Spotify vs YouTube Music:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Spotify had more branded searches than YouTube Music among music streaming services in the United Kingdom. Spotify had about 2.2 million branded searches, while YouTube Music had 823,000. Spotify made up 57.1% of all music streaming service searches we track, and YouTube Music accounted for 21%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about music streaming services, Spotify appeared in all four answers and YouTube Music in three. Spotify was mentioned before YouTube Music in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Spotify, about 3 searches for every 1 for YouTube Music
Who does AI mention more?
Spotify, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Spotify, 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 one Google AI Overview, Spotify appeared in all four answers. YouTube Music was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Spotify 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.
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 Spotify or YouTube Music more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Spotify 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 searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Spotify, YouTube 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 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 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YouTube Music’s share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom moved from 20.4% to 21%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom music streaming services in September 2026?
1 change
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 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
Other head-to-heads among music streaming services
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