The fastest way to move a playlist from Spotify to Apple Music

The direct path is to use a third-party transfer tool — most commonly SongShift or Playlisty — because Spotify and Apple Music do not offer a built-in transfer feature. These apps read your Spotify playlist, match each song to Apple Music's catalog, and add them to a new playlist on your account. The process takes 5 to 15 minutes for a typical playlist, though very large playlists (500+ songs) may take longer.

You will need an active Apple Music subscription and a Spotify account (free or paid). The transfer tool connects to both services using your login credentials, so you control what it accesses. Most tools are free for playlists under a certain size; larger transfers may require a one-time payment or subscription.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify and Apple Music do not offer direct transfer, so you will use a third-party app like SongShift or Playlisty that matches songs between services.
  • The transfer tool needs permission to read your Spotify playlist and write to your Apple Music account, which you grant by logging in through the app.
  • Not every song transfers perfectly — some tracks may not exist on Apple Music, and the tool will skip or substitute them.
  • The entire process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes, and your new playlist appears in Apple Music immediately after the transfer completes.

Using SongShift to transfer your playlist

SongShift is the most widely used transfer tool. Go to songshift.io or download the SongShift app on iOS or Android. Open the app and tap "Create a New Transfer." Select Spotify as the source and Apple Music as the destination.

The app will ask you to log into Spotify first. Use your Spotify username and password — SongShift does not store these credentials. After you log in, choose the playlist you want to transfer from your Spotify library. Then log into your Apple Music account using your Apple ID. SongShift will begin matching songs and adding them to a new playlist on Apple Music. You can watch the progress in real time.

When the transfer finishes, open Apple Music and look for a new playlist with the same name as your Spotify playlist. All matched songs will be there. If some songs did not transfer, SongShift shows you which ones and why — usually because they are not available on Apple Music or the title is too obscure to match.

Using Playlisty as an alternative

Playlisty works similarly to SongShift and is available at playlisty.se or as a mobile app. The steps are nearly identical: log into Spotify, select your playlist, log into Apple Music, and start the transfer. Playlisty also shows you which songs matched and which ones failed.

The main difference is pricing. SongShift offers 5 free transfers per month; Playlisty offers unlimited transfers but charges a one-time fee for some features. Both tools handle the same core task equally well, so choose based on how many playlists you plan to move and whether you prefer a subscription or one-time payment model.

What happens to songs that do not match

Not every song on Spotify exists on Apple Music. Regional licensing, delisted tracks, and obscure releases mean some songs will not transfer. When this happens, the transfer tool shows you a list of unmatched songs before or after the transfer completes.

You have two options: manually search for the missing songs in Apple Music and add them yourself, or leave the playlist as is. Most playlists transfer at 95% or higher match rate, so the gaps are usually small. If you have a playlist with many independent or regional artists, expect a lower match rate.

Manual transfer if you prefer not to use a third-party app

If you do not want to grant a third-party app access to your accounts, you can transfer songs manually. Open your Spotify playlist and copy the song titles and artist names. Then search for each song in Apple Music and add it to a new playlist. This method takes much longer — 30 minutes to several hours depending on playlist size — but gives you full control and requires no third-party login.

A middle ground is to export your Spotify playlist as a text file or CSV, then use that file to search Apple Music in bulk. Some music apps and websites offer batch search features that can speed this up, though you will still need to add each song individually to your Apple Music playlist.

Keeping playlists in sync after the transfer

Once you transfer a playlist, the two versions are separate. If you add new songs to your Spotify playlist later, they will not automatically appear on Apple Music. You will need to run the transfer tool again or add new songs manually to your Apple Music playlist.

Some transfer tools offer a "sync" feature that updates your Apple Music playlist when your Spotify playlist changes. Check the app's settings to see if this option is available and whether it requires a paid subscription. If you use both services regularly, syncing saves time, but it requires you to keep the transfer tool active on your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the transfer tool steal my password or login information?

Reputable tools like SongShift and Playlisty use OAuth, which means you log in through Spotify and Apple's official servers, not through the transfer tool. The tool never sees your actual password. You can revoke the app's access at any time in your account settings on Spotify or Apple Music.

What if a song has a different title or artist name on Apple Music?

The transfer tool matches songs using metadata — title, artist, and album. If a song is listed differently on Apple Music (for example, a remix or alternate spelling), the tool may not find it. You can search for it manually in Apple Music and add it to your playlist after the transfer completes.

Can I transfer a collaborative or shared Spotify playlist?

Yes, but you can only transfer playlists you own or have permission to access. The transfer tool creates a new playlist on your Apple Music account, so the new version will be under your name. If the original Spotify playlist was collaborative, you will need to manually invite others to the Apple Music version.

How long does the transfer take for a very large playlist?

Most playlists transfer in 5 to 15 minutes. Playlists with 500+ songs may take 30 minutes or longer, depending on how many songs need to be matched and whether the transfer tool is processing other transfers at the same time. You can usually close the app and check back later — the transfer continues in the background.

Do I need an Apple Music subscription to receive the transferred playlist?

Yes. The transfer tool adds songs to your Apple Music library, which requires an active subscription. If your subscription lapses, you will lose access to the playlist. You can resubscribe at any time and the playlist will reappear.