Claritune vs Spotify focus playlists

If you already pay for Spotify, its focus, study and sleep playlists are the obvious place to start. They're huge, free with your existing subscription and constantly updated. So why use a dedicated app at all?

The short version

• Stick with Spotify if playlists already work for you, you like variety, and you want everything in one app.
• Try Claritune if playlists keep pulling you out of focus with vocals, sudden changes or the wrong mood, or if you want sound grouped by how you want to feel.

Where playlists struggle

Playlists are made of songs, and songs are designed to grab your attention. Even in focus playlists you'll sometimes hit:

• Vocals that compete with reading and writing.
• Big changes in style or volume between tracks.
• Shuffle surprises: one wrong song can break a long session.
• Ads between tracks on the free tier.

What a dedicated app does differently

Claritune's soundscapes are made for one job each. Every track has no vocals, no hooks and a steady texture, so a Focus session sounds like a Focus session all the way through. You choose by mood (Focus, Calm, Sleep, Motivational and six more) rather than by genre, and activity sessions queue the right soundscapes for studying, working out or creative work.

Side by side

• Library size: Spotify is vastly bigger. Claritune is small and curated.
• Consistency: Spotify playlists vary track to track. Claritune soundscapes are designed to stay even.
• Vocals: Some Spotify focus playlists contain vocals. Claritune has none.
• Price: Spotify is free with ads, or a subscription. Claritune is free with ads; Premium removes ads and unlocks every mood.
• Platforms: Spotify is everywhere. Claritune is Android-only for now, plus this website.

Hear the difference

The Cocoon and Data Stream from Focus, and Heavy Blanket from Sleep, play in full above.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use both?

Of course. Many people use Spotify for listening and a soundscape app for working and sleeping.

Are Claritune soundscapes on Spotify?

No. Claritune's soundscapes are available in the Claritune app and on this website.

Is lo-fi good for studying?

It works for lots of people. See Claritune vs YouTube lo-fi streams for how it compares.