Apple Music vs YouTube Music:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, YouTube Music had more branded searches than Apple Music among music streaming services worldwide. YouTube Music had about 30.4 million branded searches, while Apple Music had 4.1 million. YouTube Music made up 28.7% of all music streaming service searches we track, and Apple Music accounted for 3.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about music streaming services, both Apple Music and YouTube Music appeared in all five answers. Apple Music was mentioned before YouTube Music in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
YouTube Music, about 7 searches for every 1 for Apple Music
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple Music, named ahead of YouTube Music in every answer
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Top music streaming services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Apple Music and YouTube Music showed up in all five answers. Apple Music was listed before YouTube Music in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Spotify1st- Apple Music2nd
- YouTube Music3rd
Tidal4th
Amazon Music5th
Qobuz6th
Deezer7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Spotify5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- YouTube Music5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple Music5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Tidal5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Amazon Music4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Deezer3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Qobuz3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about music streaming services
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which music streaming service should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best music streaming services?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best music streaming service for listening to music?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“music streaming services”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“stream music online”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Apple Music or YouTube Music more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Music and YouTube Music by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven music streaming services we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for YouTube Music, Apple Music. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Spotify | YouTube Music | Apple Music | Amazon Music | Deezer | Qobuz | Tidal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 63.3% | 28.3% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.51% | 0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 64.1% | 28.7% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.42% | 0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 64.1% | 28.7% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.52% | 0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 64.1% | 28.7% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.52% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 63.3% | 28.3% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.51% | 0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 63.7% | 28.5% | 4.7% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.34% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 64.2% | 28.7% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.35% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 64.3% | 28.8% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 0.95% | 0.35% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 65% | 29.1% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 0.96% | 0.29% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 60.7% | 33.2% | 3% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.33% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 60.1% | 32.9% | 3.6% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.33% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.2% | 28.7% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.28% | <0.01% |
How has the Apple Music and YouTube Music comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- YouTube Music was ahead of Apple Music in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Music’s share of searches among music streaming services worldwide moved from 4.7% to 3.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5M to 4.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YouTube Music’s share of searches among music streaming services worldwide moved from 28.3% to 28.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 30.4M.
How did search popularity change for music streaming services worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, YouTube Music lost share of searches among music streaming services worldwide, from 32.9% to 28.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Apple Music worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 5M to 4.1M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Music’s and YouTube Music’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple Music
1 branded search term
- apple music
YouTube Music
1 branded search term
- youtube music
Other head-to-heads among music streaming services
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