Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Apple Music vs Shazam

Apple Music 4.9★ · Free to download 70
Winner Tie
Shazam 4.9★ · Free to download 70

Choose Apple Music if you want an all-in-one music streaming service, but be prepared for potential bugs and a paid subscription; choose Shazam if you primarily need to identify songs and are comfortable with its integration with Apple Music.

Full reviews: Apple Music · Shazam

Apple Music offers a comprehensive streaming experience with a vast library and ad-free listening, though users report occasional bugs and navigation issues. Shazam excels at song identification, but recent reviews indicate declining accuracy and persistent prompts to subscribe to Apple Music.

Head to head

Features & Content Library edge: Apple MusicR2R5R8R14
Apple Music Apple Music users appreciate the extensive music choices, ad-free experience, and features like song credits, artist bios, and videos R2R5R14. However, some note that certain popular songs or demos might be missing compared to competitors . Users also desire better labeling for AI-created music R8 and improved sorting options for playlists .
Shazam Shazam's core feature is song identification, which many users find incredibly helpful for discovering new music or recalling forgotten songs . It also provides lyrics . However, recent reviews frequently mention a significant decrease in accuracy, with the app often failing to identify songs or returning incorrect results R61R71R72.
Ease of Use & Interface tieR5R9R14R23
Apple Music Many Apple Music users find the app easy to use for making playlists and finding music R5R14. However, recent updates have introduced navigation issues, with users reporting a less functional GUI, buried volume controls, difficulty disabling random play, and a confusing play bar R9. Some also complain about the algorithm for suggested music being poor or repetitive R23.
Shazam Shazam is generally considered easy to use for its primary function of identifying songs . However, some users report recent changes making navigation difficult and issues with Siri integration . There are also complaints about welcome messages on the Apple Watch app interrupting the user experience .
Reliability & Performance tieR3R22R27R28
Apple Music Apple Music users frequently report significant reliability issues, including the app not loading on computers, songs stopping or freezing, music not syncing, being offline despite having a connection, and general bugginess after updates R3R22R27R28. There are also complaints about forced music playback when headphones are connected and delays in songs starting .
Shazam Shazam's reliability is primarily judged by its accuracy in identifying songs, which many recent reviews indicate has declined significantly R61R71R72. Some users also report issues with ads interfering with the identification process and songs in their library not playing .
Price & Value tieR2R7R10R24
Apple Music Apple Music is a paid subscription service, which many users find to be a good value for ad-free listening and a vast library R2. However, the lack of a free tier is a common complaint, with users expressing frustration about not being able to browse or listen without a subscription, and losing playlists if they cancel R7R10. Some also feel it's a bit expensive R24.
Shazam Shazam is free to download and use for song identification. However, many users are annoyed by constant prompts and insistence to sign up for Apple Music, which they perceive as the app trying to make money from them R84R86R88R90. Some users who previously paid for the app report it no longer working .
Support & Ecosystem Integration tieR4R10R15R38
Apple Music Apple Music is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, which can be convenient for users with multiple Apple devices R15. However, this integration can also be a source of frustration, with the app being pre-installed and difficult to delete, sometimes playing music randomly without user input R4. Users also report issues with compatibility with other devices like Amazon Alexa R40 and problems with Apple deleting downloaded music without permission R10R38.
Shazam Shazam is also integrated with the Apple ecosystem, particularly Apple Music, which allows users to easily find identified songs on the streaming service . However, this integration is often seen as a negative, with users complaining about the app constantly pushing Apple Music subscriptions even when they prefer other services like Spotify R84R86R88R90. Some users also report the app appearing in their iCloud without ever using it .
Pick Apple Music if

Pick Apple Music if you want an all-inclusive music streaming service with a large library, ad-free listening, and are willing to pay for a subscription R2R5R14. It's also suitable if you are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and want seamless integration across your devices R15.

Pick Shazam if

Pick Shazam if your primary need is to identify songs you hear around you . It's a good choice if you're looking for a free tool for this specific purpose and don't mind the occasional prompts for Apple Music R84R86.

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating, but recent reviews for both show significant negative sentiment regarding bugs, usability, and intrusive behavior, which is reflected in the 'tie' for most dimensions. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is notable for Apple Music, where many negative reviews stem from the lack of a free tier, while Shazam's free nature leads to complaints about persistent Apple Music upsells.

Frequently asked

Is Apple Music free?
No, Apple Music is a paid subscription service and does not offer a free tier for listening to music or even browsing songs to buy R7R10R54.
Does Shazam accurately identify songs?
While many users praise Shazam's ability to identify songs, recent reviews indicate a decline in accuracy, with the app frequently failing to identify music or returning incorrect results R61R71R72R82.
Can I use Apple Music with other devices?
Apple Music is designed for the Apple ecosystem, but users report issues with compatibility with non-Apple devices like Amazon Alexa, requiring workarounds like Bluetooth that drain battery R40.
Does Shazam push Apple Music?
Yes, many Shazam users are frustrated by constant nagging and persistent prompts to sign up for Apple Music, even if they prefer other streaming services like Spotify R84R86R88R90.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Apple Music 5/5 · US Game changer: Oh my heck. I used to have pandora and it sucked. Adds and it didn’t even have all the music I wanted. And I would reach a limit after I listened for a while. It was ridiculous. Apple Music seriously is a game changer. One hundred percent recommend!!! It’s 67 yk?
  2. [R5] Apple Music 5/5 · US Thank you Apple Music!: I love Apple Music and how easy it is to use. Making playlists, finding music, and everything is so easy to use. I also love how it has features like showing the credits to songs and albums. As a musician myself, I love being able to see all the people and parts that go into creating something. And the artist bios as well as birthplaces and when bands and artists formed or
  3. [R8] Apple Music 5/5 · US label AI music: please make it obvious when music is AI created. Thank you!
  4. [R14] Apple Music 5/5 · US Apple Music: Very easy to use and lots and lots of songs
  5. [R9] Apple Music 3/5 · US Not All Bad: Great platform, great content, just wish the GUI was more functional. The new changes to the play bar are bizarre. Volume has been buried. I don’t like having to drill down to disable Random. The glass looks cool but let’s be honest, it’s not as functional. Feels like a step back.
  6. [R23] Apple Music 4/5 · US Algorithm: I like Apple Music but the algorithm is not very good, I think is the only thing the app needs improve the algorithm 🙌
  7. [R3] Apple Music 3/5 · US Doesn’t Always Load: Apple Music would be great if it always loaded properly on my computer. But it doesn’t. At least once a week it will not load at all. I have to use a competitor’s player. It’s very frustrating. It loads fine on my phone and iPad.
  8. [R22] Apple Music 2/5 · US Always stops: Always stop playing when I’m on a student account saying i have more than one device playing when i don’t it’s annoying
  9. [R27] Apple Music 3/5 · GB Buggy since last update: Having to restart my phone each time to get Apple Music to work with my downloaded music when out and about. It just refuses to start. Data on too
  10. [R28] Apple Music 2/5 · GB Music not syncing: New iPad set up with an iPhone. Some of my music was missing. Advised getting Apple Music would help as sync music becomes accessible. Done nothing to help the issue.
  11. [R7] Apple Music 1/5 · US I’m broke: Costs money
  12. [R10] Apple Music 1/5 · US Disappointed: So, there is no free option. If you are not subbed you can’t even look for songs to buy to add to your phone. They will go in and delete what’s downloaded to your phone and iCloud without your permission. They did that to me.
  13. [R24] Apple Music 3/5 · GB A bit expensive but good: Above.
  14. [R4] Apple Music 1/5 · US WHY ARE YOU SO OBSESSED WITH ME: Stop insisting your app upon me! I am not even logged in nor do I have an account. It was on my iPhone when I got it and now when I get in my car my phone randomly plays the most horrendous music. How embarrassing is it getting into your car to have Cardi b blast when your family is with you. I don’t listen to that ghetto trash. STOP FORCING YOURSELF ON ME. Deleted
  15. [R15] Apple Music 3/5 · US Good, but room for improvement.: As a musician, I’ve tried multiple streaming services over the years: Tidal Hi-Fi, Spotify Premium, Amazon Music, now Apple Music & Classical. As a musician / software developer with a lot of apple devices, the switching cost from Tidal Hi-fi, > Apple Music was very low. I appreciate the diverse library in both Music/Classical and some selection over audio quality.
  16. [R38] Apple Music 1/5 · GB Bad Form: I used to buy CDs. I uploaded them to iTunes so I could listen to them anywhere. Now, Apple Music has removed random tracks from MY albums and wants me to pay a subscription to get them back. No thanks.
  17. [R54] Apple Music 2/5 · GB I’m upset: Overall, I loved this app. I could listen to whatever I wanted to whenever I liked and they had so many songs. Now, I have to pay 10.99 a month to listen to them? You may as well just pay for the whole app. What’s the point of having it if I cannot listen to anything now. I want to listen to Ariana grande’s new song! 😩. I think it’s very unfair, prices nowadays have gone up enough. I am
  18. [R61] Shazam 2/5 · US What happened to Shazam: Shazam used to be great at identifying songs 90-95% of the time. If it didn’t know the answer it would tell me it couldn’t identify the song but something changed. I’m guessing it can identify songs correctly maybe 50-60% of the time. What’s really frustrating is when Shazam says it identified the songs by and it’s completely wrong. I knew the artist but wanted to find the
  19. [R71] Shazam 4/5 · US It gets about 80%: I can recognize a lot of songs and this helps me name them. But if I hear something I like but don’t quite recognize it, this usually doesn’t either.
  20. [R72] Shazam 3/5 · US wrong song: More and more wrong songs!
  21. [R82] Shazam 1/5 · US worst app ever: bruh this app literally cant do anything i hummed it a song, sang the lyrics and tried it in different genres so it could understand and it didnt. I literally hummed it bad romance by lady gaga and it couldnt detect the song, i hummed it trap house by fetty wap and it didnt know I LITERALLY SANG FOR HALF A MINTUE OF LYRICS TO POKER FACE AND IT COULDNT DECECT THE SONG IM PRETTY SUR
  22. [R40] Apple Music 1/5 · GB Amazon compatibility: No comparability from the app so Spotify beats you on this. We should be able to link up with Alexa without using the Bluetooth which runs out battery
  23. [R84] Shazam 2/5 · US Good but annoying: Works great but very annoying if you don't have Apple music. The constant nagging and begging to sign up for Apple Music makes me want to use something else. If I've already declined the offer for the 49th time.. F off🤷🏿
  24. [R86] Shazam 1/5 · US Sidebar: Always trying to make me buy Apple Music I don’t want it, don’t even try to tempt me.
  25. [R88] Shazam 1/5 · GB Problematic: Always a problem with it!! Not helped by Apple forcing Apple Music options when you prefer and use Spotify over Apple Music!
  26. [R90] Shazam 1/5 · GB stupid app: show so many music wrong, also just wants to make money from users by push u to use apple music , if u didnt , they show u wrong all the songs or guide u by wrong singer names , wrong dj, or wrong title, i dont prefer this app

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store