Grab your headphones people, today's article is about to get LIT!
When the holidays roll around, music is the number one priority on many people's lists. Whether it be to play holiday songs while decorating the tree or to decompress from the overwhelming amount of family time, we are all in search of the perfect streaming company. The two most popular right now are Spotify and Apple Music. I partnered with Grant Johnson, another Odyssey author, to discuss our preferences! Grant gave input on Apple Music, and I put in my two cents on Spotify! Hope y'all enjoy and may the best streaming company win :)

1. Price

Apple: the service costs $9.99 a month. Students get a discount at $4.99 a month. They also have a six person plan that costs $14.99 a month. They also have a free three month trial for all first-time users.

Spotify: Right now, it has a deal happening till the 1st where you can get your first 3 months of Spotify premium (no ads, unlimited skips, downloadable songs, etc.) for .99 cents for first-time premium subscribers. After that, every month is only $9.99 for an individual and $14.99 for a family plan. For students, after the 1st 3 months of the .99 cent special, it is only $4.99, making it half off with student ID. Spotify also has a non-premium service that allows for ad-supported streaming from desktop and mobile.

Verdict:Draw (Spotify if you don't want to pay anything)
Essentially the prices are the same. If you want the better free version then you have to go with the one that has it which is Spotify.

2. Interface/usability

Apple: It took awhile to get used to where everything is and at times it still feels like I'm not getting the most out it. I basically just search for the songs I want at that given moment. It's becoming more streamlined with each update though. It's a relatively new service and has taken major steps in making it easier to use. Something that has been added is lyrics under the song so you no longer have hunt down what Lil Yachty is mumbling. I also dislike the way the queue glitches and plays the original song that you chose for the playlist every other song. Again this could be user error as I get used to it.

Spotify: It is very easy to navigate. Adding playlists and downloading music to play offline is simple and the look of the app is sleek. I especially like the queue feature where I can pick an unlimited amount of songs to play in a certain order. I also like how you can share playlists with friends (it is like giving them a virtual mixtape) and enjoy seeing what friends are listening to! (refer to special features for more on this).

Verdict:Spotify, it is easier to navigate through and doesn't have the glitchy queue.

3.Special features

Apple: this is all about the ability to connect with the artist you love. Apples connect button allows you to see a Facebook-like feed of all your favorite artists. They also have a “For You” section that has playlists generated daily based on what you have been listening to recently. Sometimes the playlists are better than the ones I personally make. It feels like Apple Music knows me. It also includes the albums I've played recently and the ones it knows I will come back to in “heavy rotation.”

Spotify: Okay, so since Spotify is so straightforward, there aren’t too many features I would define as special per say. I really like being able to download music so I can play my tunes offline, but the one I really like is called “Private Session.” If you are feeding the side of you that loves crazy rap, you can always flip that switch. This switch is there because another feature of Spotify is the “Friends Activity” sidebar where you can see what your friends are listening to, but sometimes it’s nice to go off the grid!

Verdict: Draw
This one comes down to preference but Apple is obviously making strides in terms of innovation. If Spotify continues to rely on what has always worked it could be passed in this category soon.

4.Music Library

Apple: Two words: Taylor Swift.
When Apple Music launched it almost botched the chance at getting exclusive rights to her songs. After a deal was reached it has become the home of T-Swizzle streaming. Another win for Apple Music is that they constantly land the big name artists album first. Frank Ocean’s Blonde and Drake’s Views each debuted here before any of the competition could get their listeners the music. As someone with a diverse taste in music, I find that it accommodates my needs.

Spotify: The only complaint I have towards this is 2 things: one, some of my small bands aren’t on this library and Taylor Swift is not on here as well :( other than those complaints, the music is diverse and there are live and acoustic versions of songs when available.

Verdict: Apple Music

Both libraries currently house 30m songs. While size might be the same the ability to get some of the hottest artists first as well as Taylor Swift gives Apple Music the much-needed star power.

Final ruling:

It all comes down to preference. Each won a category and tied in the other two. If a music library with Taylor Swift is what you seek then Apple Music is where you should go.
For a more user-friendly experience you best side with Spotify. There really is no right answer when it comes down to it.

Well, there you have it! Both companies have amazingly cheap access fees for a world of music and are both user-friendly! So whatever company you choose to use, have a happy holiday season and a happy new year!