When you open your Apple device to explore music options, you may notice two services that sound similar but do different things: Apple Music and iTunes Match.
Apple Music is the one most people know. It is the popular subscription service for streaming and finding new music. iTunes Match is quieter and not talked about as much, but it can be a smart choice if you already own a lot of music.
This usually becomes a real issue when you want all your music in one place. You may have songs from old CDs, downloads, or personal files on your computer. At the same time, you want access to new music and playlists from Apple Music. That is when the choice becomes confusing. Both services help with music, but they solve different problems. Some people wonder which one fits them better, or whether they should use both.
This guide will explain both Apple Music and iTunes Match in a simple and clear way. You will learn how they compare, how they differ, and how to decide which one is right for you, no matter where you are or which Apple device you use.
Part 1. What Are Apple Music and iTunes Match?
These two services both help you listen to music on Apple devices, but they work in different ways. Knowing what each one is can help you decide which fits your needs. The key is understanding whether you want streaming, personal music syncing, or both.
What Is Apple Music?
Basic Info of Apple Music:
- Service: Music streaming subscription
- Library Size: Over 100 million songs
- Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV, Windows, Android, Web Player
- Core Functions: Stream songs, playlists, live radio, personalized recommendations, offline downloads, lyrics, Spatial Audio
- Pricing (US): Individual $10.99/month, Student $5.99/month, Family $16.99/month
Apple Music is Apple's main streaming subscription service. With a monthly fee of $10.99 or $109 per year, you get access to millions of songs, playlists made by Apple editors and users, plus personalized mixes like Favorites Mix and Chill Mix. You also get live global radio stations and music recommendations based on your listening. Apple Music works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, and it also supports Android and Windows.
iCloud Music Library is one of the most popular features because it keeps everything synced across devices. Other features like Spatial Audio make Apple Music more than just a music library. You can download songs for offline listening, but you need an active subscription to keep them.
What Is iTunes Match?
Basic Info of iTunes Match:
- Service: Cloud syncing for your own music library
- Library Limit: Up to 100,000 songs
- Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows (via iTunes), iCloud
- Core Functions: Matches and uploads your music to iCloud for access on any device
- Pricing (US): $24.99/year
iTunes Match is an older subscription that is still available today. It is not a streaming service, but a cloud library service that focuses on syncing your own music library through iCloud, costing $24.99 per year. It scans your local music collection, matches songs to Apple's catalog, and uploads any songs that are not matched so you can access them from any device.
iCloud Music Library is also included with iTunes Match, but iTunes Match is mainly for people who want to access their own music without a full streaming subscription.
Part 2. Apple Music vs. iTunes Match: Key Similarities
Even though Apple Music and iTunes Match are different, they still share a few common features. Both work with your Apple ID and connect your music across devices. This means you can keep your music accessible no matter which Apple device you use.
1. Both Use iCloud to Sync Your Music
If you have music scattered across devices, iCloud Music Library, also called Sync Library, is the feature that brings everything together. Both Apple Music and iTunes Match rely on this to keep your collection synchronized across devices. So when you add a song on one device, it shows up on your other devices signed in with the same Apple ID without you having to move files manually. And if you use more than one device, like an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even a Windows PC, it makes your library feel like it is always with you. It turns your local collection into a cloud library you can access anywhere.
2. Both Match Songs in Your Library
Both Apple Music and iTunes Match scan your local music library and try to match your songs with Apple's catalog, like songs ripped from CDs, downloaded from other sources, or bought from iTunes. If Apple finds a match, it marks the song as "matched" instead of uploading your original file. That saves time and bandwidth, and it can also give you the AAC version whenever a matched track is available. You can think of this as upgrading older collections or cleaning up your library without doing anything manually. But note that matching may replace your original files, so a backup is crucial if you want to revert everything to the original version.
3. Both Upload Songs That Do Not Match
Not every track in your library will have a match in Apple's catalog. This is common for rare tracks, live recordings, or songs from smaller labels. When a song does not match, both Apple Music and iTunes Match upload that file to iCloud so it becomes part of your cloud library. Once uploaded, these songs behave like the matched ones. You can access them from any device linked to your Apple ID, stream them from the cloud, or download them for offline listening. This means even the unusual parts of your collection stay available, without you having to transfer files to each device.
4. Both Let You Access Music on Multiple Devices
This multi-device access is one of the biggest conveniences these services offer. After matching or uploading your songs, both services let you access your music across multiple devices signed in with the same Apple ID. You can stream or download your matched or uploaded songs on devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computers as long as Sync Library is enabled. For many users, the ability to turn a local library into a cloud library is the main reason they consider using iTunes Match or Apple Music.
Part 3. Apple Music vs. iTunes Match: Key Differences
The biggest differences are how the services treat music and where your files come from. Apple Music focuses on streaming and a large online catalog, while iTunes Match focuses on your own music collection.
Apple Music is a streaming service
Apple Music is made for streaming. It gives you access to a huge catalog of songs, playlists, and recommendations. You can search for music, play it instantly, and download it for offline listening. It is designed for people who want to discover and stream or download music without needing to own it. Apple Music feels like a big online music store you can stream from anytime. You do not have to manage your own music files. You just press play and the music starts.
iTunes Match is a cloud library for your own music
iTunes Match is not a streaming service. It is meant to sync the music you already own. It scans your library, matches or uploads songs to iCloud, and lets you access them on other devices. It does not give you Apple's streaming catalog, playlists, or recommendations. iTunes Match feels more like a cloud backup for your own collection. It is a way to make your local music library available on any device without manually transferring files.
Apple Music is about access, iTunes Match is about ownership
A key difference is ownership and DRM. Apple Music downloads are protected by DRM, which means they are tied to your subscription. When you download a song from Apple Music, you are downloading a protected M4P file. The music will only play on devices that are signed in to your Apple ID and have an active Apple Music subscription.
If you cancel Apple Music, access to the downloaded songs will be revoked, and your library will disappear on most devices except the original computer where the music was downloaded. To prevent this from happening, many users use a tool called ViWizard Apple Music Converter. It helps create DRM free copies of Apple Music songs, playlists, albums, artists, and even your entire library so you can keep them forever.
A full-featured Apple Music converter that easily converts Apple Music songs, albums, playlists—including iCloud Music Library content, personalized recommendations, and curated playlists—into MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC so you can keep your Apple Music forever or transfer it to any device without restrictions.
Bottom Line: In short, Apple Music gives you access to a large streaming catalog, but you do not own the songs. iTunes Match does not offer streaming, but it lets you keep your music files and maintain ownership.
Part 4. How to Choose Between Apple Music and iTunes Match
Some people only need one service, while others may benefit from both. Here is the answer: choose Apple Music if you want streaming, and choose iTunes Match if you want your own music library synced across devices.
- You want access to a huge music catalog.
- You like playlists, radio stations, and music recommendations.
- You want to discover new music without owning it.
- You want to stream music on multiple devices, including Android.
- You already own a large music collection.
- You only need to sync your personal library across devices.
- You want DRM free files you can keep forever.
- You do not need streaming, playlists, or music discovery.
Do You Need Both Apple Music and iTunes Match?
For most people, the answer is no. Apple Music already includes matching and syncing features, so you do not usually need both services. However, some users choose to keep both if they want streaming and a separate cloud backup of their own music library. For most users, Apple Music alone is enough.
Part 5. Comparison Table: Apple Music vs. iTunes Match
| Feature | Apple Music | iTunes Match |
| What it is | Music streaming service | Cloud storage for your own music |
| Price (US) | $10.99/month individual, $5.99/month student, $16.99/month family | $24.99/year |
| Main use | Listen to any song from Apple's library | Upload your own songs to the cloud |
| Music catalog | Over 100 million songs available to stream | No streaming catalog, only your own songs |
| Offline listening | Yes, but only while subscribed | Yes, and you keep the songs even if you cancel |
| DRM / Ownership | Downloaded songs stop working after you cancel | Your matched songs stay DRM free and stay yours |
| Device support | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV, Windows, Android, web | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows (via iTunes) |
| Syncing across devices | Yes, includes your own library | Yes, only your own library |
| Song limit | Up to 100,000 personal songs | Up to 100,000 personal songs |
| Extra features | Playlists, radio, personalized mixes, lyrics, Spatial Audio | No extras, only syncing and storage |
Part 6. How to Turn Apple Music into Personal Music for Backup
Apple Music is great for streaming, but it is not the same as owning music files. If you want a personal backup or permanent offline access, you need to convert and download your Apple Music library into standard audio files.
ViWizard Apple Music Converter is designed for Apple Music subscribers who want to turn streaming music into personal files. It works through a built-in Apple Music Web Player, so you can select songs, albums, or playlists from both your library and the streaming catalog. Then you can convert them into common formats like MP3, WAV, M4A, M4B, AIFF, or FLAC. MP3 is the most flexible and works on both Apple and other devices. You can also adjust output settings such as bitrate, with MP3 options from 256Kbps to 320Kbps.
The conversion process is fast and automatic. DRM is removed during conversion, and the process can run 20x faster than real time, making it practical to convert your entire library. Once converted, you have a personal backup you can keep using even after your subscription ends.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
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- Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
- Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
- Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
- Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details
Step 1Install ViWizard Apple Music Converter
Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows PC or Mac. Open the program and sign in with the same Apple ID you use for Apple Music, so ViWizard Apple Music Converter can access your full library, including playlists, albums, and individual tracks, so you can convert them for long-term use.
Step 2Choose a DRM-Free Output Format
Open the Preferences menu in ViWizard and choose a widely supported format like MP3, WAV, M4A, M4B, FLAC, or AIFF. These formats are compatible with most devices and media players. You can also adjust the bit rate — higher bitrates mean better sound but larger files, while lower bitrates save storage.
Step 3Select Songs to Convert
Browse your Apple Music library inside ViWizard Apple Music Converter and select the songs, albums, or playlists you want to keep. Add them to the conversion queue. This will create DRM-free copies that you can keep forever, even if you cancel your Apple Music subscription.
Step 4Convert and Save Your Music
Start the conversion. ViWizard Apple Music Converter will automatically remove DRM and convert the tracks into standard audio files. Once finished, you will have a personal backup stored on your computer. After conversion, open the output folder to find your new audio files. You can now copy them to an external drive, upload them to cloud storage, or transfer them to any device you own. This means you can play your Apple Music songs without needing an active subscription or internet connection.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, one can see that if you choose Apple music, you will mostly be able to avail almost all of iTunes Match feature but it isn't vice versa. iTunes Match is ideally the best choice if your concern is on accessing your music collection across 10 different devices. But that's about it.
Apple music however adds a lot more to the mix and gives you access to a lot of new songs, playlists and what not.
So, if you are a music buff and you like to stay hooked to new and old songs all the time and splurging a little is not a problem, Apple Music is definitely the better and smarter choice than iTunes Match.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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