Spotify is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. Spotify wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Shazam on 2.
Music fans who want great recommendations on every device they own
Music lovers who often hear a song and want to know what it is
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Spotify | Shazam |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Music & Podcasts | Music & Podcasts |
| Category rank | #1 of 10 | #5 of 10 |
| Developer | Spotify | Apple |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Spotify better than Shazam?
Spotify is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. Spotify wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Shazam on 2.
Which is cheaper, Spotify or Shazam?
Spotify: Free with ads; Premium Individual $12.99/month in the US after a free trial. Shazam: Completely free, with no ads or subscription. On value for money, Shazam scores higher.
Do Spotify and Shazam work on the same devices?
Only Spotify runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Which is more private, Spotify or Shazam?
Shazam scores higher on privacy (8.4/10). No tracking per its App Store label. Purchases, location, identifiers and usage data are linked to you; microphone and location access are optional. No ads, and history can sync via iCloud.
Strengths and weaknesses
Spotify
- Best-in-class recommendations and playlists
- Works on nearly every phone, speaker, console and car
- Free tier lets you listen without paying
- Free tier has ads and playback limits on mobile
- Premium now costs more than Apple Music in the US
- Its App Store label lists data used to track you
Spotify is still the best all-round music app. Discover Weekly, daylist and the new Prompted Playlist keep surfacing songs you'll actually like, and Spotify Connect hands playback between phone, speaker and car without fuss. Premium now includes lossless audio, but it also costs more after the 2026 US price rise. The free tier still works, with ads and the tracking that pays for them. Get it if discovery and device support matter most.
Full Spotify review
Shazam
- Fast, accurate recognition even in noisy places
- Free with no ads and no account needed
- Built into iPhone Control Center and the Mac
- Not a full music player
- Adding songs to playlists works best with Apple Music
Shazam does one job better than anything else: it tells you what song is playing. Tap the button and it usually names the track in seconds, then shows synced lyrics and opens it in Apple Music, Spotify or another service. Auto Shazam can keep listening, offline matches are saved for later, and it now works inside ChatGPT too. It's free with no ads. Just don't expect a full music player.
Full Shazam review
