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

YouTube vs Spotify

YouTube 4.7★ · Free to download 65
Winner YouTube
Spotify 4.8★ · Free to download 60

For users prioritizing a vast array of video content and diverse media, YouTube is the stronger choice, despite its recent stability issues and ad frequency. Spotify is better for dedicated music streaming, but its free tier is heavily impacted by ads and limitations.

Full reviews: YouTube · Spotify

YouTube offers an unparalleled variety of video content, including music, games, and educational material, but faces significant user complaints about app crashing and excessive ads. Spotify excels as a music streaming service with a wide selection, though its free tier is heavily criticized for frequent and lengthy ad breaks and limited functionality.

Head to head

Content Variety & Features edge: YouTubeR2R8R9R11
YouTube YouTube is praised for its immense content library, including videos, games, editing tools, and separate apps for music and TV R8. Users appreciate the diverse offerings and the ability to learn and be entertained . However, some users dislike the push for 'Shorts' content, feeling it mimics TikTok and detracts from the long-form video experience R9R11R42. There are also requests for features like a repost button R2 and better organization for playlists and subscriptions .
Spotify Spotify is highly regarded for its extensive music library and ability to create personalized playlists . Users enjoy discovering new music and the high audio quality . Some users also appreciate the inclusion of podcasts and audiobooks, though some wish for more audiobooks . However, the free tier has significant limitations, such as not being able to choose specific songs, limited skips, and repetitive playlists . Users also express a desire for features like fast-forward/rewind for songs .
Ease of Use & UI tieR4R6R7R10
YouTube Recent YouTube updates have led to significant user frustration with the app's stability and user interface. Many users report the app crashing immediately upon opening, requiring frequent reinstallation R4R7R10R13. Other UI complaints include a lack of separation between videos in the subscriptions feed , suggested videos being ones already watched R6R24, and difficulty rearranging playlists .
Spotify Spotify users report issues with the app's usability, including it losing track of what's playing or through which speaker . Some find the UI cluttered with 'fluff' and difficult to navigate, especially in car mode . There are also complaints about slow loading times for songs and the app occasionally switching to offline mode despite having a connection . However, some users find it generally easy to use .
Reliability & Performance edge: YouTubeR3R4R7R10
YouTube YouTube has severe reliability issues, with numerous recent reviews detailing constant app crashes upon launch, forcing users to repeatedly uninstall and reinstall the app R4R7R10R13. Users also report ads freezing videos R3, bugs with video uploads , and analytics discrepancies for creators . Some mention general bugginess and glitches like mismatched audio .
Spotify Spotify users experience reliability problems such as music being glitchy , songs cutting in and out , and the app occasionally closing sessions or going offline unexpectedly . Slow loading times for songs are also a concern .
Price & Value (Free vs. Paid) edge: YouTubeR3R14R18R21
YouTube YouTube is free to download, but users frequently complain about an excessive number of ads, with some appearing every 5 minutes in longer videos or freezing the app R3R14R18R21. Some users express frustration with the high price of YouTube Premium R21. Premium users also report issues like autoplaying the same video repeatedly .
Spotify Spotify is also free to download, but its free tier is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of ads. Users report getting multiple ads (3-5) after every one or two songs, making the listening experience frustrating R64R69R72R76. Many feel the premium price is too high for the value offered, especially given the lack of significant innovation for price increases R64. The free tier also has limitations like restricted skips and inability to choose specific songs .
Content Moderation & Recommendations tieR1R6R22R24
YouTube YouTube receives criticism regarding its content moderation, with users citing 'crazy language and video rules' R1, concerns about inappropriate ads , and a perceived lack of control over content . Users also complain about irrelevant video suggestions, including previously watched videos or unwanted genres R6R24. The removal of the dislike button is a significant point of contention, with users feeling it hinders their ability to filter content and express opinions R22R42.
Spotify Spotify's recommendation algorithm is a mixed bag, with some users praising its ability to create enjoyable playlists while others complain it constantly recommends the 'wrong music' or plays the same 20 songs from a large playlist . A notable concern is the proliferation of AI-generated music, with users requesting an option to filter it out and support real musicians R94R108.
Pick YouTube if

You want access to an unparalleled variety of video content, including educational, entertainment, and niche topics, and are willing to tolerate frequent ads or pay for premium to avoid them. You are looking for a platform that offers more than just music, despite recent app stability issues R8.

Pick Spotify if

Your primary need is a dedicated music streaming service with a vast library and personalized playlists, and you are prepared to pay for a premium subscription to avoid constant ad interruptions and unlock full functionality .

Evidence note: Recent reviews for YouTube are heavily skewed towards negative feedback concerning app stability and ads, which might impact its lifetime rating. Spotify's negative reviews are almost exclusively focused on the free tier's ad frequency and limitations, suggesting a more positive experience for paying users.

Frequently asked

Why is my YouTube app crashing so much?
Many users report that the YouTube app has been crashing immediately upon opening, often requiring them to uninstall and reinstall the app multiple times a day or week to temporarily resolve the issue R4R7R10R13.
Are there too many ads on Spotify's free tier?
Yes, users on Spotify's free tier frequently complain about an excessive number of ads, often experiencing 3-5 ads after every one or two songs, which significantly disrupts the listening experience R64R69R72R76.
Can I disable YouTube Shorts?
While the reviews do not indicate a direct way to disable Shorts, many users express frustration with YouTube pushing Shorts content and wish there was an option to turn them off, as they prefer long-form videos and find Shorts addictive R9R11R42.
Does Spotify allow filtering of AI-generated music?
No, according to user reviews, Spotify does not currently offer an option to filter out AI-generated music, which is a growing concern for users who prefer to support real musicians R94R108.

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] YouTube 5/5 · US Some fun suggestions!!: I think YT is a 5 star app but I have some suggestions to improve the app and make it more enjoyable for users! My first one is making a repost button. I love watching funny content and sometimes if it’s relatable I wish there was a button to show that I relate other than the comments section. It could be in the same area we’re you send videos to your friends on YT and it c
  2. [R8] YouTube 5/5 · US Its just amazing: Its just amazing with all content and others its not just videos there could be games, editing, even other types like youtube tv and regular also even music on seperate apps
  3. [R9] YouTube 3/5 · US Shorts: Please stop trying to be tik tok, I deleted that app for a reason
  4. [R11] YouTube 4/5 · US Please fix shorts: I’ve been watching YouTube for years because I prefer the long-form content to instagram or TikTok. I fragrant and TikTok are very addictive and I find that the mindless scrolling takes over my life. I used YouTube instead but now that they added shorts they push almost exclusively shorts. When I open the app it’s automatically showing me shorts without me even tapping the video
  5. [R4] YouTube 1/5 · US Application keeps crashing: Noticed about 2 days ago the app started crashing again and again. Only fix I have found is uninstalling and re-installing the application.
  6. [R6] YouTube 3/5 · US Watched videos: It’s aggravating that my suggested videos are videos that I’ve watched. It’s not often that I find anything in suggestions and often do a search and leave the app.
  7. [R7] YouTube 2/5 · US Keeps crashing: Why does it keep crashing every time I open it? I have to uninstall the app and keep reinstalling it. I’ve had to do it at least 20 times in the past three days.
  8. [R10] YouTube 1/5 · US YouTube crashes: YouTube crashes immediately upon opening. Deleting and reinstalling the app only resolves the issue temporarily for a few hours before the crashing recurs. Environment: OS: iOS 18.7, App Version: YouTube 21.26.4
  9. [R3] YouTube 3/5 · US Ads freezing the video: Since the most recent update, any time an ad plays the video ends up freezing. I have to close the app and restart it in order to watch the video. Fix this.
  10. [R14] YouTube 5/5 · US Too many Commercial: Enjoy my time on YouTube but too many ads ( I know that’s how they make money) still good stuff
  11. [R18] YouTube 3/5 · US Too many ads: WAY too many ads for one video, especially to the longer videos like every 5 minutes there’s an add and the tiny ad box that appears in the corner when you skip one is just taking away from the experience of watching. It’s getting tiring but overall, I love the app and just see the ads as a little too excessive.
  12. [R21] YouTube 3/5 · US Fix your app: YouTube isn’t terrible but I have some complaints 1. Too many adds 2. Bring back the dislike button 3. Lower premium prices 4. Work on moderation I have seen videos and especially adds that should not be on YouTube.
  13. [R1] YouTube 2/5 · US Crazy language and video rules: Crazy language and video rules
  14. [R22] YouTube 1/5 · US Where’s the dislike: No dislike button is lame
  15. [R24] YouTube 3/5 · US Please stop bruh: Can you please stop recommending me forsaken Roblox fandom videos it’s like really annoying
  16. [R13] YouTube 1/5 · US App doesn’t work: For over a week, every day i have to redownload the app because for some reason, it won’t even let me open the app. It just crashes immediately.
  17. [R64] Spotify 2/5 · US Too many ads: Spotify premium is way too expensive so I don’t have it but it’s so annoying how it says “30 mins of interrupted music” and it plays two songs and then 5 ads. It’s false advertising my songs typically last 3-4 mins so when two play it’ll only be like 6 or 8 mins and I’ll get 5 ads. It is so frustrating
  18. [R69] Spotify 3/5 · US I LOVE this app: this app is great! but the constant ads after each song is soooo bad.
  19. [R72] Spotify 3/5 · US ads: the ads have way too many and there too long
  20. [R76] Spotify 1/5 · US Ads.: Getting 3 ads after listening to a 1.5 MINUTES SONG IS ABSURD.
  21. [R42] YouTube 3/5 · GB Seriously: Please stop turning YouTube into TikTok, first this dislike button now it’s hearts not jst likes? Who is the TikTok lover making YouTube into TikTok? And we need the dislike back so we can shame the content THAT NEEDS TO BE SHAMED, BECAUSE DONT SAY STUFF SHOULNT BE SHAMED WHEN IT SHOULD, fix your app
  22. [R94] Spotify 1/5 · US Filter AI Music: I’ve been using Spotify for a while and now have become very tired of randomly getting AI generated music in my feed. They don’t even make people say they used AI which is common practice at this point. Give me an option to filter AI generated music and give it its own category also don’t let people monetize it because it’s based on stolen works.
  23. [R108] Spotify 3/5 · GB Great but don’t want AI: Spotify is a useful app and I’ve had it for over a decade. However, the proliferation of AI “music” is making me think about jumping ship. At least let users filter out AI. I want to support real musicians.

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