The fastest way to transfer a playlist

The simplest method is to use a free third-party tool like Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic, which connects to both your Apple Music and Spotify accounts and copies songs from one playlist to the other. You log in with your credentials, select the Apple Music playlist you want to move, choose Spotify as the destination, and the tool matches and adds the songs to a new Spotify playlist. The whole process usually takes a few minutes, though it depends on the playlist size.

If you prefer not to use a third-party service, you can also do it manually by exporting your Apple Music playlist as a file and importing it into Spotify, though this method requires more steps and works better for smaller playlists. Both routes have trade-offs in speed and effort.

Key Takeaways

  • Third-party tools like Soundiiz, TuneMyMusic, and Playlisty connect directly to both services and transfer songs in minutes without manual work.
  • These tools create a new playlist in Spotify and match songs by title and artist, so most tracks transfer correctly but some may not find exact matches.
  • You can also export your Apple Music playlist as a file and manually search for songs in Spotify, though this is slower for large playlists.
  • Apple Music playlists cannot be transferred directly through either app's built-in features, so a third-party tool or manual method is required.

Using Soundiiz to transfer playlists

Soundiiz is one of the most widely used transfer tools because it handles large playlists and works reliably across both services. Go to soundiiz.com, click "Start Transfer", and select Apple Music as your source and Spotify as your destination. You will be asked to log into your Apple Music account first, then your Spotify account. Soundiiz will ask for permission to read your playlists and create new ones in Spotify.

Once you have authorized both accounts, Soundiiz shows you a list of your Apple Music playlists. Select the one you want to transfer, name the new Spotify playlist (or keep Soundiiz's default name), and click transfer. The tool then searches Spotify's library for each song and adds matches to your new playlist. A playlist with 100 songs typically completes within five to ten minutes.

If some songs do not transfer, Soundiiz shows you a list of unmatched tracks at the end. This usually happens when a song is not available on Spotify, the artist name is spelled differently, or the track is a remix or live version that Spotify has under a different title. You can search for these manually and add them to the playlist yourself.

Using TuneMyMusic as an alternative

TuneMyMusic works similarly to Soundiiz but has a slightly different interface. Visit tunemymusic.com, select Apple Music as your source, and Spotify as your destination. Log in with your Apple Music credentials, then select the playlist you want to transfer. TuneMyMusic will then ask you to log into Spotify and authorize the transfer.

One difference with TuneMyMusic is that it shows you a preview of the songs it found before completing the transfer, so you can see which tracks matched and which did not. This can be helpful if you want to review the results before the playlist appears in your Spotify account. The transfer itself takes about the same amount of time as Soundiiz.

Manual transfer if you prefer not to use third-party tools

If you do not want to connect a third-party service to your accounts, you can export your Apple Music playlist and manually add the songs to Spotify. On an iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Music app, find your playlist, tap the three dots, and select "Share Playlist". Choose "Copy Link" and paste it into a notes app or email so you have a record of the songs.

On a Mac or Windows computer, open Apple Music, right-click the playlist, and select "Export". This creates a file with the song titles and artists. Open Spotify, create a new playlist, and search for each song by title and artist. Add the matches to your Spotify playlist one by one. This method is practical for playlists under 50 songs but becomes tedious for larger collections.

A middle ground is to use a browser-based tool like Playlisty, which lets you paste a playlist link or upload a file and then transfer it to Spotify without needing to authorize access to your full account. This offers more privacy than Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic but still saves you from manual searching.

What happens to songs that do not match

Most songs transfer successfully because Spotify and Apple Music carry similar catalogs, but some tracks will not match. This happens most often with very new releases (which may not be on Spotify yet), very old or obscure recordings, live versions, remixes, or songs by independent artists with inconsistent metadata. When a song does not match, the transfer tool either skips it or lists it separately so you know it is missing.

After the transfer completes, check your new Spotify playlist and search manually for any missing songs. You can often find them by searching the artist name and song title, or by browsing the artist's full discography. If a song truly is not on Spotify, you will see a message saying it is not available in your region or at all.

Privacy and security when using transfer tools

Third-party transfer tools require you to log in with your Apple Music and Spotify credentials, which means they have temporary access to your accounts. Soundiiz, TuneMyMusic, and Playlisty are established services that have been used by millions of people, but you should still review what permissions you are granting before you authorize them.

When you log in through these tools, you are using OAuth, which is a find login method that does not require you to share your actual password. The tool receives permission to read your playlists and create new ones, but not to change your password or access payment information. You can revoke access to these tools at any time by going to your Apple Music or Spotify account settings and removing the app from your connected apps list.

Keeping playlists in sync after the transfer

Once you have transferred a playlist, the Spotify version does not automatically update if you add new songs to the Apple Music version. The transfer is a one-time copy, not a live connection. If you add songs to your Apple Music playlist later, you will need to transfer it again or manually add those songs to Spotify.

Some transfer tools offer a paid subscription that lets you set up automatic syncing, so new songs you add to Apple Music are automatically added to Spotify on a schedule. For most people, a one-time transfer is enough, but if you maintain a playlist actively across both services, syncing can save you time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a playlist that someone else created?

You can transfer a playlist you follow on Apple Music to Spotify, but the transfer tool will create a new playlist in your Spotify account rather than adding songs to the original playlist. If you want to share the transferred playlist with others, you can change its privacy settings to public and share the link.

What if a song is on Apple Music but not on Spotify?

The transfer tool will skip it or mark it as unmatched. After the transfer, you can search for the song manually in Spotify. If it is not there, it may not be available in your region, or the artist may not have licensed it to Spotify. You can check the artist's Spotify page to see what is available.

Do I need to pay for these transfer tools?

Soundiiz, TuneMyMusic, and Playlisty all offer free transfers for most playlists. Some have paid plans that add features like automatic syncing or the ability to transfer in bulk, but a single playlist transfer costs nothing.

Will the transfer delete my Apple Music playlist?

No. Transferring a playlist to Spotify does not affect your Apple Music account. Your original playlist stays in Apple Music, and a copy is created in Spotify. You can keep both or delete the Apple Music version if you no longer need it.

How long does a transfer take?

Most transfers complete within five to fifteen minutes, depending on the playlist size and how many songs need to be matched. Very large playlists (over 500 songs) may take longer. The tool will show you a progress bar or notification when it is done.