Why YouTube Music Became My Go-To Streaming Service After Years with Apple Music

The Journey from Apple Music to YouTube Music

After half a decade of loyalty to Apple Music, I never imagined I’d willingly switch to another streaming platform. My playlists were meticulously curated, my library was extensive, and everything just worked seamlessly with my iPhone. Yet, a series of small nudges—longer ads on YouTube, the allure of an ad-free experience—eventually led me to purchase a YouTube Premium subscription. Bundled with that subscription was YouTube Music, a service I initially dismissed as a mere bonus. But curiosity got the better of me one evening, and I opened YouTube Music just to see what it offered. That single click started a chain reaction that ended with me leaving Apple Music behind for good.

Why I Initially Overlooked YouTube Music

At first glance, YouTube Music seemed redundant. Apple Music had been my faithful companion for years; switching felt like betraying a trusted ally. I assumed YouTube Music would be a stripped-down, ad-supported mess, lacking the polish of Apple’s offering. Moreover, I was comfortable—the ecosystem was locked in, and the thought of migrating hundreds of playlists felt overwhelming. Like many users, I believed that if it wasn’t broken, there was no need to fix it.

However, the bundled nature of YouTube Premium made it a zero-risk trial. I had already paid for the subscription, so why not explore? That initial exploration revealed a platform that was far more robust than I had given it credit for.

Key Features That Won Me Over

Algorithm and Discovery

One of the first things that struck me was the recommendation algorithm. YouTube Music leverages the vast data from YouTube’s main platform—billions of video views, search queries, and user behavior. The result is eerily accurate suggestions that often introduced me to artists and genres I’d never have discovered on Apple Music. The "Discover Mix" and "New Release Mix" playlists felt tailored to my listening habits, as if the service knew my musical taste better than I did.

Seamless Integration with YouTube

Because YouTube Music is tied to the same account, any official music video, live performance, or cover I watched on YouTube was automatically reflected in my music library. This synergy meant I could add a rare live version of a song to a playlist without needing to search for it again. For fans of live music, remixes, and user-generated content, this is a game-changer. Apple Music, in contrast, is siloed; its catalog is limited to what the record labels provide.

Offline and Background Play

With a YouTube Premium subscription, YouTube Music offers full offline downloads and background playback—features that were already standard on Apple Music. But the execution on YouTube Music was smoother: downloads were faster, and the app handled large libraries without lag. In my testing, the audio quality (up to 256 kbps AAC) was comparable to Apple Music’s standard quality, though audiophiles might miss Apple Music’s lossless and spatial audio offerings. For everyday listening on earbuds, it was more than sufficient.

How YouTube Music Compares to Apple Music

To provide a balanced view, let’s compare the two services on key aspects:

• Library Management: Apple Music excels with its granular organization—smart playlists, star ratings, and a clean library interface. YouTube Music’s library is simpler, relying more on search and playlists. However, the ability to upload your own music files (up to 100,000 songs) is available on both.
• Integration: YouTube Music wins for those already embedded in the Google ecosystem (Android, Google Assistant, Chromecast). Apple Music is the champion for Apple users (Siri, HomePod, Apple Watch). Since I use a mix of devices, YouTube Music’s web player and Android app were more flexible.
• Pricing: At $11.99/month for a single plan, YouTube Premium (which includes YouTube Music) is slightly more expensive than Apple Music ($10.99). But if you value ad-free YouTube watching, it’s a bargain. The family plan ($17.99/month) covers up to five members, same as Apple Music.
• Exclusives and Content: Apple Music has exclusive artist interviews, radio shows (e.g., Zane Lowe), and spatial audio mixes. YouTube Music offers exclusive live performances, video content, and a deep catalog of unofficial uploads—something Apple simply cannot match.

Final Verdict: A Worthwhile Switch

After using YouTube Music for several months, I can confidently say I’m not going back to Apple Music. The convenience of having ad-free YouTube plus a robust music streaming service under one subscription is compelling. While I missed Apple Music’s polished library management and lossless audio at first, the trade-offs were minor compared to the discovery and integration benefits.

For anyone considering a switch, my advice is to start with a trial of YouTube Premium. Revisit the journey I took, and see if the algorithm surprises you. Based on my experience, it’s a change that rewards curiosity—and it might just become your new standard.