does apple music have all the songs spotify has?

When people consider switching from Spotify to Apple Music, the biggest fear is simple: “Will I lose songs I love?” This is not a casual question, because your library is not just a list of tracks; it is playlists, memories, and routines that you’ve built over time. The concern is even stronger for creators and marketers who track performance and listener behavior through distribution workflows and growth tools like an smm panel, where maintaining consistency across platforms matters. For Spotify-first strategies, a Spotify SMM Panel often sits in the same ecosystem of discovery, engagement, and repeat listening, so catalog differences are not a theoretical detail, they affect real outcomes.

This article answers the question honestly and in a way that helps you make a decision. You will learn whether Apple Music and Spotify truly have identical libraries, why some tracks appear on one platform and not the other, how regional licensing changes what you can access, and what to check before switching so you avoid surprises. The goal is clarity, not marketing language, so you can evaluate the risk of missing music based on how you actually listen.

does apple music have all the songs spotify has

Apple Music does not have every single song that Spotify has, and Spotify does not have every single song that Apple Music has. In practice, both platforms cover the vast majority of mainstream music and most widely distributed catalogs, so the overlap is extremely high for typical listeners. The differences usually show up in specific cases: niche releases, regional catalogs, independent distribution choices, or tracks that were pulled or replaced due to licensing changes. This is why the correct answer is “mostly yes, but not 100% identical,” and the part that matters is whether your personal listening habits include music that falls into the small area where catalogs diverge.

Based on how these libraries behave over time, a track being available today does not always guarantee it stays available next month, because licensing agreements and label decisions can change. That is true on both services, which means the real switching question is not just “Do they match today?” but “How likely am I to notice gaps in daily use?” If your listening is mostly popular music, you will rarely feel a difference. If your listening depends on rare remixes, local releases, small-label artists, or region-locked tracks, you should expect occasional mismatches.

How Similar Are Apple Music and Spotify Libraries in Real Use

For most users, Apple Music and Spotify feel very similar in catalog coverage because they both license music from the same major labels and distributors. That includes most global hits, most major albums, and most trending artists, which is why many people can switch and keep listening without noticing missing tracks. The friction typically appears when your library includes music that is distributed unevenly, such as independent releases that exist on one aggregator but not another, or tracks that were uploaded with different metadata. In real-world listening, these are the moments where a playlist transfer shows “unavailable” entries, even though the song exists in another version on the other platform.

This is also why some users think one platform has “more songs” when the real issue is discoverability. If you cannot find a track easily because the title, artist spelling, or release version is different, it can feel like the catalog is missing. A better way to judge is to test-search your most important 30–50 songs and check whether the exact versions you play are available, not just whether the artist exists.

Why Songs Go Missing on One Platform

The most common reason a song is available on Spotify but missing on Apple Music is licensing. Labels negotiate streaming rights, territory rules, and contract terms, and those agreements are not always identical across platforms. Sometimes a track is tied to a specific distributor that has stronger relationships with one service, or a label chooses to prioritize one platform in a specific region. Another common reason is that a track was replaced, reissued, or removed due to rights disputes, and one platform updated its catalog faster than the other. From the user’s perspective, it looks like a missing song, but behind the scenes it is often a rights and metadata change rather than a platform “choice.”

The reverse can also happen, where Apple Music has a version that Spotify lacks. This can occur when artists release clean and explicit versions differently, when an album has multiple regional editions, or when an independent artist uploads to one service first. In daily use, these differences often feel random, but they usually follow distribution and licensing patterns rather than platform quality.

Regional Availability Changes the Answer More Than People Expect

A key point many users miss is that streaming libraries are not identical worldwide. What you can stream depends on where your account is registered and sometimes where you are physically located. A track may be available on both services in one country and missing on one service in another country, even for the same user. This is why two people can argue online about whether a song exists, and both can be telling the truth. If you travel frequently or your audience is global, regional differences can become more noticeable, especially for local artists and smaller labels.

This matters for switching decisions because your personal experience is not universal. The safest approach is to test your library from the same location and account region you actually use. If your catalog includes regional music, you should treat availability as a variable, not a guarantee, and build your playlists with that reality in mind.

Independent and Niche Music Is Where Differences Show Up First

If you listen to mostly mainstream releases, you will almost never feel catalog gaps. If you listen to independent artists, underground edits, bootleg remixes, or niche genres, you are more likely to see differences between Apple Music and Spotify. This is not because one platform “hates indie,” but because independent distribution is fragmented. Artists choose different aggregators, different release strategies, and sometimes different platform priorities. As a result, an artist can be present on both services, but one album or one EP might appear on only one service for months, or a track may appear under a slightly different artist profile.

In practice, this is why people with heavily curated niche playlists should test before switching. The platform decision becomes less about total song count and more about whether the specific pockets of music you rely on are consistently available where you listen.

Playlist Transfers Do Not Always Map Perfectly

Even when both platforms have the same song, playlist transfers can still create gaps. Transfer tools match tracks based on metadata, and metadata is not always consistent between Apple Music and Spotify. A live version, a remastered edition, or a compilation appearance can cause a mismatch, where the tool fails to find the exact match even though an equivalent track exists. This is why users sometimes assume Apple Music is missing songs when the real issue is that the transfer mapped poorly. After transfer, manual cleanup often fixes most of the “missing” feel by selecting the correct version.

If your decision depends on keeping playlists intact, you should treat transferring as a two-step process: transfer first, then audit the results. Most of the time, the problem is not total catalog coverage but version matching and metadata alignment.

What to Check Before Switching to Avoid Losing Favorites

The most practical strategy is to test the music that matters most to you instead of relying on headline numbers. Both services are massive, but your listening is personal, and the small differences only matter if they overlap with your habits. If your top playlists include rare songs, regional artists, or specific remixes, you should verify those exact versions. This is also a good place to think about how you use platform features overall, because many users compare not only catalogs but also experience and personalization, which is why questions like does apple music cost more than spotify come up during the same decision journey.

1. Make a shortlist of your top 30–50 must-have tracks and search them directly in Apple Music, checking the exact versions you play.

2. Test your top 3 playlists using a transfer tool, then review the “unavailable” items to see whether they are truly missing or just mismatched versions.

3. If you listen to regional music, test from your real account region and consider travel use, because availability can shift across countries.

4. Compare overall experience factors like discovery, sharing, and listening insights, because catalog overlap is high and features often matter more than song count.

Catalog Size Is Similar, but Experience Differences Drive the Decision

People often ask “Which one has more songs?” because it feels like a measurable way to choose. In reality, both platforms are so large that raw size rarely decides the outcome for everyday listeners. What usually decides the outcome is the experience around the catalog: discovery, organization, audio quality, and how the platform fits your habits. That is why users also explore related comparisons such as does apple music have a higher bitrate than spotify, because sound quality can matter more than whether you have 99.7% or 99.8% catalog overlap. Similarly, people compare recap and personalization features, which connects to questions like does apple do something like spotify wrapped when deciding which platform feels more engaging.

If you are switching because you want a different listening lifestyle, then catalog overlap is just the baseline requirement. Once that baseline is satisfied, the decision becomes about how the platform feels day to day, not whether a tiny fraction of tracks differ.

Why Users Compare Multiple Platforms, Not Just Apple Music and Spotify

The catalog question often expands beyond Apple Music and Spotify because users want reassurance that they will not lose access anywhere. This is why comparisons like does amazon music have the same songs as spotify appear in the same research phase. People are trying to understand whether “music availability” is stable across the industry or whether each service has its own gaps. The honest answer is that most mainstream music is widely available, and the gaps are usually in the edges: regional rights, niche releases, and version differences.

This is also where personalization features become part of the decision, because if you are not losing songs, you start caring about how the platform helps you find new ones. That naturally leads users to compare discovery tools and listening summaries, which is why people ask questions like does apple music have a daylist like spotify when they want the same kind of mood-based flow they are used to.

How Music Engagement and Growth Context Shapes Platform Choice

For creators, labels, and marketers, catalog overlap matters because it affects consistency across campaigns. If a track is missing on one platform, that can break a promotional flow or reduce conversion when users click through. This is one reason some people take a more strategic view of platform behavior and learn foundational concepts like What is a SMM panel? so they can understand how visibility and audience actions relate to growth. Execution also matters, and understanding How do SMM panels work? helps clarify why platform consistency and user journey design are important, especially when you are promoting music across multiple channels.

From a user-behavior perspective, small catalog gaps rarely change listening for mainstream audiences, but they can matter a lot for niche communities. That is why the best approach is always to validate your personal library first, then make a decision based on the overall experience you want.

Conclusion

Apple Music does not have every single song that Spotify has, and Spotify does not have every single song that Apple Music has. For most users, the overlap is so high that you will not notice differences in daily listening, especially if your library is mostly mainstream releases. The gaps usually appear in niche music, regional catalogs, and version-level differences that depend on licensing and metadata. If you are switching platforms, the smartest move is to test your must-have tracks and top playlists, then evaluate the broader experience factors that matter to you, such as discovery, audio quality, and how the platform fits your listening habits. When you make the decision based on your real library rather than generic claims, you avoid surprises and choose with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs focus on the most common concerns people have when comparing Apple Music and Spotify catalogs, including why songs can differ by region, what happens during playlist transfers, and how to reduce the risk of losing favorite tracks when switching platforms.

Does Apple Music have all the songs Spotify has?

No, not every single song is identical across both platforms, but the overlap is very high for most listeners. The differences usually show up in niche releases, certain regional catalogs, and specific versions of tracks such as remasters or live recordings. For mainstream music, most users will not notice meaningful gaps. If your playlists rely on rare or local releases, testing your favorites before switching is the safest approach.

Does Spotify have more songs than Apple Music?

In practical terms, both platforms are massive and the difference in total catalog size rarely affects everyday listening. What matters more than headline numbers is whether the specific music you listen to is available in your region and in the exact versions you prefer. Some users experience “missing songs” due to metadata differences rather than true catalog gaps. A personal library test is more reliable than comparing public estimates.

Why is a song available on Spotify but not on Apple Music?

The most common reason is licensing. Labels and distributors can negotiate different rights for different platforms and regions, which can make a track available in one place and unavailable in another. Sometimes a song is removed, replaced, or reissued and one service updates its catalog sooner. In many cases, an alternative version of the same track exists, but it is listed differently.

Why is a song available on Apple Music but not on Spotify?

This can happen for similar reasons: licensing, region rules, and distribution choices. Independent artists may release through one pathway first, or a label may maintain different agreements across services. Sometimes the song exists on Spotify but under a compilation or a different release version that is harder to find. Version mismatch often looks like a missing track even when it is present in another form.

Do Apple Music and Spotify have the same catalog in every country?

No, and this is one of the biggest reasons people get conflicting answers online. Streaming rights vary by country, and a track that is available in one region may be blocked or removed in another. If you travel or your account region differs from someone else’s, your catalog experience can be different. Checking availability from your real region is the most accurate way to evaluate it.

Will I lose my playlists if I switch from Spotify to Apple Music?

You can usually transfer playlists using third-party tools, but the transfer may not be perfect. Even when both platforms have the same songs, metadata differences can cause mismatches, especially for remasters, live versions, and alternate releases. After transfer, you may need to manually replace a small number of tracks. Most users can recreate the listening experience with minimal effort once they audit the transferred playlists.

Will I notice missing songs in daily listening?

Most users will not notice missing songs if they listen mainly to popular or widely distributed music. The small differences tend to matter most to users who listen to niche genres, underground edits, or region-specific releases. If your listening is highly curated and specific, you are more likely to notice occasional gaps. Testing your top songs first is the best way to predict whether you will feel the difference.

Are exclusives common on Spotify or Apple Music?

Music exclusives are less common than they were years ago, but they can still happen in limited cases. More often, “exclusive” differences appear as timing differences, regional access, or version differences rather than permanent exclusives. What Spotify tends to emphasize more strongly is feature and ecosystem exclusivity, while music availability is usually broadly similar. For most listeners, exclusives are not a deciding factor compared to usability and discovery.

Is Apple Music better than Spotify if I care about features, not catalog size?

It depends on what features matter to you. Spotify is often preferred for discovery and social listening culture, while Apple Music is often preferred for a calmer, library-style experience and certain ecosystem benefits. Because catalog overlap is high, many decisions come down to personalization, interface preference, audio quality, and how you manage your music routine. The best choice is the one that fits your daily behavior, not the one that claims a bigger library.

Should I choose Apple Music or Spotify based on the number of songs?

No, because the difference in headline numbers rarely predicts your personal experience. You should choose based on whether your core library is available, how well your playlists transfer, and which platform’s discovery and listening flow fits your habits. For most people, the deciding factors are usability and personalization rather than catalog size. A short trial that tests your top tracks is usually the most reliable way to decide.