I Left Spotify for Apple Music 4 Years Ago—Here's Why I Won't Return

In an era dominated by streaming platforms, numerous users end up committed to a single service, typically for extended periods. For certain individuals, switching might feel intimidating, whereas for others, it represents an essential shift. Following years of remaining loyal to Spotify Premium I chose to make a change to Apple Music in 2021. Four years later I'm still committed to the service and have no plans to return to Spotify anytime soon. However, I want to explore why I made this major switch and what prevents me from coming back to Spotify. Below is an overview of my experience.

The Spark: AirPods and Apple's Environment

Moving to Apple Music wasn't an impulsive choice. It came about as part of an update in my... Apple ecosystem . Owning an iPhone , iPad , Apple Watch , and MacBook I had already become very committed to Apple's lineup of devices. However, it was the acquisition of AirPods In 2021, this prompted me to try out Apple Music. The buy included a six-month free trial of the service, and it seemed like just the right time to take the plunge.

Afterward, there was a smooth shift into Apple's music ecosystem, where I discovered the compatibility among the devices to be straightforward. The Apple ecosystem With everything being connected, it meant that I wasn't simply purchasing a pair of headphones—I was acquiring an entirely new way to enjoy music. This played a major role in my choice to remain loyal to Apple Music instead of Spotify.

Budget Factors: Apple Music Compared to Spotify

Another consideration was the cost, which made the switch more attractive. At that time, Apple Music was priced at €10.99 a month, which is significantly less than Spotify Premium , priced at €12.14 The price gap was not simply about cutting costs by a few euros — Apple Music provided much more than just musical content.

By subscribing to Apple One I had the ability to share my membership with relatives while still using other Apple features such as Apple TV+ and iCloud storage This made the switch not just cost-effective but also an opportunity to gain better value for my investment.

The User Interface of Apple Music: Recognizable but New

One of the major benefits of moving to Apple Music was being able to move my whole collection of music. By using third-party applications such as Songshift I was able to transfer all my albums, playlists, and artists to Apple Music seamlessly. This made the switch seem less like a major shift and more like an effortless evolution.

The layout of Apple Music is similarly simple and easy to navigate, organized into categories such as Home , New Releases , Radio , Library , and Search . The inclusion of customized playlists, like Energy , Chill , and Discoveries , making the discovery of new music an enjoyable process.

Nevertheless, I discovered that although Apple's suggestions are useful, they lack the sophistication of Spotify’s algorithm This prompted me to take a combined approach—utilizing Apple Music for managing my personal collection and extended listening periods, while continuing to use Spotify’s free version to discover recent arrivals and handpicked playlists such as Discover Weekly and Release Radar .

The Audio Performance That Captivated Me

Regarding sound fidelity, Apple Music had a distinct border. Combined with AirPods and using the spatial audio feature, the audio was notably more engaging than what I had previously encountered on Spotify The clear quality and richness of the music, combined with the dynamic equalization offered by Apple Music, set it apart. The enhancement was noticeable across all genres, ranging from classical to pop, providing an auditory experience that was fuller and more intricate.

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