I chose Spotify💚 as the first product to review because it was the first app I decided to pay for the premium version. Even as a middle schooler, it was worth it because of its social media-like features within the music streaming industry. While I’m not certain which company first introduced the ‘following-friends-on-a-music-app’ feature, Spotify has undoubtedly done the best job of enabling users to utilize it. In this review, I’ll explore what makes Spotify stand out, its current market position, the user experience, and where I believe it’s headed next.
Spotify is a widely popular music streaming app available on both iOS and Android platforms. It offers a rich library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content, along with a unique friend connection feature that allows users to see what their friends are listening to. Additionally, it provides options to listen to local files within the app or even release your own songs on Spotify, giving users the freedom to enjoy any audio content they desire. As a leader in the music streaming market, Spotify competes with the likes of Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Having previously used Apple Music and YouTube Music, and as a newcomer to Amazon Music, I find that what sets Spotify apart is its ability to let users see what their friends are listening to, along with its flexibility in playlist creation and compatibility with other apps like Notion and navigation systems. While YouTube Music allows users to download videos for offline viewing in addition to providing music services, and Apple Music is exclusive to Apple devices, Spotify is compatible with any phone model. Compared to Amazon Music, which I haven’t had much exposure to, Spotify has a marketing advantage since I don’t know anyone who uses Amazon Music. These factors make Spotify stand out in the industry.
Regarding its design, Spotify is both visually appealing and user-friendly. Even for first-time users, it’s easy to add a song to a playlist. However, as a light-mode enthusiast, I wish Spotify offered an option to switch to light mode. Currently, the only way to do so is through a third-party app, which is a hassle (though I can live without it, I still prefer everything in white for productivity). Overall, the app’s layout is intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate and find what they’re looking for.
When it comes to functionality, I have some ideas to share. Although I previously mentioned that everything is fairly intuitive, I think Spotify could benefit from adopting features like “Shazam,” an iOS built-in tool that identifies songs by listening to users humming them. This feature would allow users to easily find the songs they want to listen to by simply singing a tune. I believe this could be a sensation among short-form content creators who could turn it into content by seeing if Spotify can accurately guess the songs they sing. Additionally, if Spotify could incorporate an algorithm similar to the one used by the old app “Akinator,” but for songs instead, it could be a big hit for users who struggle to find new music. Besides these suggestions, I find other features like the queuing function, which allows users to swipe left to queue songs, and the timer mode, which lets users set a time limit for music playback, to be impressive. I particularly appreciate these features as they allow me to queue songs before falling asleep without worrying about draining the battery overnight. However, there is one feature Spotify doesn’t have but Apple music does—Karaoke version. Apple Music has a button that allows you to press a mic icon, and that would only extract the MR version of the song, only playing the instrumental. To someone who loves to sing (like me), this feature is everything. It would usually only take one second to switch from the original version to the other and vice versa. This is one amazing feature that Apple Music has that Spotify doesn’t.
Before I delve into further suggestions, I’d like to discuss Spotify’s pricing. The regular subscription costs $11.99, which is slightly higher than some competitors, though I get a student plan for $6.99 as a university student. In comparison, Amazon Music for Prime members costs $9.99 (though you also need a Prime membership), Apple Music is priced at $10.99, and YouTube Music Premium is $13.99. Among its main competitors, Spotify is the second most expensive, while the most expensive option also includes access to offline videos on YouTube. With similar features like ad-free listening, offline mode, and high-quality audio streaming, I believe Spotify has set its price point appropriately. It’s more expensive than platforms that are harder to break into (due to membership requirements) while being cheaper than a platform that offers a broader range of audio and video content. Although Spotify recently increased its prices, I think it was a reasonable adjustment, as it hasn’t led to significant user loss or a shift to other apps.
Moving on to potential improvements, as mentioned earlier, integrating features like Shazam or Akinator could be beneficial for Spotify. Additionally, I believe there are other areas where Spotify could excel to address a few existing gaps. For instance, introducing a light mode option would cater to users who prefer a different visual experience. Moreover, enhancing the mobile app to allow faster friend and connection searches would help close the gap between Spotify and its competitors.
Spotify remains a top choice for music streaming, thanks to its user-friendly interface, vast music library, and strong social features. Whether you’re a casual listener or a music enthusiast, Spotify offers something for everyone. While there are areas for improvement, such as search functionality and the addition of a light mode, the overall experience is excellent.
If you haven’t tried Spotify yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. Download the app, explore its features, and see for yourself why it’s the leading music streaming platform. Obviously, it’s my favorite music streaming platform. If you have any other takes on Spotify, let me know! Would love to keep this conversation going. Also, this is my first review—don’t mind the formatting. It will only get better from here! 🍀🍀
