Short answer: both are excellent; pick Spotify if you value best personalized discovery, broader device support, and social sharing. Pick Apple Music if you want the best integration with Apple devices, high-quality lossless + Spatial Audio, and better bundled services with Apple One. (Below are the main differences to help you decide.)

Overview (as of Oct 8, 2025)

• Catalog: Both have ~70–100 million tracks (comparable for most listeners).
• Sound quality: Apple Music offers lossless up to CD/hi‑res and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on supported devices. Spotify offers high-quality AAC by default and a HiFi/upgrade tier in rollout in some markets (availability has varied).
• Platforms: Spotify has the broadest device support (phones, tablets, desktops, smart speakers, cars, game consoles, web player). Apple Music works everywhere Apple supports (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod) and also on Android, Windows, Sonos, many cars — best experience on Apple hardware.
• Discovery & personalization: Spotify leads with algorithmically driven playlists (Discover Weekly, Daily Mixes, Release Radar, Blend, and strong podcast/music cross-recommendation). Apple Music has improved personalization and curated playlists but is often seen as slightly behind Spotify in discovery.
• Podcasts & non-music content: Spotify has a big podcast ecosystem, exclusive shows, and in-app podcast features. Apple has Podcasts (separate app on many platforms) and deep integration with Apple Music editorial content.
• Social features: Spotify has collaborative playlists, friend activity (desktop), and easy sharing. Apple Music has "Friends Are Listening" and profile features but generally fewer social discovery tools.
• Offline & streaming controls: Both allow downloads for offline listening, gapless playback, crossfade, sleep timers; specific features vary by platform.
• Family / Student / Duo plans: Both offer individual, family, and student discounts; Apple Music offers Apple One bundles (Music + TV+, Arcade, iCloud) which can be great value if you use other Apple services.
• Integration: Apple Music integrates tightly with Siri, iOS widgets, Apple Watch, and system-level music features. Spotify integrates with many third‑party apps, voice assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant on some devices), and has wider third‑party API support.
• Price: Base prices are similar; exact promotions, student/family pricing, and regional prices change, so check current local pricing.

When to choose Spotify

• You switch devices often or use many non‑Apple devices.
• You rely heavily on discovery and algorithmic playlists.
• You want the biggest ecosystem for podcasts + music in one app.
• You use collaborative playlists and social sharing a lot.

When to choose Apple Music

• You’re deeply in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, HomePod, Mac, Apple Watch).
• You prioritize lossless and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio on supported hardware.
• You value bundling with Apple One or already use Apple services.
• You prefer system-level Siri control and native integration.

If you want a single recommendation:

• For most people who don’t exclusively use Apple devices: Spotify.
• For people fully invested in Apple hardware or who want lossless/Spatial Audio bundled with Apple services: Apple Music.

If you want, I can:

• Check current prices or availability of Spotify HiFi/Apple Music features for your country (I’ll look them up).