Spotify vs YouTube Music:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Spotify had more branded searches than YouTube Music among music streaming services worldwide. Spotify was estimated to have 55.6M branded searches compared to YouTube Music’s 30.4M, and held a 61% Share of Search versus YouTube Music’s 33.3%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Spotify or YouTube Music?
Compare the services people stream music on. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Spotify, YouTube Music. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Spotify | YouTube Music | Apple Music | Amazon Music | Tidal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 64.4% | 28.8% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 65.2% | 29.1% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 65.2% | 29.1% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.2% | 29.1% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 64.3% | 28.8% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 64.6% | 28.9% | 4.8% | 1.7% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 65.2% | 29.1% | 3.9% | 1.8% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 65.2% | 29.1% | 3.9% | 1.8% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 65.9% | 29.4% | 3.2% | 1.5% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 61.6% | 33.7% | 3% | 1.7% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 61% | 33.3% | 3.7% | 2% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Spotify and YouTube Music comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Spotify was ahead of YouTube Music in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Spotify’s estimated Share of Search among music streaming services worldwide moved from 64.4% to 61%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 68M to 55.6M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, YouTube Music’s estimated Share of Search among music streaming services worldwide moved from 28.8% to 33.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 30.4M.
How did search popularity change for music streaming services worldwide in August 2026?
1 change
In August 2026, Spotify lost estimated Share of Search among music streaming services worldwide, from 61.6% to 61%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Spotify’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.
Spotify
1 branded search term
- spotify
YouTube Music
1 branded search term
- youtube music
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.