Since 2008 Spotify has grown to be one of the most popular digital audio streaming platforms with over 96 million paying subscribers today. It is undeniably one of the best music streaming services in the world with over 40 million tracks accessible from your phone, tablet or personal computer. You can play your favorite music either through Spotify Web Browser or on Spotify Desktop Client. Apart from being a favorite platform for music lovers, the 'Spotify web player vs desktop client' discussion or rather argument have loomed the internet for some time. Lots of Spotify users prefer web player to access the music library. Equally, quite a significant number of users are of the second option, the desktop client.
In this review, I focus on the iOS and Android apps, the ones getting the most attention from Spotify. There are apps for Mac and Windows desktop, plus Windows Phone, but you'll get a somewhat. Spotify has FORCED macOS to open the app absolutely every time you boot your Mac. Spotify change payment in app. The only solution is to DELETE the application. I've dug around in the Library folders to kill off all traces of daemons, automatically loading processes, login items, ad nauseam. And yet, somehow Spotify found another method of FORCING Spotify to boot with the OS.
The fact remains that both options are entirely different. Well, this review will profoundly attempt to compare Spotify web player and desktop app using the various pro and cons. Here are the aspects that form the notable differences between Spotify desktop and web player. Scroll right down!
Spotify Web Player vs Desktop Client: Portability
It is for a fact that the current generation is obsessed with controlling and accessing very thing from their palms. At the comfort of your room or working desk, you can easily access the Spotify track library just by clicking the Spotify icon on your desktop. Alternatively, you directly browse Spotify and play songs from the web. Both ways are convenient; however, for the desktop client option, you must have a PC at your disposal.
Using a web player only requires you to have the logins. You access songs from anywhere at any time you feel like. You even borrow a friend's phone and operate your account from there. Unlike using a desktop player which requires you to carry a PC along which is inconveniencing. Basing on this perspective, Web player is more portable and available compared to a desktop client.
Spotify Web Player vs Desktop Client: Music Quality
The current generation of music lovers is susceptible to the quality of music they listen to. Most people can tell the difference in music quality when using the two option, and others will not even notice it. Usually, the Spotify web player offers a lower bitrate compare to the desktop client. For free web players, clients get 128kbps bitrate while premium users get 256kbps bitrate. On the hand, desktop client free accounts can only access up to 160kbps while paying users access double the quality, 320kbps.
This is the main reason why people prefer using desktop client over web player. Even a free account has fairly good quality music.
Spotify Web Player vs Desktop Client: Offline Listening
Considering this aspect, desktop client is more convenient. Desktop client users can easily save tracks to listen when they are offline. On the contrary, the opposite is true for web player user. Both free and paid accounts do not enjoy this feature. It has for a long time been a point of concern for Spotify users across the globe. Probably, they will consider this in the near future.
To save Spotify songs offline, you are required to sign up the premium account of Spotify. Otherwise you cannot download the track from Spotify even if you are using the desktop client. But if you are not willing to pay for the premium plan, the alternative way is using dedicated Spotify music downloader such as TunesKit Spotify Music Converter to download and convert the Spotify songs/playlists to common MP3s. In this way, no matter you are free or premium user, you can enjoy Spotify music offline on any device without limit.
Spotify Web Player vs Desktop Client: Space
Installing Spotify software on your, PC requires that have enough storage capacity to run the software. It also tends to create log files and hence not a favorite for a computer with little storage capacity. It will definitely affect the entire performance of the PC. On the other hand, operating a web player does not require space. You just need a browser, and from there you can bookmark the Spotify website for easy access
Spotify Web Player vs Desktop Client: Hotkeys
Generally, hotkeys are paramount for any software. However, desktop clients do not have hotkeys. Hotkeys facilitate navigation movements. They are more useful when busy at work. Spotify web player provides for hotkeys; however, you will have to install the Spotify Hotkeys add-on on Firefox or Chrome browsers. Here are some Hotkeys for both browsers.
FireFox:
Chrome:
Spotify Web Player vs Desktop Client: Lyrics
If song lyrics are a top priority for you, then it is sorry to say that none of the options has that feature. Often, you have to download and install Musixmatch software and run it concurrently with the Spotify software. For Spotify web player users you need to install Lyrics Here by Rob W extension for both Chrome and Firefox browsers.
The Final Words: Which Is Better
With regard to the above differences between Spotify desktop and web player, I can comfortably recommend Spotify web player considering the portability, space saving, and availability. You do not have to carry your PC everywhere you go to listen to your favorite tracks on Spotify. What do you think? Give me your comment right here.
Adam Gorden is an experienced writer of TunesKit who is obsessed about tech, movie and software.
We recommend products and services based on unbiased research from our editorial team. We make money via affiliate links, which means if you click a link on our site, we may earn a commission. Any commissions we receive do not affect our recommendations; if you want to know more about how that works, read more. Spotify Review
Spotify is the most popular streaming service in the world. With over 200 million active users, it has earned a large audience with its personalized playlists and free access. You can stream music, create playlists, and tune into podcasts without paying a cent. Set spotify as my preferred music app. If you opt for the premium service, Spotify can be streamed on nearly any device, smart speaker, or TV. It’s also super simple to share that music with friends, or create a collaborative playlist. However, we weren’t crazy about the ease of integrating your own music nor its lack of video content. Still, Spotify is a solid streaming service that most people will be satisfied with.
The Claim
On its website, Spotify claims that “it’s easy to find the right music or podcast for every moment – on your phone, your computer, your tablet and more.” This promises consumers a streaming service that will easily present all kinds of audio content.
Is it true?
Most people will find it easy to engage with intriguing content on Spotify. Michael Stover, owner of MTS Management Group/MTS Records, told us “Streaming sites like Spotify and Youtube are there for music discovery [and] promotion, a way for artists to have their music heard by an audience that wouldn’t normally listen.” Spotify’s personalized playlists will connect you with new music similar to your favorites. Because of its web player, you can listen pretty much anywhere, too.
There’s also a ton of unique content, like “Spotify Sessions,” exclusive tracks from artists made in the Spotify Studios. Sometimes it’s a unique cover — like Troye Sivan’s slowed down version of Post Malone’s “Better Now.” You’ll also find new acoustic versions of artists songs, like a revival of Owl City’s “Fireflies.”
Along with podcasts and audiobooks, you can also find poems and speeches on Spotify. And, quite bizarrely, an exclusive motion comic of the “Archie” series. There’s a lot to keep you busy on Spotify, and it’s a great value (especially because it’s free).
Product OverviewBest for
Social playlists, free listening, personalized playlists
Not for
Music ownership, video content, library integration
FeaturesSpotify Desktop App Reviews
Personalized music discovery
There are many playlists that Spotify caters to you. You’ll find new songs based on your tastes and listening history added to the “Release Radar” and “Discover Weekly” playlists on a weekly basis. There are also seasonal roundups like the “Summer Rewind” playlist, a collection of your favorites songs from last summer. And at the end of the year, Spotify will collect your most listened tunes in a “Wrapped” playlist.
One of the newer personalized playlists is called Your Daily Drive — a curated morning radio playlist. It’s a mix of the songs you’ve been jamming to lately, a few songs it thinks you’ll like, and news hits from NPR, WSJ, or NYT. It’s essentially a replication of a morning radio show but created for your personal preferences.
If you like to stick to a few genres and artists, Spotify’s algorithms will keep you in your comfort zone and introduce you to music in your lane. For listeners who like to expand their horizons, you’re better off with Apple Music’s human-curated playlists.
Free version
Spotify’s free version is the biggest reason it has so many more subscribers than the competition. Listeners will have access to all of Spotify’s key features, with just a few limitations. You can only skip six songs in an hour, have to listen to ads, must listen on shuffle-only for some playlists on the mobile app, and won’t have access to offline listening. There are about 15 popular playlists including Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daily Mix, that will let you pick-and-play songs and skip as many as you like.
We also love the free option because if you upgrade to the premium plan and eventually cancel it, you will still have access to playlists you’ve spent years curating on the free plan. On music streaming services that only have a paid plan, you would have to resubscribe to regain access to your music library. Faces mac miller spotify.
Social listening
Spotify does a great job of connecting your music to your community. You can watch your friends’ live listening activity in a feed and tune in to their current jams. How do i previw songs on my free spotify. If you want to build a playlist for an event, you can make it collaborative and invite friends to add songs. When there’s a song your work bestie has to hear, you can easily share it with a Spotify link.
Device integration
Nearly every device or speaker is compatible with Spotify. You can use it on iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. It works on both Google Home and Amazon Echo smart systems, Xbox and Playstation consoles, Bose and Sonos speakers, and many more devices. You can even listen in your car via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. The list of compatible devices is extensive, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter a situation where you can’t play Spotify.
Web player
Unlike Apple Music, you can stream Spotify on an internet browser with its web player. The web player is perfect if you ever find yourself wanting to listen to music, but can’t download the Spotify app. If you’re on a computer at school, the library, or work, you won’t have to go without your focus-friendly playlist.
Unique extras
If you look for long enough, you’ll uncover a hidden world on Spotify. Buried in the “Browse” section you’ll find a “Word” genre at the very bottom of the page. Inside is a whole suite of listening rabbit holes. You can tune in to audiobooks like “Great Gatsby,” “War of the Worlds,” or “Pride and Prejudice.” Or listen to poetry and speeches, like from a playlist called “Poetry: In Their Own Voices” that features over 70 poems by women read by the authors. There are also podcasts, short stories, and vintage radio dramas. During late October nights, you can play scary stories by Alfred Hitchcock or Edgar Allan Poe. Probably the most surprising discovery was a selection of language-learning playlists. You can listen to Italian, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, and Irish language tracks. They’re a bit kitschy, but that’s part of the charm. It’s a lot like the old school language cassette tapes. The “Learn Chinese” album cover even says “Learn in Your Car.”
Possible DrawbacksPoor library integration
If you already own music and want to integrate it with your streaming library, we’d recommend a different streaming service. Spotify allows you to upload your local files to the desktop app, but it won’t travel across platforms (to the web play or mobile app) and doesn’t integrate with your regular library or playlists. Spotify users have been complaining about this since 2014, and Spotify still has it filed in a “Not Right Now” idea pile. You also can’t purchase any songs or albums through Spotify.
Lack of video content
Spotify has focused all its attention on music streaming, which means you won’t find much in the way of video. You may encounter the occasional video snippet that plays in the background of the song as artwork, but it won’t be the full music video. If you do discover a music video or obscure documentary, it’ll play in vertical format (an internet taboo.) When compared to music streaming services like Apple Music and YouTube Premium, Spotify’s video selection is disappointing. On competing platforms, you can find music videos, artist documentaries, and talk show bits.
Abandons old playlists
Don’t fall too hard for a playlist on Spotify, as the service often neglects to update older playlists. It’s “Underground Hits” playlist hasn’t been updated for over a year, despite the 500,000+ people who follow the playlist — a bad look for a roundup of “hits.” Workout favorite, “Get Your Body Right” hasn’t been updated since 2015, both “Easy Acoustic” and “Family Road Trip” haven’t seen fresh tunes in over a year. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind stagnant playlists, this might not be a dealbreaker, but it’s probably a concern if you get sick of hearing the same songs over and over again.
The Competition
Spotify vs. Apple Music
The starkest difference between Apple Music and Spotify is that you have to pay to use Apple Music’s services. There is no free version of Apple Music, but it does offer a very long 90-day free trial. There are fewer personalized playlists on Apple Music, but we preferred its human-curated mix tapes anyway. You’re more likely to encounter new music outside of your comfort zone with Apple Music, while Spotify will feed you songs it knows you’ll like (and sometimes might get sick of). Apple Music has a wide array of unique content like a “Carpool Karaoke” series, an “Up Next” new artist documentary series, and Beats 1 live radio station. You can also easily upload your own music and organize your library on Apple Music. Casual listeners will probably prefer Spotify, but audiophiles will love Apple Music.
Spotify vs. TidalSpotify Desktop Site
If you’re into high-fidelity music streaming and hip-hop music, Tidal is the service for you. Owned by Jay Z, Tidal is the only place you can stream the entire discography of both Jay Z and Beyonce. You can also hear early releases from hip hop artists, like Kanye West. Tidal offers a $20 per month “HiFi” streaming plan that lets you stream music at the level it’s recorded in the studio, however, you’d need some impressive equipment, and keen ears, to really notice the difference. Investing in Tidal services is best suited for those who are really into music and audio technology.
Spotify FAQCan you keep the songs you download from Spotify?
No. Downloading music from Spotify only allows you to tune in when you’re offline and not using WiFi. The files aren’t actually saved for use if you aren’t using the Spotify app. If you cancel your premium subscription, those downloaded songs will be invalid.
Is Spotify Premium worth it?
Maybe! If you stream music constantly and like to listen on smart devices, you’ll benefit from Spotify Premium’s features. Casual listeners who don’t mind the occasional ad will be perfectly happy with Spotify’s free service. Michael Stover, owner of MTS Management Group/MTS Records, advised us, “If you listen to a lot of music, and you like to discover new artists before purchasing a whole download or CD, then spending $10 [a month] is probably worth it.”
How much data does Spotify use?
Every time you stream, download, or upload you are using data to transmit that information. Home internet and cell phone plans typically have data caps, and your speeds will drop if you exceed that limit. At its highest quality (on the premium membership), Spotify will consume 2.4 MB per minute of music played. So if you’re listening non-stop at work for six hours, you’ll use about 1 GB of data. That’s not much data at all, especially compared to streaming Netflix (which takes 3 GB for just an hour of HD streaming). Unless you’ve got your tunes playing 24/7 all month long, you probably won’t need to worry about data while streaming Spotify.
The Bottom Line
Spotify is one of our favorite notice the difference and is unlikely to disappoint most people. Even if you aren’t sure, there’s no harm in trying out its free service. Spotify creates a ton of personalized playlists to connect you to music that’s similar to the songs you already love. It also hosts tons of unique content like language learning, audiobooks, and podcasts. You can listen nearly anywhere with its endless device compatibility, mobile app, and web player. All these features make Spotify the best streaming service for casual and social listeners.
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