I switched to YouTube Music after 5 years with Apple Music, and I’m not going back

Source: Android Authority

Why I switched to YouTube Music

I won’t lie — it turned out to be a pretty good decision. The subscription came bundled with YouTube Music, which, at the time, I didn’t think much of either. In my head, I was never really going to use it. I already had Apple Music, my playlists were set, and I wasn’t looking to switch. But one random evening, I opened YouTube Music out of curiosity, and I am glad I did.

What started as a test drive turned into something I kept going back to. Which is surprising, considering I’ve been an iPhone user for years (13‑year iPhone story) and spent a good five years with Apple Music. I never really thought I’d look elsewhere, but you think you’re settled, that your preferences are set in stone, and then, over time, something new slips in and completely changes that.

What made you ditch your music streaming app?

5 votes

I’d go in for one song and stay for the recommendations

By now, you probably know the kind of person I am. Once I get used to something, I tend to stick with it, including my music. And honestly, I’d rather replay songs I already know than take a chance on one bad recommendation. Apple Music gave me a few too many of those moments, so sticking to what was familiar just started feeling easier.

That mindset shifted when I began using YouTube Music. The recommendations felt much more considered. Even when I stepped slightly outside my usual genre, it didn’t lose the thread—the next song still felt like it was building on what I had just heard instead of abruptly changing direction. It changed the whole listening experience and helped me explore new artists.

Apple Music, you’re making it harder than it needs to be

I have my reasons for getting frustrated. I remember being deep into a techno track on Apple Music, locked into the rhythm, when it suddenly jumped to a Bollywood song. It caught me off guard and broke my flow. Imagine that happening while you’re driving or mid‑workout—sudden shifts pull you out of the moment. All you want is for the app to “read the room” a little better.

That’s exactly where YouTube Music felt different. Starting with “Rasputin,” the recommendations that followed stayed in the same energetic space, leading me to discover high‑energy tracks I wouldn’t have clicked on otherwise. When an app consistently understands the vibe you’re after, it makes the listening experience feel lighter and more in sync with yourself.

Beyond that, YouTube Music just feels easy. It’s clean, functional, and stays out of the way—exactly what I want from a music app. Apple Music still has the edge in interface design and offers lossless audio, but I’m willing to trade a bit of polish for a smoother listening experience.

What makes it even easier to stick with YouTube Music is how smoothly everything else falls into place:

• Offline listening works without friction.
• The library contains everything I need, and I can upload my own music files directly.
• It runs flawlessly on my Fire TV and MacBook—the two devices I use most while working and listening.

Since it comes bundled with a YouTube Premium subscription, there’s no extra cost for the Music app either. Five years of Apple Music, and one random evening of curiosity changed everything. Funny how the best decisions rarely feel like decisions at all.