Service comparison

Spotify vs Apple Music

Compare what each service focuses on and who it suits, so you can tell which one fits you.

Reviewed: 2026-07

Short answer

Depends on you

Neither is hard to cancel, but the place you cancel differs. Spotify centres on your account page, Apple Music on the subscription screen of your Apple account.

At a glance

Spotify

Category: Music streaming

Read the cancellation guide

QuitMySub cancellation guide available

Apple Music

Category: Music streaming

Cancellation guide coming soon

Side-by-side

A table comparing the two services criterion by criterion.
Criterion	Spotify	Apple Music	Verdict
Where you cancel	Select cancel subscription on the plan management page in your account.	Managed in the subscription screen of your Apple account, with a different path depending on whether you use iPhone, Mac, Windows, or the web.	Depends on you
Who bills you	Either Spotify bills you directly, or a partner such as a mobile or internet provider does. Partner plans must be cancelled through that company.	Apple bills you, though Apple states that a subscription received through a wireless carrier or another provider has to be handled by that provider.	Depends on you
Cancelling a free trial	Cancelling during a zero-priced free trial switches the account to the free service immediately, and that trial cannot be reactivated.	Apple states that a free or discounted trial must be cancelled at least 24 hours before it ends to avoid renewal.	Depends on you
Family plan	Family and Duo plans exist. If the manager cancels, managed accounts move to the free plan; if a member follows the steps, only that account leaves the plan.	A family subscription covers up to six people through Family Sharing. Individual and student subscriptions cannot be shared.	Depends on you
Student plan	A Premium Student plan is documented separately.	A student subscription offers a discounted rate for up to 48 months for students at degree-granting colleges and universities.	Depends on you
Refunds	Refund handling can vary by who billed you and by region, so the official refund policy needs checking.	Where to ask depends on whether Apple or another provider such as a carrier issued the charge, so this needs checking.	Depends on you
Cancellation guide	A QuitMySub cancellation guide is available.	A QuitMySub cancellation guide is still being prepared.	Spotify

Where you cancel

Spotify: Select cancel subscription on the plan management page in your account.
Apple Music: Managed in the subscription screen of your Apple account, with a different path depending on whether you use iPhone, Mac, Windows, or the web.
Verdict: Depends on you

Who bills you

Spotify: Either Spotify bills you directly, or a partner such as a mobile or internet provider does. Partner plans must be cancelled through that company.
Apple Music: Apple bills you, though Apple states that a subscription received through a wireless carrier or another provider has to be handled by that provider.
Verdict: Depends on you

Cancelling a free trial

Spotify: Cancelling during a zero-priced free trial switches the account to the free service immediately, and that trial cannot be reactivated.
Apple Music: Apple states that a free or discounted trial must be cancelled at least 24 hours before it ends to avoid renewal.
Verdict: Depends on you

Family plan

Spotify: Family and Duo plans exist. If the manager cancels, managed accounts move to the free plan; if a member follows the steps, only that account leaves the plan.
Apple Music: A family subscription covers up to six people through Family Sharing. Individual and student subscriptions cannot be shared.
Verdict: Depends on you

Student plan

Spotify: A Premium Student plan is documented separately.
Apple Music: A student subscription offers a discounted rate for up to 48 months for students at degree-granting colleges and universities.
Verdict: Depends on you

Refunds

Spotify: Refund handling can vary by who billed you and by region, so the official refund policy needs checking.
Apple Music: Where to ask depends on whether Apple or another provider such as a carrier issued the charge, so this needs checking.
Verdict: Depends on you

Cancellation guide

Spotify: A QuitMySub cancellation guide is available.
Apple Music: A QuitMySub cancellation guide is still being prepared.
Verdict: Spotify

Who each one suits

Choose Spotify if

People who want to manage the plan from one web account page
People who first need to check whether a carrier or internet bundle set up the plan
Readers who want a cancellation guide available right now

Choose Apple Music if

People who want subscriptions gathered in one place on Apple devices
People who want to share a family subscription with up to six people via Family Sharing
Degree-programme students checking the student subscription conditions

Our take

Judged purely on how hard it is to cancel, the two are close: both can be ended from your own account. The real difference is who bills you. With Spotify the question is whether a carrier or internet bundle owns the plan; with Apple Music it is whether Apple or a carrier issued the charge. Checking your statement for the billing party is the most reliable starting point.

Related guides

SpotifyRead the cancellation guide
Apple MusicCancellation guide coming soon

This comparison is editorial content covering general selection criteria. Line-ups and policies change, so check the official source before subscribing.