Apple Music vs Spotify:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Spotify had more branded searches than Apple Music among music streaming services in the United Kingdom. Spotify had about 2.2 million branded searches, while Apple Music had 165,000. Spotify made up 57.1% of all music streaming service searches we track, and Apple Music accounted for 4.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about music streaming services, both Apple Music and Spotify appeared in all four answers. Apple Music and Spotify were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Spotify, about 14 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?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top music streaming services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, both Apple Music and Spotify showed up in all four answers. Apple Music and Spotify were each listed first in two of the four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Apple Music1st- Spotify2nd
Tidal3rd
YouTube Music4th
Amazon Music5th
SoundCloud–
Deezer–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Spotify4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Apple Music4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- YouTube Music3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Amazon Music3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Tidal3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- SoundCloud0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Deezer0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about music streaming services
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best music streaming service in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which music app has the best sound quality?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which music streaming subscription is best value?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“music streaming”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 27, 2026.
Is Apple Music or Spotify more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Music and Spotify by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven music streaming services we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Spotify, Apple Music. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Spotify | YouTube Music | SoundCloud | Apple Music | Amazon Music | Tidal | Deezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.6% | 20.4% | 13.7% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Nov 2025 | 57.3% | 17.2% | 14.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1.9% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.2% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.92% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.2% | 20.3% | 13.6% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 59.4% | 17.9% | 11.9% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2% | 0.88% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.1% | 20.3% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Apr 2026 | 57.6% | 21.2% | 11.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 0.85% |
| May 2026 | 60.5% | 18.2% | 12.1% | 3.6% | 3% | 1.6% | 0.89% |
| Jun 2026 | 54.8% | 20.1% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.8% | 0.81% |
| Jul 2026 | 54.5% | 20% | 13.4% | 4.9% | 4% | 2.2% | 0.99% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.8% | 21.3% | 11.6% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 0.57% |
| Sep 2026 | 57.1% | 21% | 11.5% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 0.84% |
How has the Apple Music and Spotify comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Spotify 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 in the United Kingdom moved from 4.1% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 165K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Spotify’s share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom moved from 55.6% to 57.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.2M.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom music streaming services in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple Music overtook Amazon Music to rank 4th among music streaming services in the United Kingdom, with 4.2% of the searches.
In September 2026, Spotify lost share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom, from 57.8% to 57.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Music’s and Spotify’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
Spotify
1 branded search term
- spotify
Other head-to-heads among music streaming services
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