Yandex Music vs VK Music: Which is Better?
What is Yandex Music?
Yandex Music is a Russia-based streaming service that offers:
✅ Over 70 million songs (focus on Russian & CIS music)
✅ AI-based music recommendations
✅ Podcasts & audiobooks
✅ Integration with Yandex services (Yandex Plus, Taxi, etc.)
What is VK Music?
VK Music is the music streaming service of VK (VKontakte) and offers:
✅ Access to VK’s huge user-generated music collection
✅ Social media integration (VK, Odnoklassniki, BOOM app)
✅ Unlimited personal music uploads
✅ Music from VK groups, friends, and artists
2. Key Differences Between Yandex Music & VK Music
| Feature | Yandex Music | VK Music |
|---|---|---|
| Music Library | 70M+ songs (official catalog) | VK user-uploaded music + official catalog |
| Availability | Russia, CIS | Russia, CIS |
| Podcasts & Audiobooks | Yes | No |
| Offline Listening | Yes (Premium) | Yes (Premium) |
| Free Tier | Yes (with ads) | Yes (limited features) |
| Audio Quality | Up to 320 kbps | Up to 320 kbps |
| Social Features | No | Yes (VK integration) |
| Pricing | $3/month (Yandex Plus) | $2.50/month (VK Music) |
3. Feature-by-Feature Comparison
A. Music Library & Catalog
- Yandex Music has 70M+ official songs, focusing on Russian & international music.
- VK Music has an official music catalog but also allows users to upload their own music, making it huge but inconsistent.
Winner: VK Music (larger catalog due to user uploads, but quality varies)
B. Availability & Regional Access
- Both Yandex Music and VK Music are available in Russia and CIS countries.
- VK Music is deeply integrated into the VK social network, while Yandex Music is a standalone service.
Winner: Tie (both are region-locked to Russia & CIS)
C. Music Discovery & AI Recommendations
- Yandex Music uses AI to recommend songs based on user listening habits.
- VK Music mainly relies on social discovery (what friends/groups listen to).
Winner: Yandex Music (better AI-driven recommendations)
D. Free vs. Premium Experience
| Feature | Yandex Music Free | VK Music Free |
|---|---|---|
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Skipping Songs | Limited | Limited |
| Offline Listening | No | No |
| Audio Quality | 192 kbps | 192 kbps |
| Personalized Playlists | Yes | No |
- Yandex Music’s free version has AI-powered playlists.
- VK Music’s free version is more focused on social features.
Winner: Yandex Music (better free-tier experience)
E. Audio Quality
| Tier | Yandex Music | VK Music |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | 192 kbps | 192 kbps |
| Premium Plan | 320 kbps | 320 kbps |
- Both services offer up to 320 kbps in Premium.
Winner: Tie (same audio quality)
F. Pricing & Subscription Plans
Yandex Music Pricing
- Free Plan: Ads, limited skips
- Yandex Plus (Premium): ~$3/month
- Family Plan: ~$5/month
- Student Plan: ~$2/month
VK Music Pricing
- Free Plan: Ads, limited features
- VK Music Premium: ~$2.50/month
- VK Combo (with other VK services): ~$4/month
Winner: VK Music (cheaper basic plan)
G. Social Features & Sharing
- VK Music is deeply integrated into VKontakte, allowing users to share, like, and listen to friends’ music.
- Yandex Music has no social features.
Winner: VK Music (better social experience)
4. Best Use Cases: Which One Should You Choose?
| Use Case | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Best for Official Music Catalog | ✅ Yandex Music |
| Best for User-Uploaded Music & VK Integration | ✅ VK Music |
| Best for AI-Powered Music Discovery | ✅ Yandex Music |
| Best for Budget-Friendly Subscription | ✅ VK Music |
| Best for Social Features & Playlists | ✅ VK Music |
5. Final Verdict: Yandex Music vs. VK Music
✅ Choose Yandex Music if:
- You prefer an official music catalog with AI-powered recommendations.
- You want podcasts and audiobooks.
- You don’t care about social features.
✅ Choose VK Music if:
- You want music from VK groups, friends, and personal uploads.
- You need social sharing and VK integration.
- You want a cheaper premium plan.
Overall Winner?
- For high-quality music and recommendations → Yandex Music
- For social features, user-uploaded music, and VK integration → VK Music
Would you like a more detailed breakdown of a specific feature? 🚀