Andy Walker / Android Authority
A few weeks ago, I ran an Open Thread asking readers why they prefer using YouTube Music over many available alternatives, including my service of choice, Spotify. It would be an understatement to say that it received a flurry of comments and strong opinions from our community questioning my views. With just under 400 replies at the time of this writing, not to mention the big win for Google’s streaming service in the accompanying poll, it’s clear that I was perhaps missing a trick by siding with Spotify. So, as I enjoy reevaluating my opinions, I once again signed up for YouTube Music to see what the fuss is all about. A little over a week later, I’m thoroughly impressed by the strides made by Google’s offering.
I was a happy Google Play Music user for many years, and regularly defended the service when people recommended alternatives. But when Google announced the end of the service in 2021, I was left disillusioned by its replacement. In its early days, YouTube Music was unintuitive and leaned too heavily on its video-hosting namesake. It often pushed video when I wanted an audio-first service. It was also heavily influenced by my YouTube browsing and viewing habits, and was astonishingly slow in operation. In short, it sucked, and I quickly jumped ship to Spotify.
Which is the best music streaming service? 1402 votes YouTube Music. 59 % Spotify. 30 % Neither (mention your preference in the comments). 7 % I don't use a music streaming service. 4 %
The green team is where I still find myself now, and I’ve been pretty comfortable with it ever since. The Duo plan allows my partner and me to have separate and combined playlists, and collaborate in real-time via Spotify Jam if needed. I also appreciate Spotify’s recommendations and the ease of finding new artists. It fits into my life perfectly.
A surprisingly positive return
Andy Walker / Android Authority
So when I returned to YouTube Music earlier this month, the experience was a shock to my system. A wave of nostalgia hit me as I reencountered some treasured playlists I thought I had lost, from the pop-heavy Turbulence reel for managing my anxiety in the air to Sunny Days, a curated list of tracks that feel like a cool summer morning.
From a more objective lens, the app has changed so much since its early days. A tighter, cleaner UI greeted me, frontloaded with playlists I’ve made or artists and albums I’d always tend to pick first. There’s an angle towards content already discovered, which was a refreshing change from Spotify, where my mission was always to find new songs, genres, albums, and slot these into carefully designed playlists. There’s something comforting about using Google’s product, something functional and purposeful.
I’ll admit that because of this approach, Spotify can sometimes feel scattered. While YouTube Music keeps new content and known or saved music largely contained within distinct tabs or sensible filters, Spotify lays these cards out everywhere on the home screen. At least this is what it feels like visually. I can’t say that I prefer either layout, but I will say YouTube’s makes better use of its screen space in almost all areas.
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