Walking: fast.
Music: playing.
TikTok ads: interrupting.

Everyone has experienced the misfortune of having a favorite playlist interrupted by annoying ads. Many apps boast free music, but the fine print says otherwise. Two major music platforms: Spotify and Apple Music. Which one is better?

“I love listening to music; I always listen while I work on homework. Free music streaming apps are great,” Daytona Parks, senior, said.

To listen to Spotify for free, users have to endure constant advertisements.  Albums and playlists can be played, but specific songs cannot be chosen. The monthly cost of Spotify Premium, where users can play or skip any song without ads,  is $10.

“I listen on Spotify because I can pick what I want to listen to and put it in a playlist,” Walt Centers, sophomore, said.

Unlike Spotify, there is no free Apple Music option. Apple Music only offers a free three-month trial, but afterwards, the monthly price ranges from $5 to $15 depending on how many people are using the account. Apple Music is ad-free, has downloadable music, and it can be shared across other Apple devices.

“[Apple Music is] easier to use, and you can select the music you want to play,” Hannah Henderson, freshman, said.

Both Spotify Premium and Apple Music have no ads, cost about $10 a month, and have many similar features. What is the difference? Apple Music has no ads even during the free trial while Spotify’s free version advertises its own product.

“[I feel] annoyed because they [ads] come up every five to six songs,” Alyssa Medley, freshman, said.

There are also less common music platforms, such as YouTube and online radios.  Neither have nonstop music, but they are easily accessible and free to use.

“I prefer listening to music on YouTube because we have a variety and a choice on what we want to listen to,”Andre Conde, junior, said.

People use music apps to hear their chosen songs, not to click skip until they find a song they enjoy. Some would rather spend their money while others would rather waste their time.

 

*=not really free