Comparison · Music streaming
YouTube Music vs Apple Music: price, sound and catalogue compared
YouTube Music and Apple Music suit different kinds of listeners. YouTube Music Premium costs ₹119 a month in India and draws on everything uploaded to YouTube, including live sets, covers and regional songs you won’t find elsewhere. Apple Music costs ₹139 a month and focuses on a curated catalogue with lossless and Dolby Atmos audio included. There is a third option many people miss: YouTube Premium at ₹149 includes YouTube Music Premium and removes ads from YouTube itself. And if you already pay for Amazon Prime, you have Amazon Music. Below are the plans, per-person costs and the trade-offs, so you can choose without paying for two services.
- Apple Music
- ₹139/month
- YouTube Music Premium
- ₹119/month
- YouTube Premium (incl. Music)
- ₹149/month
Apple Music plans on Subspace right now
| Plan | Price | Members | Per member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Plan | ₹59 | — | — |
| Individual Plan | ₹119 | — | — |
| Family Plan | ₹179 | — | — |
| Apple Music | ₹699 | — | — |
Join an existing group or start your own on the Apple Music groups page.
Youtube Premium plans on Subspace right now
| Plan | Price | Members | Per member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Plan | ₹297 | 3 | ₹99 |
Per-member share = plan price ÷ group size, as listed on Subspace.
| Paying alone | ₹297 |
|---|---|
| Shared by 3 | ₹99 |
Join an existing group or start your own on the Youtube Premium groups page.
Plans and prices
YouTube has more plan shapes: a two-person plan, prepaid packs that don’t auto-renew, and a free ad-supported tier. Apple keeps it to three plans.
| Plan type | Apple Music | YouTube Music Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | ₹139/month | ₹119/month |
| Two people | — | ₹149/month, one household member 13+ |
| Family | ₹229/month, you + up to 5 via Family Sharing | ₹179/month, up to 5 household members 13+ |
| Student | ₹69/month | ₹59/month, yearly verification |
| Prepaid, no auto-renew | Not listed | ₹129 (1 month), ₹369 (3 months), ₹1,190 (12 months) |
| Free tier | No | Yes, with ads; no background play or downloads |
| Lossless and Dolby Atmos | Included | Not offered on the India plan page |
The YouTube Premium angle
If you watch YouTube most days, compare Apple Music with YouTube Premium before YouTube Music. Premium at ₹149 covers ad-free YouTube and YouTube Kids, downloads and background play, and the YouTube Music Premium app. For a family, YouTube Premium Family at ₹299 covers six people in one household.
Apple Music only makes sense alongside YouTube Premium if you specifically want lossless audio or Apple’s curated catalogue.
Family plans divided by the maximum six people (organiser plus five). Official India prices as of 12 Oct 2026.
| Apple Music Individual | ₹139 |
|---|---|
| YouTube Music Premium | ₹119 |
| YouTube Premium | ₹149 |
| Apple Music Family ÷ 6 | ₹38 |
| YouTube Music Family ÷ 6 | ₹30 |
| YouTube Premium Family ÷ 6 | ₹50 |
Catalogue and discovery
YouTube Music has official albums plus a layer no other app matches: live performances, unplugged sessions, fan-favourite covers, remixes and independent regional artists who upload only to YouTube. Its recommendations draw on the music you play across YouTube, which helps if that is where you already find music.
Apple Music offers a cleaner, editor-curated library with real-time lyrics through Apple Music Sing, and Apple Music Classical is included with every plan. Its catalogue is over 100 million songs.
If your favourite tracks are film songs and popular albums, both apps will have them. If they include obscure live versions or covers, YouTube Music is the safer choice.
Sound quality
Apple Music streams lossless up to 24-bit/48 kHz on every plan, with Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz through an external DAC, and Dolby Atmos on supported Apple devices. YouTube Music’s India plan page promotes ad-free, offline and background listening, and does not list lossless or spatial audio.
On Bluetooth earbuds most listeners won’t hear much difference. With wired headphones or a good speaker, Apple has the edge.
Where Amazon Music fits
If you already pay for full Amazon Prime (₹1,499/year), Prime Music is included: 100 million songs and over 15 million podcasts, playable on one device at a time. Prime Lite and Prime Shopping Edition don’t include it.
So for an Amazon Prime household, the question becomes whether Apple Music or YouTube Music is worth paying for on top. Many casual listeners find Prime Music enough. See Prime Lite vs Prime for what each Amazon plan includes, or Apple Music vs Spotify for the other big rival. To split Apple Music’s Family plan, see the Apple Music groups on Subspace.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, YouTube Music or Apple Music?
YouTube Music is better if you want live versions, covers and regional uploads, a free tier, or ad-free YouTube bundled in through YouTube Premium. Apple Music is better for lossless and Dolby Atmos audio and a curated catalogue.
Amazon Music vs Apple Music: which should I pick?
If you have full Amazon Prime, try Prime Music first because it is already included, though it plays on one device at a time. Pay for Apple Music only if you want lossless audio, Dolby Atmos or Apple’s six-person Family plan.
Does YouTube Music play in the background for free?
No. Background play, downloads and ad-free listening are YouTube Music Premium features. The free tier plays with ads and stops when you lock the screen.
Is YouTube Premium better value than YouTube Music Premium?
If you watch YouTube regularly, yes. YouTube Premium at ₹149/month includes YouTube Music Premium plus ad-free videos, downloads and background play, for a little more than Music Premium alone at ₹119.
Which family plan is cheaper, Apple Music or YouTube Music?
YouTube Music Family at ₹179/month is cheaper than Apple Music Family at ₹229. Both cover six people. YouTube requires everyone to live in the same household and be 13 or older.
Can I use Apple Music without an iPhone?
Yes. Apple Music has an Android app on Google Play and also works in a web browser.
Ready? Join a group and split the cost
Apple Music costs ₹139/month and YouTube Music Premium ₹119/month. Compare catalogue, sound, family plans and where Amazon Music fits.
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Related
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- SubscriptionsYouTube Premium family plan: how sharing works in India
- SubscriptionsApple Music for students in India: what the offer includes
- GuidesApple Music free months in India: the 1, 3 and 6-month offers explained
- ComparisonsAmazon Prime Lite vs Prime: what the cheaper plan leaves out
Facts on this page were last checked on 2026-10-12. Prices and plans change; the final amount shows before you pay.