Spotify, Apple Music, and That One Friend Who Uses SoundCloud

Photo: Michael Wirth (Biba France, August 2000)

I’ll be the first to tell you that I am an Apple Music user in a Spotify-dominated world. It feels like being the one person at school who still uses a physical planner or says “the Facebook.” I’ll post a screenshot of my gorgeously minimalist playlist covers when someone inevitably asks, “Wait…you’re not on Spotify?”

No…I’m not. And yes, I’ve seen Spotify Wrapped on your story more times than I’ve listened to my actual favorite artist. 

I didn’t choose Apple Music because it’s better (although I could make that argument based on aesthetic alone). I chose it because it feels nice, clean, and refined. But over the years, I’ve learned that picking a music streaming service is way more personal than most admit. It’s not just about catalog size or price, but about vibes, values, and what kind of music listener you are. 

So, let’s break down the big names in the streaming game, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and SoundCloud, and see why different people gravitate towards each one. No judgement (well, maybe a bit). 

Spotify: The Social Butterfly

Spotify isn’t just a music app, it’s a personality trait. Spotify Wrapped is basically an annual zodiac reading—its curated playlists and collaborative features make it feel like your music life is in conversation with the world, and its AI features know you suspiciously well. 

Best For: 

→ Those who want hyper-personalized recommendations

→ Those who like sharing music with friends or stalking their playlists

→ Podcast lovers

Worst For: 

→ Audio quality isn’t always the best

→ The interface can get a little busy if you just want to keep things simple

Apple Music: For the Aesthetic Purist

Clean. Minimal. No aggressive green accents. Makes my OCD wash away. For Apple users, it slips into your tech ecosystem like butter on toast. It offers lossless and hi-res audio, and the user interface (UI) feels like it was designed by someone with a perfected skincare routine. 

Best For: 

→ Audiophiles who care about sound quality

→ People who live inside the Apple ecosystem

→ Those who appreciate a visually polished, distraction-free experience

Worst For: 

→ No free tier 

→ Discovery features still lag behind Spotify’s predictive magic

→ Social sharing is barely a thing

YouTube Music: A Deep-Cut Finder’s Dream

If you’re the kind of person who wants to hear the unreleased acoustic version from 2007, recorded in a basement in Tokyo, YouTube Music probably has it. It shines where other platforms can't reach, featuring obscure live performances, fan edits, and unofficial remixes. 

Best For:

→ Listeners who thrive on rare finds and nostalgia rabbit holes

→ People who already use YouTube Premium (it’s bundled)

→ Music video lovers and visual-driven users

Worst For: 

→ The UI feels like an identity crisis

→ Music discovery tools are, again, lacking compared to Spotify’s

SoundCloud: For the Questionable Middle School Rappers

In all seriousness, many artists I listen to started on SoundCloud, like Post Malone, Playboi Carti, Billie Eilish, and Lil Yachty. SoundCloud is a great place to find experimental, new, and varied music. It’s the only place where a song can go from 38 plays to viral overnight, and if you were the first, you never let anyone forget it. For artists, it’s an easy way to share their art with an audience. For listeners, it’s a goldmine of raw, undiscovered talent. 

Best For: 

→ Those who love indie, lo-fi, remixes, and bedroom-made beats

→ Listeners who want to find artists before they blow up

→ Fans of genre-bending or non-mainstream music

Worst For: 

→ The music library lacks mainstream polish and big-label releases that attract large audiences

→ Audio quality varies wildly depending on the upload

Choosing a music streaming platform is like choosing a roommate. Some are super social (Spotify), some are sleek and stylish (Apple Music), some bring home weird and wonderful things at 2 am (SoundCloud), and some hoard old tapes of a 2005 concert that their dad filmed (YouTube Music). 

It’s not really about the best platform, it’s about what kind of experience you want when you press play. I might be a hopeless Apple Music romantic, but I fully understand why people find their musical home elsewhere. 

And hey, if all else fails, just pick the one that makes your playlists look the coolest in a screenshot on your story.