Apple Music review 2026

Apple Music also offers more than 100 million songs and is on a par with Spotify in terms of sheer catalogue depth. All the major labels and most independent artists are represented. German music is very well covered, from Schlager to German rap. Where Apple Music is weaker: the podcast offering is considerably smaller than at Spotify. In return, Apple Music has its own playlists and radio stations curated by professional music journalists – above all “Apple Music 1” (formerly Beats 1) with international DJs and exclusive interviews. Apple also offers a growing selection of concert recordings and music documentaries. Exclusive early releases still happen occasionally, but less often than in the past. Scoring (32/35): A first-class music catalogue on a par with Spotify. A deduction for the weaker podcast offering and less editorial variety in playlists.

Apple Music sets the gold standard for audio quality: lossless audio in ALAC format (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) up to 24-bit/192 kHz is available to all subscribers at no extra charge. On top of that comes spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, which turns supported songs into 3D sound. Particularly impressive: Apple has made its entire catalogue (more than 100 million songs) available in lossless quality. Spatial audio works automatically with AirPods Pro and Max – the sound is immersive and convincing. Full hi-res quality (above 48 kHz), however, requires an external DAC (digital-to-analogue converter). For technical reasons, Bluetooth headphones cannot play back true lossless. Compared with Spotify (lossless up to 44.1 kHz), Apple's lead lies in the higher resolution and in Dolby Atmos. Scoring (20/20): Full marks. Lossless and spatial audio at no extra charge are unbeatable. Together with Tidal, the best audio quality on the market.

Apple's “Listen Now” section offers personalised recommendations based on listening habits. The algorithms are good, but noticeably weaker than Spotify's Discover Weekly – the suggestions hit the mark less often and repeat themselves more frequently. In return, Apple Music offers unique features: “Apple Music Sing” is an integrated karaoke mode with real-time lyrics and adjustable vocal volume. Live lyrics (song lyrics displayed in time with the music) are available for millions of songs and animated in sync. Integration into the Apple ecosystem is seamless: Siri voice control, HomePod support, Apple Watch streaming and Handoff between devices all work flawlessly. For Apple users, that is a massive advantage. Scoring (15/20): Strong exclusive features (Sing, lyrics), good ecosystem integration. But the recommendation algorithms are clearly weaker than at Spotify – that costs points.

Apple Music offers three plans: Individual at €11.99 a month, Family at €19.99 a month (you and up to five other people) and Student at €6.99 a month (with Apple TV included). There is no free ad-supported version – only temporary trial offers, for example when buying certain Apple devices. The Apple One bundle is particularly interesting: from €19.95 a month you get Apple Music together with other Apple services such as Apple TV, Apple Arcade and iCloud+. For Apple users who use several services, it can be worthwhile. The individual price is €1 below Spotify (€11.99 vs €12.99), the family plan €2 below (€19.99 vs €21.99). The lack of a free version is the biggest drawback – occasional listeners are not catered for here. Scoring (13/15): Competitive prices, a good student plan, an attractive Apple One bundle. A deduction for the missing free tier, which puts off many potential users.

Apple Music is available on iOS, Android, Mac (native app), Windows (via iTunes or the web player) and CarPlay. The Android app is fully functional and also offers lossless audio. The biggest weakness: no Linux support, no smart TV apps (except via AirPlay) and no native integration in Alexa devices. Anyone living in the Amazon or Google ecosystem has to take detours. The Apple Watch can stream independently. The web player at music.apple.com works well as a cross-platform solution but does not offer lossless audio. Offline downloads are possible on up to 10 devices. Scoring (8/10): Solid platform coverage with a fully featured Android app. A clear deduction for missing Linux and weak smart-home integration outside the Apple ecosystem.