If you're thinking about buying one of Apple's smart speakers, either a HomePod ($299) or a HomePod mini ($99), you're going to also want consider music streaming services. That's because unlike other popular smart speakers (like the Amazon Echo, Nest Home and even the Sonos One), buying one of Apple's smart speakers only makes sense if you're an Apple Music subscriber.
If you’re a Spotify or Amazon Music subscriber, for example, you can't use "Hey Siri" voice commands HomePod to play certain songs or ask questions about the artist or album. You’ll be able to ask Siri to function as a simple remote — you can ask the voice assistant to play/pause, skip tracks and adjust the volume — if you subscribe to another music service, but nothing more specific than that.
The Best Bookshelf Speakers of 2021
$998/pair
The Wharfedale EVO4.2 is our pick for the best all-around bookshelf speakers under $1,000.
$1,500/pair
The KEF LS50 Meta is one of the best bookshelf speakers you can buy. If you can afford them, we highly recommend them.
That’s right, it’s pretty much Apple Music or bust with any of Apple's smart speakers, which admittedly is a little bit of a bummer, but it’s also a big reason why people might want to convert over to Apple Music. In fact, as of early 2019, Apple Music has surpassed Spotify as the music streaming service with the most paid subscribers.
But switching from Spotify to Apple Music can be intimidating. The two interfaces are noticeably different and podcasts aren’t integrated into the Apple Music app like they are with Spotify (you need to open the separate Apple Podcasts app for that). If you find yourself in this predicament — not wanting to switch over because you’re so heavily invested — a way to make that transition slightly easier is to quickly transfer your Spotify playlists over to Apple Music.
You need to download a separate app, like the ones below, and you’ll most likely have to pay a small fee, but it’s a small price to pay to carry over your playlists. Also, many of the below services aren't limited to Apple Music or Spotify. If you're switching from basically any music service to another, be it from Tidal to Amazon Music or from Pandora to Deezer, these services will likely be able to help you out.
Free Your Music
1. Download the app (iOS, Android)
2. Open the app and follow the steps to give it access to your Spotify account.
3. It’ll then ask you to “select destination” for the service you want the playlists to be transferred. Select Apple Music.
4. Select the playlists that you want carried over.
The free version of Free Your Music allows you to carry over 100 songs and one playlist. The premium version, which costs $9.89, allows you carry over unlimited number of songs and playlists.
SongShift
1. Download the iPhone or iPad app (iOS). There is no Android app.
2. Open the app and select “get started.” Select “Spotify” and then “Apple Music” in the “available services” section. You’ll have to give the app access to each music service.
3. You’ll want to start a “shift” to transfer playlists. Select Spotify > the specific playlist > and then Apple Music.
As of July 2020, there is no free version of SongShift anymore — but there are three different Pro subscription options. You can choose between $5/month or $20/year subscriptions. There's also a one-time lifetime subscription that costs $40. Each Pro subscription lets you carry over unlimited number of songs and playlists.
Soundiiz
1. Open the web app.
2. Select the music service you are switching from (Spotify).
3. Select Soundiiz as the source service.
4. Select the playlists and songs you want transferred.
5. Select the music service you're switching to (Apple Music).
Soundiiz offers free and premium plans, however the premium plan is the only one that allows you to convert playlists from one platform to another. It $4.50/month or $36/ year; if you want to do a one time transfer, you can cancel after one month. The free version allows you to import playlists from saved files on your computer, but not from other music services.
