Spotify Desktop vs Web Player: Which one Has Better Features?

When deciding what version of Spotify to use, it’s important to compare the features that each provides. This greatly influences your listening experience, as well as how comfortable and efficient you are when using the app.

Many users have personal preferences when it comes to their music. You might enjoy the freedom of accessing your curated playlists, liked songs, and peek at what your friends are listening to from any web browser, no matter what system you're on. However, by using the web player, you might be sacrificing precious sound quality and playlist organization capabilities.

Let's take a look at each version of Spotify and what features it provides.

It's no secret that many people these days want everything at their fingertips at any given moment. It's so convenient to be able to control things from your phone or computer without even leaving your bed or desk. This is particularly true when it comes to music streaming, with Spotify being one of the most popular services out there.

If you're using Spotify on your desktop, you can easily access its entire library just by launching the app. It's super easy and convenient! However, there is a catch - you need to have a computer at your disposal. This means that you can't just use any device to access your music.

On the other hand, using the Spotify web player only requires you to have an account. You can play music from anywhere, anytime. Plus, you can even log in to your account on a friend's device if you want to share your music with them. This makes it much more portable and convenient than the desktop client.

Winner: When it comes to portability, the Spotify web player is the way to go. You don't need to carry around a heavy computer, and you can access your music from any device with an internet connection.

As music lovers, we all want to enjoy our favorite songs in the best possible quality. While some people have a keen ear for music and can easily tell the difference in sound quality, others may not be as discerning.

If you're a Spotify user, you may have noticed that the quality of music can vary depending on how you access the platform. The web player, which is accessible to both free and premium users, offers a lower bitrate of 128kbps. On the other hand, the desktop client provides a higher quality listening experience, with free accounts having access to up to 160kbps and paying users enjoying the maximum quality of 320kbps.

Winner: It's no wonder that many people prefer using the desktop client over the web player. Even if you have a free account, you can still enjoy fairly good quality music. So, if you're a Spotify user who values sound quality, you may want to consider using the desktop client for the best possible listening experience. 

The Spotify desktop client offers a remarkable feature that allows users to effortlessly download their favorite tunes, making it convenient for offline listening. This functionality is exclusively offered to those who invest in a Spotify Premium subscription, displaying the added value of opting for the premium service.

Unfortunately, this feature is unavailable to web player users, regardless of whether they have a free or paid account. This distinction in accessibility encourages individuals seeking a versatile listening experience to explore the benefits of the Spotify desktop client and consider upgrading to a premium membership.

Winner: The desktop client is the clear winner, as it offers the only way of downloading music for offline listening.

Installing the Spotify desktop client on your computer may cause some issues if you don't have enough storage space. This is because the software requires enough space to run smoothly and may create temporary files that could take up additional storage. This could result in your computer's overall performance being affected.

You can still enjoy Spotify without having to install the software on your computer. The Spotify web player is an excellent alternative. All you need is a browser and an internet connection, and you're good to go! You can even bookmark the Spotify web player for easy access in the future.

Winner: If you're running low on storage space, or you simply don't want to install the Spotify app on your computer, using the Spotify web player is a great option for accessing your music library.

The equalizer is a fairly new feature in Spotify that took the internet by storm. Popularized on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, users are taking advantage of this feature by creating custom equalizer settings to create unique sound effects.

The downside is that the equalizer is only available on Spotify's desktop client and the mobile app. Unfortunately, users of the web player will not be able to enjoy this feature and will have to settle for the default settings. It's worth noting that this feature has been highly requested by web player users and there might be plans in place to roll it out eventually.

Winner: Spotify Desktop offers access to the popular equalizer feature.

Accessibility features are an important consideration when choosing a music streaming platform. Spotify desktop offers hotkeys to quickly control the playback of music. With these hotkeys at your fingertips, you can play and pause your music, skip tracks, or adjust the volume with just a few keystrokes.

Unfortunately, hotkeys are not available on the web player, which means users will have to manually click buttons to achieve the same results. This could be a deal-breaker for some users who are looking for an effortless way to control their music.

Winner: Spotify Desktop offers hotkeys for superior accessibility compared to the web player.

Spotify releases regular updates to both the desktop client and web player. This ensures that users always have access to the latest features and bug fixes. The only notable difference between the two platforms is that the desktop app allows you to opt out of automatic updates if you wish, while the web player does not offer this option.

Winner: Both platforms offer access to updates, but the desktop app also offers an optional opt-out feature.

While both versions of Spotify offer a great selection of features, it's the desktop client that stands out as the clear winner. It offers exclusive features such as offline listening and access to an equalizer, along with superior performance and hardware acceleration.

Although the web player is convenient in its own right, if you're looking for added functionality and a smooth experience, then the desktop client is the way to go.

Ultimately, this choice depends on each user's individual preferences. If you value sound quality and offline playback, then the Desktop app is perfect for you. However, if you value portability and platform independence, then the Web Player is the better option.

Both the Desktop app and the Web Player are excellent choices for listening to music on Spotify. It really comes down to what you're looking for in a music streaming platform.