Summary
- Spotify Jam allows real-time group listening with up to 32 people, regardless of phone type, and offers more control to the host.
- Apple SharePlay is similar to Jam but requires iOS 18 on iPhones, limiting participation, and is considered less user-friendly.
- Spotify’s open platform for Jam surpasses Apple’s locked environment for SharePlay, giving it an edge in group listening features.
Years of fighting over control of the aux are behind us. One person controlling the music at any given function could’ve easily spelled disaster for the vibes, unless they were a seasoned playlist connoisseur. While most Bluetooth speakers still only allow one device to connect at once, there is a way for everyone’s favorite song to get added to the queue without the chosen connector having to sit there all night taking requests. That is, as long as you have one of the two most popular music streaming apps.
As you may have guessed, the two are Spotify and Apple Music. The two music giants are in an everlasting stalemate, with each releasing a new and exciting feature that tempts users to sway the other direction every couple of years. First it was Spotify Wrapped, then it was Apple Music crossfade. However, I think the very best feature that both streamers adopted was the ability for users to “share the aux” or create a group listening session.
Let me introduce you to Spotify Jam and Apple SharePlay — but also tell you why one is better than the other.
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What is Spotify Jam?
And why it’s better than Apple’s ‘equivalent’
First things first, I must admit that I’m a Spotify loyalist. My family and friends call me a turncoat — I had Apple Music up until 2019, but the uniqueness of Spotify Wrapped (at the time) was enough to sway me. Spotify unveiled Jam back in September 2023 for Premium users as a way to join real-time listening sessions with their friends. You can have up to 32 people in a Jam, adding songs to the queue, and profile pictures will appear beside each song added so you know who’s responsible for the last banger (or flop).
Free users can join a Jam if they’re invited by a Premium user.
Even if someone isn’t in the same room, you can invite other users to join remotely with a link or QR code. Or, if you just want those around you to have access, simply open your Playing Song > Click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner > Tap Start a Jam. Then, anyone around you with Spotify open will likely receive a prompt to join your Jam.
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If you run into connecting issues (which is always a risk with wireless), you can share the link or enlarge the QR code on screen by tapping it for your company to scan. But beware, if you keep queuing up songs no one wants to hear, the host can remove Jam members. Maybe don’t play LINKIN PARK when the vibe is smooth jazz, alright?
The host can also decide whether or not other members can change the song while another is playing or how loud the volume is in real-time.
The best part of Spotify Jam is that no matter what kind of phone you have — whether you’re an Android loyalist or Apple enthusiast — as long as you have Spotify, you can join a Jam. The same can’t be said for group listening with Apple SharePlay.
- Premium Subscription
-
$12 per month
- Free trial
-
Yes
- Ad plans
-
Free with advertisements
What is Apple SharePlay?
Jam, but with an annoying catch
Apple SharePlay is almost the exact same thing as Spotify Jam — just not as iconic. Okay, that’s a personal opinion, but the ideas are very much the same: SharePlay allows iPhone users to play music together on a HomePod, Apple TV, or another third-party Bluetooth speaker. It’s through Apple Music, and (like Spotify) the host must be a subscriber, but the participants need not have a subscription of their own — just an Apple ID.
Spotify is superior because it isn’t locked inside a walled garden when it comes to group listening.
However, there is a catch — and it’s what makes Apple Music’s SharePlay fall behind Spotify, in my book. To participate in Apple Music SharePlay, you must have an iPhone that is running iOS 18 or later. If you check that box, you can scan the QR code in the Music app and wait for approval from the host.
Spotify is superior because it isn’t locked inside a walled garden when it comes to group listening. Hopefully, Apple will take a track out of the other green streamer’s playlist and change this in future updates. Until then, I’m going to keep enjoying my yearly Wrapped.
- Price
-
$11
- Free trial
-
Yes
- Ad plans
-
No
Related
Would you pay extra for a Super Premium Spotify plan?
Music streaming juggernaut Spotify is in the news again, this time in relation to leaks surrounding a possible lossless audio subscription tier in the works. Reverse engineering of code on the part of Chris Messina on Threads (via Android Authority) has revealed references to lossless Spotify audio sound quality, with music up to 24-bit at 44.1 kHz. A separate leak from Ok_improvement5956 on Reddit provides additional references, but from the desktop app side of the equation.
These leaks aren’t exactly shocking, as Spotify’s CEO has previously hinted at an upgrade to the service’s sound quality in a future update. It’s been four years since the company first confirmed its intent to offer a ‘Spotify Hi-Fi’ subscription tier with access to higher-fidelity audio streaming for those that want it.
For context, other music streaming platforms like Apple Music and Amazon Music have offered lossless audio support in their higher-end subscription tiers for a couple of years now, and Tidal has
