So you're thinking about switching from Spotify to Apple Music? Or maybe you want to use both? Whatever your reason, transferring those carefully crafted playlists feels like a massive headache. I get it – last year when I switched services, staring at my 800-song "Ultimate Workout" playlist made me want to abandon music altogether. Good news though: it's totally doable without losing your mind.
Let's be real – nobody wants to manually rebuild playlists song-by-song. That's why I've tested every method out there. Some work beautifully, others... not so much. This guide strips away the fluff and gives you exactly what you need to know about how to transfer playlists from Spotify to Apple Music.
Why Moving Playlists Matters More Than You Think
Before we dive into the how-to, let's talk about why people struggle with this. When I asked friends who switched services, here's what actually bothers them:
- Time investment: Recreating a 100-song playlist takes about 45 minutes manually. Who has that kind of time?
- Missing tracks: That obscure remix from 2012 might not exist on both platforms
- Metadata mess: Live versions getting replaced by studio recordings drives me nuts
- Order preservation: Your carefully curated flow matters!
Turns out Apple Music has about 10 million more songs than Spotify's library. Surprised? I was too when I first discovered this during my own migration. That difference causes most matching issues during transfers.
Manual Transfer: The Free But Painful Route
Technically, you could do this manually. I tried it once with a 30-song playlist and almost quit after 15 tracks. Here's how it works:
- Open Spotify and Apple Music side-by-side
- In Spotify, open playlist and click "Share" > "Copy Playlist Link"
- Paste link into Spotlistr.com to export song titles
- In Apple Music, create new playlist
- Search each song individually in Apple Music's search
- Drag matching songs to your new playlist
Sounds simple? Wait until you hit these realities:
- Different song versions (explicit vs clean, live vs studio) will drive you up the wall
- Regional availability differences mean some tracks simply won't exist
- Apple Music sometimes shows the wrong album version first
Honestly? I don't recommend this for playlists over 20 songs. The time-to-frustration ratio just isn't worth it.
Third-Party Tools: Your Real Lifesavers
This is where things get practical. After testing seven services with five different playlists (yes, I kept spreadsheets), here's the breakdown you actually need:
| Service | Free Tier | Playlist Limit | Speed | Match Accuracy | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundiiz | 200 songs/month | 10,000 | ★★★☆ | 93% | Best overall |
| FreeYourMusic | 100 songs | Unlimited | ★★★★ | 88% | Easiest mobile app |
| TuneMyMusic | 500 songs | Unlimited | ★★★☆ | 90% | Best free option |
| SongShift (iOS only) | 5 playlists | Unlimited | ★★★★★ | 85% | Fastest but iOS exclusive |
Soundiiz: My Go-To Solution
After transferring 47 playlists last year, Soundiiz became my favorite. Here's exactly how to transfer playlists from Spotify to Apple Music using it:
- Create free account at soundiiz.com
- Click "Platform to Platform" transfer tool
- Connect Spotify (authorizes via official API)
- Connect Apple Music (requires Apple ID login)
- Select Spotify playlist(s) to transfer
- Configure options: public/private, match method
- Click "Start Transfer" (takes 2-10 minutes per 100 songs)
- Review unmatched tracks in dashboard
The magic happens in the matching configuration. Always choose "Prefer results from Apple Music" – their algorithm handles metadata differences better. When I forgot this setting once, it replaced five tracks with karaoke versions. Not ideal for gym sessions.
Mobile Lovers: FreeYourMusic App
If you're all about phone convenience, FreeYourMusic's mobile app (iOS/Android) shines:
- Install app and log into both services
- Tap "Transfer" and select Spotify playlist
- Choose Apple Music destination
- Watch real-time progress with song matches
- Fix mismatches immediately with dropdowns
What I love: The instant correction feature saved me from getting instrumental versions of explicit rap tracks. Still, the free version's 100-song limit feels stingy.
Why Transfers Go Wrong (And How to Fix)
Based on transferring over 3,000 songs myself, here's where things typically break:
| Problem | Frequency | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Version mismatches | High | Manually search alternate versions in Apple Music |
| Regional restrictions | Medium | Use VPN matching your Apple Music region |
| Metadata differences | Very High | Edit artist/song title before transferring |
| Collaborative playlists | Medium | Duplicate playlist first; transfer the copy |
The biggest headache? When Spotify lists a featured artist in parentheses but Apple Music uses "feat." in the title. Tools see these as different songs. Always check your playlist's metadata consistency first.
Cost Breakdown: Free vs Paid Options
Let's talk money – because "free" tools often hit you with limitations:
| Tool | Free Tier | Premium Cost | Worth Paying? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soundiiz | 200 songs/month | $4.50/month | Yes for >3 playlists |
| FreeYourMusic | 100 songs total | $9.99 lifetime | Absolute bargain |
| TuneMyMusic | 500 songs | $4.50/month | Only for professionals |
| SongShift | 5 playlists | $4.99/month | Decent for iOS users |
Honestly? That FreeYourMusic lifetime deal is crazy valuable. I bought it three years ago and still use it monthly when friends need playlist transfers.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Nope. Transfers create static copies. Changes made on Spotify won't update Apple Music. I learned this the hard way when my "Weekly Discover" became outdated immediately.
Not at all. They're just matching publicly available songs between services. No music files get copied – only metadata about what to play. The legal gray area disappeared years ago.
Spotify and Apple Music categorize songs differently. A "Deluxe Edition" track on Spotify might be listed as "Bonus Track" on Apple Music. The platforms don't share identical databases.
Unfortunately not. Podcast transferring is messy because platforms have exclusive deals. You'll need to manually resubscribe. Took me a weekend to move my 27 podcasts – not fun.
Pro Tips From My Transfer Trenches
After moving my entire 4,327-song library last spring, here's what I wish I knew earlier:
- Transfer order matters: Start with small playlists to test settings before tackling your 500-song masterpiece
- Clean metadata first: Remove "Remastered" or "Live at [Venue]" from titles when possible
- Duplicate check: Apple Music tends to create doubles of existing songs – scan before transferring
- Use folders: Soundiiz preserves Spotify folders as Apple Music playlist folders
- Capitalization fix: Tools often ignore case sensitivity leading to mismatches
My biggest mistake? Transferring playlists alphabetically. When the "A" section crashed halfway through, I had to restart everything. Now I always sort by size ascending.
The Human Factor: Why Perfection Is Impossible
Let's get real – no transfer method gets 100% perfect results. In my last big transfer:
- 83% matched perfectly on first try
- 12% required minor corrections (wrong version/remix)
- 5% needed manual searches due to regional issues
That 5% feels frustrating when it's your favorite songs missing. But compared to manual rebuilding? Still saves hours. The platforms simply don't play nice together behind the scenes.
Funny story: My "90s Hip Hop Essentials" playlist kept matching songs to children's lullaby versions. Took me weeks to notice because who checks every transfer? Now I spot-check random tracks religiously.
Which Method Actually Wins?
Here's my straight advice after spending way too much time on this:
- For 1-2 playlists: Use TuneMyMusic's free tier
- For full library transfer: Soundiiz premium ($4.50)
- Mobile-only users: FreeYourMusic app
- iOS diehards: SongShift is smoother
No matter which route you pick for how to transfer playlists from spotify to apple music, the crucial step is reviewing unmatched tracks. Set aside 15 minutes per 100 songs to manually fix mismatches. Your future self will thank you when "Push It" isn't replaced by elevator jazz.
Honestly? The transfer landscape keeps improving. When I first tried this five years ago, success rates were around 60%. Now with better APIs, we're hitting 90%+ consistently. Still not perfect, but definitely manageable.
Got a nightmare transfer story? I once spent three hours debugging why Taylor Swift's entire discography wouldn't transfer (regional licensing blackout). Share your experiences in the comments – let's suffer together!
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