Spotify vs Apple Music vs YouTube Music: Price Comparison

Quick verdict

On Individual plans, Apple Music (~$11.99/mo) and YouTube Music Premium (~$11.99/mo) both undercut Spotify ($12.99/mo) by about a dollar. On Family plans the spread widens: YouTube Music Family (~$18.99/mo) is the cheapest, then Apple Music Family (~$19.99/mo), then Spotify Family ($21.99/mo). For students, YouTube Music Premium (~$5.99/mo) is the cheapest sticker price, though Spotify and Apple bundle extra services with theirs. All prices as of October 2026 — verify on each official page before you buy; 2026 brought multiple hikes and sources conflict.

Individual tier head-to-head

| Service | Monthly price (Oct 2026) |

|---|---|

| Spotify Premium Individual | $12.99/mo |

| Apple Music Individual | ~$11.99/mo |

| YouTube Music Premium | ~$11.99/mo |

Spotify is the most expensive solo option after its 2026 hike. Apple Music justifies its ~$11.99 with lossless and spatial audio included at no extra charge. YouTube Music Premium matches Apple on price and adds the YouTube Music catalog's deep bench of live recordings and remixes. Note the tildes: Apple raised prices in 2026 and YouTube figures vary by source — confirm both on Apple's page and YouTube's page.

Family tier head-to-head

| Service | Monthly price (Oct 2026) | Per person (6-way split) |

|---|---|---|

| Spotify Premium Family | $21.99/mo | ~$3.67 |

| Apple Music Family | ~$19.99/mo | ~$3.33 |

| YouTube Music Premium Family | ~$18.99/mo | ~$3.17 |

All three cover up to six people. YouTube Music Family is the cheapest on paper; Apple sits in the middle; Spotify costs the most. The practical differences: Spotify enforces a same-address requirement and includes kids' filters; Apple Music leans on Family Sharing with individual libraries; YouTube's family plan is the straightforward budget pick. At these per-person prices — roughly $3–4 each — the decision should be about which app your household actually uses, not the extra fifty cents.

Student tier head-to-head

| Service | Monthly price (Oct 2026) | Extras |

|---|---|---|

| Spotify Student | $6.99/mo | Has bundled Hulu (ad-supported) in the US |

| Apple Music Student | ~$6.99/mo | Has bundled Apple TV+ in the US |

| YouTube Music Premium Student | ~$5.99/mo | None reported |

YouTube wins on sticker price at ~$5.99/mo. But Spotify and Apple both attach a video streaming service to their student tiers — if you'd pay for Hulu or Apple TV+ anyway, their effective music cost drops near zero. Bundle terms change, so verify what's currently included on Spotify's Premium page and Apple's page. Eligibility works the same everywhere: enrolled college/university students, verified and re-verified.

Cheapest way to get each service

• Spotify: no annual discount in the US, so the play is discounted gift cards from retailers plus the Student tier (with Hulu) if eligible. Family split six ways is the lowest per-person rate.
• Apple Music: check for the annual Individual option — it has historically undercut twelve monthly payments. Apple Gift Cards bought on sale also work, and the Apple One bundle can beat standalone pricing if you already pay for iCloud+ or Apple TV+.
• YouTube Music Premium: check for annual billing, pay with discounted Google Play gift cards, and never subscribe through Apple's App Store without comparing the web price first — in-app pricing has historically run higher.

Verdict by budget type

• Tightest solo budget: YouTube Music Premium at ~$11.99/mo (or ~$5.99 as a student).
• Student who also streams video: Spotify Student ($6.99/mo with Hulu) or Apple Music Student (~$6.99/mo with Apple TV+) — pick the video service you'd actually watch.
• Couple, one address: Spotify Duo at $18.99/mo (~$9.50 each) is purpose-built for two; otherwise any Family plan split two ways works.
• Family or household of 3+: YouTube Music Family (~$18.99/mo) is cheapest, Apple Music Family (~$19.99/mo) is close behind. Spotify Family ($21.99/mo) costs most but has the most mature sharing features.
• Heavy YouTube watcher: skip the music-only comparison and price YouTube Premium (~$15.99/mo) instead — ad-free video changes the math entirely.

The bottom line

There is no single cheapest service — there's a cheapest service for your situation. Solo: Apple Music and YouTube Music Premium tie at ~$11.99/mo, a dollar under Spotify. Family: YouTube Music Premium Family leads at ~$18.99/mo. Students should compare bundles, not sticker prices. Whatever you pick, verify the current price on the official page first: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Premium. In a year with multiple price hikes, the listing you're reading — including this one — can go stale fast.