Difference between iTunes and Apple Music

What is iTunes and its features?

iTunes is your one stop digital media store which is more than just a media player – it’s a media library which keeps all your favorite music together. It is a comprehensive media player and media library which does more than just stream music. It is a digital music store developed by Apple Inc. With iTunes you can enjoy all the music on-the-go. It gives you access to millions of high-quality, DRM-free songs. All your favorite tracks and playlists is just a click away with iTunes. This is the best way to organize your music and movies you already have – and the ones you want to collect.

Unlike Apple Music, it is proprietary media management software which gives exclusive access to Apple devices. You can only transfer music to your Apple devices with iTunes. The software manages the iTunes Store – a digital media store managed by Apple Inc. If you wish to look for music, videos, movies, e-books, etc. that are not in your iTunes library, you can search and shop them in the iTunes Store. It provides a plethora of ways to organize and find your favorite music. Plus it also provides new recommendations based on your previous purchases. If you want to know which one’s running hot or is topping the charts, you can find them on ‘Trending Searches’.

Not just a portable media player, iTunes is also your online radio broadcaster. Now experience radio like never before with Beats 1 – a 24/7 online radio station which plays the best music every day. No matter when and where you wish to tune in, you can always enjoy the latest in music along with live interviews. The radio station plays a mix of rap, pop and indie music. It broadcasts to more than 100 countries and can be easily accessible through iTunes desktop version and Apple Music app on your smartphone. It creates some cool music from both fresh talent and established artists.

Apple Music: What is Apple Music and its features?

Apple Music is a separate music streaming service offered by Apple Inc. It is a subscription-based music and video streaming service which gives you access to a massive catalog of over 40 million songs and your entire iTunes library at your fingertips. It also suggests curated playlists for the user, allowing them to create and modify their favorite playlists on-the-go. You can also listen to playlists created by other users or enjoy online radio on Beats 1. As it’s a subscription-based streaming service, it offers full access to its entire music catalog for a nominal charge of $9.99 per month. You can also opt for a family plan for $14.99 per month.

Not only can you play any song you want from the catalog, you can also have access to two customized playlists every week – Favorites Mix and New Music Mix. It also allows you to match your music library and upload content to iCloud Music Library. And the best part, you won’t be interrupted by the boring ads while streaming your favorite music because it’s totally ad-free. In addition, you can enjoy Beats 1 and its massive collection of programmed shows. Plus it also provides offline access so that you can download anything from the library and listen to it directly from your smartphone.

With Apple Music, you can also follow what your friends have been playing and share what you’re playing.  There’s a dedicated section called “friends are listening to” which creates a social environment and a new “up next” list allowing you to control your music on-the-go. Plus it easily connects to CarPlay, USB, and Bluetooth so that you can enjoy your favorite music even when you’re driving. However, you don’t own the music you listen to. You have to pay a nominal subscription fee to gain access to the entire catalog of Apple Music.

Difference between iTunes and Apple Music

1. iTunes is all about media ownership – music, movies, TV Shows, podcasts, etc. It’s a one-stop digital media library and mobile device management software which provides a more comprehensive service than what Apple Music does. Apple Music, on the other hand, is a stand-alone music streaming service which is all about music.
2. iTunes can be used as a portable media player to listen to your favorite music on-the-go, whereas Apple Music cannot be used as a media player.
3. iTunes offers a plethora of media resources including music, movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, Radio, etc. for download and purchase. Apple Music, on the other hand, is a subscription-based music streaming service which charges its users $9.99 per month for its services. It also offers a $14.99 per month family plan for its users.
4. iTunes allows you to organize and manage your media library, while allowing you to sync your media content between your Apple devices and computer. However, Apple Music cannot do that.
5. You can access the iTunes Store in the iTunes software itself. If you cannot find anything in the iTunes library, you can search for them in the iTunes Store. Apple Music, on the other hand, is a dedicated music-streaming service offered by Apple.

iTunes vs. Apple Music : Comparison Chart

Summary: iTunes vs. Apple Music

There are two subscription services offered by Apple – Apple Music and iTunes. While Apple Music is a stand-alone music and video streaming service which charges its users $9.99 per month for its services, iTunes is more than just a media player. iTunes includes everything from music and movies to TV Shows and Podcasts. While Apple Music is all about music streaming, iTunes is both a virtual media player and an all-in-one digital media library.

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