Arthur Fuentes

App icons of Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music on a smartphone screen. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-BN News

Article (news)

Music streaming

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176024184680320251012041048_6b4e4106cdec2ee2d25dcc6117caa9a1f8ab4e6da0eb8f636aa3e7a28b2ae5d0.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>App icons of Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music on a smartphone screen. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-BN News</div>Music streaming has become everyone’s staple everyday entertainment, with Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music emerging as the dominant platforms. But with these three competing for users’ attention, evaluating the best value among these services is important as factors such as subscription pricing, unique features, content availability, and audio quality.So, as Filipinos who love music, which service offers the best value for their hard-earned money?<div>FREE WITH ADS BUT COSTLY PREMIUM</div>To start, Spotify remains the most popular in the local market and is often the go-to platform due to its ad-supported free tier. This no payment version is a major plus for many Filipinos who want to access music without paying a monthly subscription.But listening to music is much better without the disturbance of any ads, and this is where the premium subscription comes in handy.Spotify’s subscription in the Philippines is currently offering four premium plans: P169 per month for individual users, with options like a student plan at P85, a Duo plan at P229, and a Family plan good for six accounts at P279.For those who will avail Spotify premium for the first time, they will get a welcome offer of two months premium at a price of one.Also, the streaming platform&#x27;s biggest edge is still its unmatched playlist curation, strong music discovery algorithm, and wide availability across devices.But the recent price increase has made Spotify less affordable compared to its competitors, and its removal of the premium mini plan was also a big loss for customers who are on a tight budget. <div>APPLE ON A BUDGET?</div>Apple Music, on the other hand, stands out for its affordability in the local market, especially for Filipino students and Apple device users.But unlike Spotify, Apple Music doesn’t have any free ad-supported tier, and only offers three premium plans.Its individual plan costs only P139 per month, while its student plan at P75 per month is one of the most budget-friendly options available. The family plan also costs P219 per month, which also covers up to six users, again cheaper than Spotify&#x27;s.It is also important to know that Apple Music is not limited to Apple users, as Android users can also avail subscription via downloading the Apple Music app.But for Apple users, like iPhone, iPad or Mac, Apple Music offers a six-month free premium plan to its new and qualified returning subscribers.Audio quality is where Apple Music really shines. It offers lossless audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos without any additional charge, which is a big deal for audiophiles or anyone who values richer, more immersive sound. <div>ENTER THE YOUTUBEVERSE</div>Meanwhile, YouTube Music caters strongly to Filipinos who already spend much of their time on YouTube.Its individual plan costs P149 per month, sitting between Apple Music and Spotify, while its student plan matches Apple Music at P75 and the family subscription is priced at P239.But the biggest advantage of YouTube Music is its connection to the larger YouTube platform.Users get access not only to official tracks but also to covers, remixes, live performances, podcasts and even regional content that might not be available elsewhere.In addition, YouTube Premium bundles ad-free video streaming with YouTube Music, giving users both entertainment and music in one subscription.However, in terms of pure audio quality, YouTube Music still lags behind Apple Music, offering only standard high-quality streaming instead of lossless or spatial audio.From a user experience perspective, Spotify offers an easy-to-use interface with a variety of music discovery algorithms, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy exploring new music and social interactions around playlists.Apple Music offers a clean and focused interface best suited for music listening without distractions, but it may consume more mobile data.YouTube Music, while sometimes overwhelming with recommendations, attracts users who value a vast selection of official or unofficial music or live performances, alongside audio content, would prefer this streaming app.But regarding content, all three platforms provide extensive catalogs that include international hits and an increasing selection of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), all can satisfy Filipinos’ music cravings.

Music streaming has become everyone’s staple everyday entertainment, with Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music emerging as the dominant platforms.

Music streaming has become everyone’s staple everyday entertainment, with Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music emerging as the dominant platforms.

Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube Music? Which offers the best value?

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Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube Music? Which offers the best value?

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

Celine Ashley Tabunda

Published Oct 12, 2025 12:04 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 12, 2025 03:05 PM PHT

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