What started with an online dating idea but somehow moved to another mission, which was to make video sharing easy for everyone. YouTube launched in 2005 and was the brainchild of three ex-PayPal employees, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, who just wanted a place to upload and share videos.
Fast forward almost two decades, and YouTube has become the world’s second-most visited site. However, it’s no longer just about videos. Somewhere between “Charlie bit my finger” and 8-hour productivity playlists, a new kind of user started emerging — the music listener.
People were playing full albums on YouTube, using lo-fi mixes as white noise, and queuing up their favourite songs like it was a jukebox. YouTube saw the shift, and in 2015, they decided it was time to separate the hits from the noise. That’s how YouTube Music was born — an app designed to give music lovers a home of their own, away from cute cat videos and cooking vlogs.
But the big question was:
Could YouTube convince Spotify and Apple Music loyalists to make the switch?
Their strategy?
Transfer the users. Not just convince new ones. Since most people already had a Google account and used YouTube anyway, all they had to do was click “Try YouTube Music.” Smart move, right? Well… kind of.
With over 10 crores downloads the on Play Store, YouTube Music seems like a hit on paper. But when you dig into user reviews and the 3.2-star rating on, you’ll find some consistent pain points that even the cleanest UI can’t mask.
So… what’s working? What’s frustrating users? And why do some people still feel like YouTube Music is just a stripped-down version of regular YouTube with a dark theme and playlists?
Let’s find out, through the lens of user behaviour, ratings, and a design expert at Yellow Slice.
The Rise of YouTube Music’s Popularity
- In 2020, Google discontinued Google Play Music and encouraged users to transfer their music libraries, playlists, and preferences to YouTube Music. This strategic move ensured an automatic user base for the new platform.
- YouTube Music offers a unique feature that allows users to switch between audio-only and music video formats without restarting the track. This appeals to users who enjoy both auditory and visual experiences.
- It enjoyed the benefit of being in the Google-connected ecosystem. As a Google product, YouTube Music benefits from deep integration with Android devices, Google Assistant, and YouTube itself.
- Unlike other streaming platforms, YouTube Music includes official tracks, remixes, live performances, and user-generated content such as covers, giving it a broader music library.
From Data to Decision
- Playlist management is clunky. While the app suggests music well, users find it frustrating to manage large playlists due to missing scroll bars and poor bulk actions.
- Premium users enjoy the seamless switch between video and audio and appreciate the blurred lyric backgrounds—one of the app’s most visually appealing features.
- Inconsistent visual experience like text headings, UI labels, and underwhelming daily mix designs make the interface feel less polished than Spotify.
- Search and recommendations need work. Though the search bar is powerful, users feel the app doesn’t offer enough playlist curation or recommendations to rival competitors.
- Download and shuffle issues affect usability, Songs disappearing from downloads and a shuffle button prioritising repeated tracks rather than true randomness affect the app’s reliability.
Now we can see what’s working, what’s frustrating users and why some people still feel like YouTube Music is just a stripped-down version of regular YouTube with a dark theme and playlists through the lens of online reviews.
Our expert designers have conducted a UX Audit and review, which combines online research, such as Google reviews, heuristic evaluation, usability evaluation, and their expertise. This review ended with recommendations to make the user journey smoother and help designers.
YouTube Music App UX Review led by A design expert at YellowSlice
Reviewed by:
- Srishti
- Sagar
- Sonalika
- Harshini
- Shital
- Aadesh
This is a breakdown of the findings about UX.
Personalisation is still a problem.
For an app backed by Google’s vast data intelligence, YouTube Music’s personalisation should be its main selling point. But it falls short. The recommendations still feel generic, repeating top hits rather than adapting to the user’s evolving taste. Maybe it’s a marketing strategy to keep the number of artists up.
Unlike Spotify, where users often feel “understood” by the algorithm, YouTube Music offers more of what’s already popular than personally meaningful. This disconnect weakens user engagement over time.
Content overload
When everything is content, nothing feels curated. YouTube Music inherits YouTube’s massive database of live performances, remixes, covers, and originals, but without context or curation, this abundance overwhelms.
Users have too many options, and even with filters and visual hierarchy, it still feels like a burden for someone who does not have a playlist in mind. This is a large content issue and also an experience design issue. Even great content becomes noise without strong categorisation, filters, or discovery paths.
Free users don’t have much choice.
The freemium experience is unnecessarily restrictive. No background play, no downloads, and frequent ads create friction at every touchpoint. It’s not about offering everything for free, but giving users enough value to want to upgrade.
As it stands, the free tier feels like a penalty box rather than a sneak peek. This can be a deal-breaker for first-time users, ending the journey before it truly begins.
YouTube Music might be redundant.
YouTube Music sometimes feels like a feature, not a standalone product. Users already consume music via regular YouTube, and for many, that’s enough. Without clear differentiation or a unique music-first identity, the app risks being perceived as an unnecessary layer.
It’s not just about UI here; it’s about product positioning. If the core value isn’t distinct, no amount of UX polish will keep users loyal.
Listening to Music should not be difficult.
Now that we have identified the problems, this review won’t be complete without the solutions and action points our expert designers have identified for YouTube Music and any other digital product.
Premium is premium- Music and video option.
If users are paying, the benefits should feel tangible. YouTube Music’s ability to switch seamlessly between audio and video is a very big win, but it is only visible to premium users. Users have applauded this move as it is one of a kind in the market.
However, surface this feature with smart nudges during free usage instead of hiding it. Tease value, don’t just lock it away.
Dark Mode is still winning.
Users love the visual comfort and aesthetics of dark interfaces. YouTube Music nails this with gradient blurs and clean contrast. But don’t stop there—let users customise themes or intensity levels. A personal UI feels like a personal playlist.
If you are a designer or you want to build your product in 2025, you should never underestimate the satisfaction users get from dark mode. In fact, most mobile devices have dark modes, so if your product doesn’t enable dark mode, it might be an odd one out, and user adoption might turn out low.
Prioritise cross-platform and cross-device consistency.
One of YouTube Music’s strengths is its familiar Google ecosystem feel. Don’t underestimate this. It reinforces brand memory and reduces the learning curve. It’s not just design—it’s trust in motion. Consistency across web, Android, and iOS platforms makes navigation intuitive,
For cross-device consistency, users complain that the mobile app is more to use than on their smart TV. No doubt, many people prefer to listen to music in the background while carrying out their daily activities, but because the smart TV interface looks complex, they have to use other platforms that give them the experience they are looking for.
If it’s not broken, dont fix.
A simple rule many forget: clarity beats cleverness. Spotify still leads in intuitive playlists, smart filters, and scannable interfaces. YouTube Music, on the other hand, has tried to reimagine layout elements where familiarity would serve better. Don’t over-design; you can simply enhance what already works.
Also, prioritise data-driven designs and updates. Ask the users if their needs match your UX idea before implementing it. Make design changes only when backed by user needs or product goals, and conduct regular heuristic evaluations to identify unnecessary complexity.
Personalisation Needs Depth, Not Just Data
Smart suggestions make users feel seen, but they must go beyond trending tracks. Let users set preferences manually. Introduce mood-based playlists. Offer filter tools. Great personalisation is half algorithm, half autonomy.
Treat personalisation as an engagement tool. Track whether suggestions lead to deeper sessions. Create a feedback loop to let users rate or tweak recommendations to teach the algorithm.
Conclusion- Expert Review by Aadesh
Music is emotional, personal, and one of the things that gives us joy. Experiencing it shouldn’t feel like navigating a crossword puzzle. YouTube Music has delivered solid groundwork, from video integration to a user-friendly layout, but it still struggles with some UX issues that dilute its potential.
This is not to say that every digital product is perfect, but as big as Google’s, it should be more of a positive case study than a negative user review. If you are building a product, consider the UX issues mentioned in this review. But more importantly, design experts at yellowslice don’t just evaluate—we collaborate, simplify, and transform experiences. If you’re ready to make your digital product usable and unforgettable, send a message now and let’s take it from there.
FAQs- Youtube Music User Journey Decoded
1. Is the YouTube Music app any good?
Yes, YouTube Music offers a clean interface, personalised playlists, and the ability to switch between audio and video. It’s especially great for users already in the Google ecosystem. It’s definitely a good recommendation UX UX-wise.
2. What are the disadvantages of YouTube Music?
Some users report UI inconsistencies, cluttered layout, and limited customisation. Free users also face frequent ads and can’t play music in the background. For background play, offline downloads, and an ad-free experience, you’ll need a YouTube Premium subscription.
3. YouTube Music vs Spotify: Which is better?
Spotify has a more polished UI, upfront daily mixes, and curated playlists. YouTube Music stands out with video integration and content depth, but it lags behind in recommendations and audio-only discovery. YouTube Music streams up to 256 kbps AAC for premium users. While the quality is solid, Spotify offers higher-quality audio (up to 320 kbps), depending on your subscription tier.
4. What is YouTube Premium, and how does it affect YouTube Music?
YouTube Premium unlocks the full YouTube Music experience no ads, background play, offline downloads, and video switching. It covers both YouTube and YouTube Music under one subscription.
