Why I left my favorite podcast player for YouTube Music on Android

I’ve been pretty set in my ways when it comes to listening to podcasts. Spotify has been my go-to app, and nothing has ever swayed me from changing it.

Even though the apps are in heavy competition with each other, I never really gave any of the competitors a chance.

Recently, I noticed more podcast-specific features rolling out to YouTube Music and Spotify. Perfect timing to give YouTube Music for Podcasts a chance, and I’m really glad I did. Spotify may not be my old reliable anymore.

What do I care about most when I’m listening to podcasts?

Different apps might cater better to your experience

First and foremost, I sat down and really thought about what I prioritize when it comes to consuming podcasts and music.

Everyone has such a different experience when it comes to consuming audio media, so this may not really vibe with you.

Someone who primarily listens on the subway will be different from someone who listens in their car or in bed at night.

That being said, there are a few priorities that most people can agree upon when it comes to podcast apps: library size, app integration, convenience, ease of use, and price.

For a lot of those categories, YouTube Music is the one that wins out, hands down.

What makes the experience really shine

And where it needs a little polish

The best feature of listening to podcasts on YouTube Music on your device is the ability to switch from Audio to Video seamlessly. No contest here.

YouTube’s bread and butter is videos, so for any podcast that has an accompanying video, it’s your best option.

I tried to watch a video podcast on Spotify, but the experience was clunky and felt tacked on.

On the topic of switching from audio to video, another major point in favor of YouTube Music is the ability to swap between your devices easily.

I consistently watch my YouTube videos while I’m at my desk or on my TV app, so it feels simple to swap over to my phone and finish watching or listening as I’m heading out the door.

I know, I know, it’s not like Spotify doesn’t have TV apps or websites. But as I said, I don’t like its video viewing experience, so it’s really much more convenient to use the YouTube-associated apps instead.

All the little pros and cons add up

Little differences here and there make a difference

If we’re getting nitpicky here, there are pros and cons to YouTube Music and Spotify as podcast listening platforms.

Firstly, as much as I like YouTube Music, I find its UI isn’t very friendly. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it isn’t organized in a way I find visually appealing or comfortable. It’s acceptable, but I think the point really goes to Spotify for that one.

Also, something I like about listening through YouTube Music is the access to user comments. That might be a con for you, but I’m a little nosy and like hearing about what everyone is talking about in the comments section.

It’s not always the most stimulating conversation, but it enhances my experience.

Lastly, I’m on the fence about the algorithm and curation experience when it comes to suggesting new media from either app.

YouTube has the biggest raw library size, without a doubt. But I’m not always sold on its recommendations. Whereas Spotify, I feel, does a better job curating but tends to fall back on safe choices (which become repetitive or generic).

If you’re going to pay anyway, you should get the best bang for your buck

Free-plan users scroll by; there’s no way I’m putting up with ads

The straw that finally broke the camel’s back for me was when I compared the costs of these services.

I always pay for premium versions of anything I use on a daily basis, so there was no doubt whether I was going to go with a free plan.

Spotify was costing me $12.99 every month. I was only really using it for music and podcasts. If I wanted to pay for the YouTube Premium bundle that included ad-free videos as well, it was $15.99 every month.

Not everyone will see the value there, but I watch YouTube videos all the time, and for an extra $3 every month, I see clear value in watching my videos ad-free (and in the background).

It’s not perfect, but I’m sold

So long, Spotify, it’s been a good run! But as someone who listens to a lot of podcasts and watches a lot of videos, it just makes sense to switch over to YouTube.

The prices have risen to become too comparable for me to see the value in sticking with Spotify only. While the UI is sleeker, I can’t justify sticking around any longer.

I’m not super sold on their new auto-speed or on-the-go feature, but because it is pushing out new updates like this makes me feel hopeful.

Maybe if Spotify’s pricing becomes more competitive in the future, I might give it some thought, but for now, there’s really no comparison; YouTube comes out on top.