does apple music have a higher bitrate than spotify?

The answer used to be simple: Apple Music offered lossless audio while Spotify topped out at compressed 320 kbps streaming. That comparison is now outdated.

does apple music have a higher bitrate than spotify? Apple Music still offers the higher maximum audio resolution, but Spotify now also supports lossless playback for Premium users. The real difference is no longer “lossless vs no lossless”; it is how far each service goes at the top end.

does apple music have a higher bitrate than spotify?

So if you are comparing the maximum technical quality available from each service, Apple Music has the advantage.

Apple Music vs Spotify Audio Quality at a Glance

This makes Apple Music the stronger option on paper if your only criterion is the highest available resolution.

Why 256 kbps vs 320 kbps Is No Longer the Right Comparison

People often compare Apple Music's standard 256 kbps AAC stream with Spotify's 320 kbps setting and assume the larger number must sound better.

That comparison is incomplete for two reasons.

First, the services use different codecs, so bitrate numbers do not translate directly into identical perceived quality. A more efficient codec can preserve similar audible detail at a lower bitrate.

Second, both platforms now have lossless options. Once you switch to lossless audio, comparing a fixed compressed bitrate such as 256 or 320 kbps stops being the most useful way to describe the quality.

How High Does Apple Music Go?

Apple Music offers its catalog in ALAC lossless formats ranging from CD-quality 16-bit/44.1 kHz up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

Apple separates those options into:

• Lossless: up to 24-bit/48 kHz
• Hi-Res Lossless: up to 24-bit/192 kHz

The second option is the key reason Apple Music still wins the specification battle. Spotify's current lossless ceiling is lower.

What Does Spotify Lossless Offer?

Spotify Premium now includes a Lossless quality setting on supported devices.

Its lossless music streaming reaches up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, which is already a major upgrade over the previous situation where Spotify's highest music quality was limited to compressed 320 kbps streaming.

For many listeners, this means the practical audio-quality gap between Spotify and Apple Music is much smaller than it used to be.

If Spotify is the platform you use for music promotion as well as listening, NiceSMMPanel also has a dedicated Spotify SMM Panel service page.

Can You Actually Hear Apple Music's Higher Resolution?

Sometimes — but not simply because one specification is larger.

The difference becomes more relevant when you are using good source material, suitable wired headphones or speakers, a capable DAC, and a quiet listening environment.

For casual listening on a phone, in a car, at the gym, or through ordinary wireless earbuds, the difference between good lossless playback and higher-resolution lossless can be difficult to notice.

The quality of the recording and mastering can also matter more than the difference between 44.1 kHz and 192 kHz.

What About AirPods and Bluetooth?

This is where the specification comparison becomes less important for many Apple users.

Standard Bluetooth playback with AirPods and many wireless headphones does not transmit Apple Music's full ALAC Hi-Res Lossless stream unchanged. Apple notes that its wireless AirPods and Beats products use AAC Bluetooth audio.

That means selecting 24-bit/192 kHz in Apple Music does not automatically mean your wireless earbuds are delivering that same signal to your ears.

For Hi-Res Lossless listening, wired equipment and, in many setups, an external DAC are needed.

Which Service Uses More Data?

Higher-resolution lossless audio consumes much more bandwidth and storage than compressed streaming.

Apple Music's Hi-Res Lossless setting can therefore use considerably more data than a standard compressed stream. Spotify Lossless also requires a stronger connection than its normal or Very High settings.

If mobile data usage matters more to you than maximum fidelity, compressed streaming can still be the more practical choice on either platform.

So Which One Has Better Sound Quality?

If you are comparing the highest technical audio quality available, Apple Music wins because its Hi-Res Lossless tier reaches 24-bit/192 kHz.

If you simply want lossless music at CD-quality or better, the difference is much less dramatic now that Spotify Premium also offers lossless playback.

Your choice may therefore come down to something other than bitrate:

• Apple Music if maximum lossless resolution matters most;
• Spotify if you prefer its discovery, playlists, social features, or interface;
• either service if you mainly listen wirelessly and cannot reliably hear a difference.

The Bottom Line

Apple Music still offers the higher maximum resolution, but saying “Apple Music is lossless and Spotify is only 320 kbps” is no longer accurate.

Spotify now has its own lossless option, while Apple Music retains the advantage at the very top end with 24-bit/192 kHz Hi-Res Lossless.

For most listeners, hardware and listening conditions will determine whether that technical advantage produces an audible difference.

Quick FAQ

Does Apple Music have better audio quality than Spotify?

At the maximum available quality, yes. Apple Music reaches up to 24-bit/192 kHz, while Spotify Lossless reaches up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.

Does Spotify have lossless audio now?

Yes. Spotify Premium supports Lossless music streaming on compatible devices.

Is Spotify still limited to 320 kbps?

No. Around 320 kbps remains the Very High compressed setting, but Premium users can also choose Lossless where supported.

Do AirPods play Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless?

Standard Bluetooth playback does not transmit the full Hi-Res Lossless ALAC stream. Wired equipment and suitable hardware are needed to take full advantage of high-resolution lossless audio.