iTunes Match vs Apple Music: Full Comparison Guide
Understanding the real difference between iTunes Match versus Apple Music is essential for users deciding which Apple service fits their listening habits. Although both services involve cloud access to music, their goals, capabilities, and limitations are very different. This guide provides a clear, in-depth comparison of iTunes Match and Apple Music, helping you make an informed decision while showing how Apple Music users can keep their songs DRM-free for offline playback.
Inhoudsopgave Part 1. What Is iTunes Match and Apple Music?Part 2. What’s the Difference Between iTunes Match and Apple Music?Part 3. Bonus: Keep Apple Music Songs DRM-Free for Offline ListeningDeel 4. FAQDeel 5. Conclusie
Part 1. What Is iTunes Match and Apple Music?
What Is iTunes Match?
iTunes Match is Apple’s cloud-based music locker service designed for users who already maintain a personal MP3/AAC library.
Prijs: iTunes Match is available as a yearly subscription rather than a monthly service. In the United States, the cost of iTunes Match is $24.99 per year.
Key Features of iTunes Match
- Matches and uploads your personal music library to iCloud
- Provides access to your uploaded/matched songs on all Apple devices
- Supports up to 100,000 tracks
- Allows re-downloading songs in 256-kbps AAC
- No access to the Apple Music streaming catalog
- All matched or uploaded files are DRM-free
Best for: iTunes Match is ideal for users who have a large offline music library and simply want it synced across devices without DRM restrictions.
Wat is Apple-muziek?
Apple Music is a full-scale music streaming platform offering a massive library, curated playlists, and modern listening features unavailable in iTunes Match.
Prijs: Apple Music pricing is structured around monthly subscriptions, with different plans based on how you plan to use the service:
- Individueel abonnement: $ 10.99 per maand
- Studentenabonnement: $ 5.99 per maand
- Family Plan: $16.99 per month (shared across up to six people)
Belangrijkste kenmerken van Apple Music
- Access to 100+ million songs
- Personalized playlists, recommendations, and exclusive content
- Apple Music-radio
- Lossless and Spatial Audio options
- Offline downloads with DRM
- Available on iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and more
Best for: Apple Music is best for people who enjoy streaming, discovering new music, and having access to a global catalog.
Part 2. What’s the Difference Between iTunes Match and Apple Music?
To understand iTunes Match vs Apple Music, you must consider how differently they handle libraries, streaming, access, and DRM protection. Below are the core distinctions explained.
1. Purpose and Core Functionality
The primary difference between iTunes Match and Apple Music lies in their purpose. iTunes Match is designed for users who already own a large personal music library and want to upload, match, and sync those files across devices through iCloud. In contrast, Apple Music is a full streaming subscription service that provides access to over 100 million songs, curated playlists, radio stations, and exclusive content. One service focuses on managing music you own; the other gives you access to an enormous streaming catalog.
2. Music Ownership and DRM Protection
Ownership is a major dividing line in iTunes Match vs Apple Music. Songs downloaded through iTunes Match are DRM-free, meaning you can keep them forever, transfer them freely, and play them on any device without restrictions.
Apple Music tracks, however, include DRM protection. This means offline Apple Music songs stop working if you cancel your subscription, and they cannot be copied, transferred, or played on non-authorized devices unless converted using an appropriate tool.
3. Streaming Access and Music Discovery
iTunes Match does not include any streaming library, and its purpose is to store and sync music you already own. Apple Music, on the other hand, delivers unlimited streaming access to millions of songs, personalized playlists, algorithm-driven recommendations, and exclusive releases. Users who enjoy discovering new music or exploring a global catalog will find Apple Music far superior.
4. Audio Quality Options
When comparing iTunes Match vs Apple Music, audio quality plays a clear role. iTunes Match provides matched tracks in 256-kbps AAC, which is acceptable for most users but not high-resolution. Apple Music supports higher-quality formats such as Lossless and High-Resolution Lossless, and even Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio on compatible devices. Users seeking premium audio experiences will benefit more from Apple Music.
5. Compatibiliteit tussen verschillende apparaten
iTunes Match allows your uploaded or matched music to sync across all Apple devices and lets you download DRM-free files on each. Apple Music offers broader compatibility, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and CarPlay, but its DRM restrictions limit how freely downloaded tracks can be moved or kept. iTunes Match offers freedom; Apple Music offers convenience plus broader app availability.
6. What Happens After Cancellation
The post-subscription experience is one of the clearest practical differences in iTunes Match vs Apple Music. If you cancel iTunes Match, you keep all your downloaded DRM-free songs permanently. If you cancel Apple Music, all DRM-protected offline songs immediately become unplayable. Apple Music users who want long-term access to their downloaded songs must convert them to DRM-free formats before cancellation.
Do You Need Both iTunes Match and Apple Music?
Most users do not need both. Apple Music already includes iCloud syncing for your Apple Music library, making iTunes Match redundant for many subscribers.
iTunes Match is the ideal, budget-friendly option if you primarily want to sync a massive local library of MP3s and value DRM-free downloads without the need for a streaming catalog.
On the other hand, Apple Music is the superior choice for those who stream new releases daily, enjoy curated recommendations, and prioritize premium features like Lossless and Spatial Audio. Understanding these distinctions ensures you select the service that best aligns with your listening habits.
Part 3. Bonus: Keep Apple Music Songs DRM-Free for Offline Listening
Because Apple Music tracks include DRM, users cannot keep or transfer them after cancelling the subscription. To preserve Apple Music songs for offline use, they must be converted to DRM-free formats. DumpMedia Apple Music Converter is built for users who choose Apple Music over iTunes Match and want permanent access to their tracks.
Belangrijke herinnering: DumpMedia Apple Music Converter does not work with iTunes and should only be used with Apple Music streaming tracks.
Download gratis Download gratis
Belangrijkste voordeel van DumpMedia Apple Music Converter
- Converteer Apple Music naar MP3, M4A, WAV of FLAC
- Verwijder DRM van Apple Music downloads
- Retain ID3 tags, metadata, and high audio quality
- Play Apple Music songs on any device (MP3 players, Android phones, car audio, TVs, etc.)
- Keep your converted files permanently
This offers a practical advantage for users comparing iTunes Match vs Apple Music and deciding based on long-term file ownership.
Gids van DumpMedia Apple Music Converter
Stap 1. Download en installeer DumpMedia Apple Music-converter. Er zijn pc- en Mac-versies beschikbaar.
Download gratis Download gratis
Stap 2. Open DumpMediaGa vervolgens naar het tabblad Bibliotheek. Selecteer de nummers die u wilt converteren vanuit uw Apple Music-bibliotheek door het selectievakje bij elk nummer aan te vinken.
Stap 3. Choose an output format that you like to utilize and make sure to define an output folder. The other remaining output parameters can be set as you wish.
Stap 4. Once you are done setting up, you can just tick off the "Convert All" button that you will see right away at the bottom of the screen.
Deel 4. FAQ
1. Is iTunes Match still available?
Yes. Apple continues supporting it as a standalone subscription.
2. Should I get iTunes Match if I already have Apple Music?
Usually no. Apple Music includes library syncing, reducing the need for iTunes Match.
3. Are Apple Music downloads DRM-protected?
Yes. Apple Music songs remain DRM-locked unless converted.
4. Which has better audio quality in iTunes Match vs Apple Music?
Apple Music offers lossless and Spatial Audio, while iTunes Match uses 256-kbps AAC.
Deel 5. Conclusie
When evaluating iTunes Match vs Apple Music, the choice ultimately depends on whether you care more about owning your music or accessing a vast streaming library. iTunes Match is the better option for users who already have a large personal collection and want DRM-free, permanent access to their songs across devices. Apple Music, however, is the superior choice for listeners who prioritize streaming millions of tracks, discovering new artists, and enjoying modern features such as curated playlists, Lossless audio, and Spatial Audio.
For Apple Music subscribers who want to keep their tracks playable offline without DRM limitations, a specialized tool like DumpMedia Apple Music Converter provides that control, exclusively for Apple Music content, not iTunes Match.
30% korting >>>