YouTube Music
by Google LLC · Music & Audio · Streaming
Music streaming service with the largest catalog including user uploads, live performances, and covers.
Quick Answer: YouTube Music has a verified Real Score of 3.7/5 based on 91,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.3/5. Mixed reviews from verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 91,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: YouTube Music's App Store rating is 0.6 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Largest music catalog
- Music videos included
- Rare and live content
- YouTube Premium bundle
Common Complaints
- Messy library of content
- Algorithm less refined
- Upload quality varies
- UI needs work
Verified Reviews (20)
Every song ever recorded is here
The killer advantage of YouTube Music is the catalog. Live performances, concert recordings, covers, remixes, mashups, unreleased tracks - content that doesn't exist on Spotify or Apple Music.
Official vs. user uploads create chaos
Searching for a song and getting 15 results - official track, lyric video, music video, live version, 3 covers, and random uploads. The lack of organization between official and user content is messy.
YouTube Premium bundle is the value play
$14/month for YouTube Premium includes ad-free YouTube AND YouTube Music. If you watch YouTube regularly, the bundle is better value than paying for Spotify plus watching ads on YouTube.
Algorithm needs improvement
The recommendations aren't as sharp as Spotify's. YouTube Music often suggests songs I've heard a hundred times instead of introducing me to new music. Discovery is its weakness.
Seamless switch between audio and video
Toggling between the song and its music video with one tap is seamless. Want to watch the video? Tap. Just want audio? Tap back. The integration of audio and video is YouTube Music's unique strength.
Library management is frustrating
The library organization (liked songs, playlists, albums, artists) is functional but not intuitive. Sorting options are limited and managing large libraries takes too many taps.
Live performances you can't find elsewhere
Concert recordings, festival sets, and TV performance captures that exist on YouTube are available as audio in YouTube Music. This unique catalog of live content is genuinely special.
Offline reliability varies
Sometimes downloaded songs won't play offline or require re-downloading. The offline experience isn't as reliable as Spotify's. For commuters depending on offline mode, this is annoying.
Personal playlists are improving
The personalized playlists (My Supermix, Discover Mix) have gotten significantly better over time. Still not at Spotify's level but the gap is narrowing with each update.
Upload your own music
Uploading personal music files that sync across devices is a feature from Google Play Music days. For rare tracks and personal recordings, cloud access to your own library is valuable.
Podcasts integration is weak
Unlike Spotify's integrated podcast experience, YouTube Music's podcast support is basic. Podcasts exist on YouTube proper but the Music app doesn't handle them well.
Free tier is usable on mobile
The free tier with ads plays songs on demand (not just shuffle like Spotify Free on mobile). For free music streaming on mobile, YouTube Music Free offers more than Spotify Free.
Transition from Google Play Music still hurts
Google Play Music was better organized and had better library management. YouTube Music replaced it but never quite matched it. Long-time Google users still mourn GPM.
Casting to speakers works well
Chromecast integration for playing on speakers, TVs, and smart displays works seamlessly. The Google ecosystem connectivity is smooth for YouTube Music.
Music video premieres are exclusive
Some music video premieres happen on YouTube first, and YouTube Music subscribers get the best experience with notifications and queue integration. For pop culture moments, YouTube is ground zero.
Audio quality is good but not best
256kbps AAC quality is good but behind Apple Music's lossless. YouTube Music has no lossless option. For most listeners it's fine, but audiophiles will choose Apple Music.
Lyrics are available for most songs
Real-time lyrics display works for most popular songs. The implementation is clean and following along while listening adds to the experience.
Notifications are aggressive
"Try Premium" notifications are relentless on the free tier. Constant upsell attempts while you're trying to listen to music. Aggressive monetization of free users.
Best for eclectic listeners
If you listen to anime openings, video game soundtracks, fan covers, and niche genres, YouTube Music's catalog from YouTube uploads means you'll find things that don't exist on other services.
Gets better with each update
YouTube Music has improved significantly since launch. The app is more stable, recommendations are better, and features are catching up. It's not there yet but the trajectory is positive.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026