Music apps for kids: Apple Music vs Spotify vs Gabb Music
Apple Music and Spotify can both hide songs marked "explicit" (songs with swearing or adult content), but they rely on those labels. Apple's "Suggest Less" button only changes what it recommends; it does not block a song. Gabb Music ($4.99 a month, or $10.99 a month for Music+) says it leaves out songs about sex, drugs and violence, not just songs with bad words.
Last checked: . Prices and features can change. Always check the company's site before you buy.
What this means for your family
- Turning on the explicit filter hides many songs with bad words, but only songs the record company labeled.
- "Suggest Less" in Apple Music is not a block. Your child can still play that song.
- Gabb Music is the only one of the three that says it screens out songs by topic (like drugs or violence).
- Spotify's kids accounts let a parent control explicit songs and specific artists or songs.
Words you'll see on this page
- Explicit filter
- A setting that hides songs labeled as having swearing or adult content.
- Managed account
- Spotify's account for kids, which a parent sets up and controls.
- PIN / passcode
- A secret number only the parent knows, so the child can't change settings.
- Family Sharing
- Apple's way of linking family members' accounts so a parent can manage a child's settings.
| Apple Music | Spotify | Gabb Music | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hide explicit songs | Yes. In Screen Time (Apple's parental controls), you set an age rating for music from your phone for a child in your Family Sharing group. [Source: Apple Support] | Yes. Explicit songs are grayed out, can't be played and are skipped. The family plan manager can set it for each member, and for kids accounts. [Source: Spotify: explicit content] | Nothing to turn on. Gabb leaves explicit songs out completely. [Source: Gabb Music] |
| Block an artist / "Suggest Less" | "Suggest Less" only means fewer suggestions of similar music. Apple does not say it stops playback. Blocking a specific artist is not listed by the company. [Source: Apple: Tell Apple Music what you enjoy] | Kids accounts: parents can control specific artists or songs. A "Don't play this artist" option is described by Spotify staff on its community forum, not in its help pages. Staff say it does not block songs where that artist is only featured. [Source: Spotify: managed accounts; Spotify Community (staff answer)] | No artist blocking listed. Parents can't see what the child listens to. [Source: Gabb Music] |
| Filters by topic (sex, drugs, violence) | Not listed by the company | Not listed by the company | Yes. Gabb says it screens out songs with "sexual innuendo, explicit lyrics, drug references, or violent content", and people review the songs. No podcasts or audiobooks. [Source: Gabb Music] |
| Parent lock | A Screen Time passcode (a number only you know) protects the settings. [Source: Apple Support] | Kids accounts: a parent PIN is needed to report content. Whether the PIN locks settings is not listed by the company. [Source: Spotify: managed accounts] | Gabb says no parental controls are needed. [Source: Gabb Music] |
| Price | Individual $11.99/month, Family $19.99/month (up to 6 people), Student $6.99/month. [Source: Apple Music] | Premium Individual $12.99/month after a free trial. Family plan price: not listed on the page we checked. Kids accounts can also use the free plan. [Source: Spotify Premium; Spotify: managed accounts] | Gabb Music $4.99/month. Gabb Music+ $10.99/month (playlists, search, offline). 30-day Music+ trial. [Source: Gabb Music] |
| Works on | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Vision Pro, HomePod, Apple TV, CarPlay, Android, Windows PC, web. [Source: Apple Music] | "Over 2,000 devices." Kids accounts work on phones, tablets and speakers. [Source: Spotify Premium; Spotify: managed accounts] | Gabb phones, iPhone/iPad (iOS 14+) and Android 6.0+. One device can play at a time. Not on Gabb watches. [Source: Gabb Music] |
| Bottom line | Bottom line: Good if your family already uses Apple. The explicit filter works, but "Suggest Less" is not a block. | Bottom line: Kids accounts give parents the most say over specific artists and songs. | Bottom line: Built for kids. Clean by design, with no settings to manage. |
Claims we checked
- "Apple Music has Suggest Less": True, but it only changes suggestions. It is not a block. The explicit filter (in Screen Time) is real.
- "Spotify lets you block artists": Partly true. Kids accounts list artist and song controls. The general "Don't play this artist" option is only described by Spotify staff on its forum. The explicit filter is real and stops those songs from playing.
- "Gabb Music filters topics, not just bad words": That's what Gabb says. We have not tested it ourselves.
YouTube Music and Amazon Music Kids: not reviewed yet.
Common questions
Does Apple Music "Suggest Less" block a song or artist?
No. Apple says Suggest Less means you get fewer suggestions for similar music. Apple does not say it stops a song from playing.
What happens when Spotify's explicit filter is on?
Songs marked "explicit" (songs with swearing or adult content) are grayed out, can't be played and are skipped. The person who manages a Spotify Premium Family plan can set this for each member.
How much does Gabb Music cost?
Gabb Music is $4.99 a month for ready-made stations. Gabb Music+ is $10.99 a month and adds playlists, search and listening offline. Gabb offers a 30-day free trial of Music+.