: Apple’s Strategy
Apple isn’t stopping at playlist transfers. Reports suggest Apple is investing more into its radio offerings and exclusive artist partnerships. The company hopes that by strengthening Apple Music Radio and offering exclusive releases, it can carve out a unique identity separate from Spotify’s all-in-one approach.
This strategy aligns with Apple’s history of leveraging exclusivity, whether through device ecosystems or premium services. If Apple Music can secure high-profile exclusives, it may lure back users who left for Spotify’s convenience.
User Experience: Where the Battle is Won
When comparing Apple Music vs Spotify, user experience plays a central role. Apple Music is praised for its clean interface, deep integration with iOS devices, and high-quality lossless audio streaming at no additional cost. Spotify, however, wins points for its powerful algorithm-driven recommendations and collaborative playlists that keep users engaged.
The new playlist transfer tool is Apple’s way of addressing a long-standing gap. If Apple combines this with its superior audio quality and strong ecosystem tie-ins, it could present a stronger case for iPhone and Mac users to switch from Spotify.
What’s Next in the Streaming War?
The next year will be crucial in the battle of Apple Music vs Spotify. Apple’s recent updates suggest a more aggressive strategy to claw back market share, while Spotify continues to expand its offerings and global reach.
For users, this rivalry is a win. Both platforms are pushing to innovate and provide better features, whether through smarter recommendations, exclusive content, or higher audio quality. Ultimately, the choice between Apple Music and Spotify comes down to whether you prioritize ecosystem integration or algorithm-driven discovery.
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