Google's YouTube just fired its biggest shot yet at Spotify's year-end recap crown. The platform launched Recap today, offering personalized viewing summaries that mirror Spotify Wrapped's viral formula but for video consumption. Rolling out to US users first before going global this week, the feature promises to show your viewing personality through up to 12 interactive cards.
YouTube just dropped its answer to the year-end recap wars that have dominated social media every December. The Google-owned platform launched Recap today, a feature that generates personalized summaries of users' video watching habits over the past year. The timing isn't coincidental - it's a direct challenge to Spotify Wrapped's cultural dominance in the year-end roundup space.
Recap offers users up to 12 interactive cards that highlight their most-watched channels, emerging interests, and how their video preferences shifted throughout 2025. But YouTube's twist goes beyond basic viewing stats. According to the company's announcement, the feature assigns users personality types based on their viewing patterns - think 'Adventurer,' 'Skill Builder,' or 'Creative Spirit.' It's a clear nod to Spotify's listening personality feature that helped make Wrapped such a social media phenomenon.
'The Recap feature uniquely highlights interests, deep dives, and moments based on your watch history,' YouTube explained in its rollout announcement. The feature launches in the US today and will expand globally throughout the week, available on both mobile and desktop platforms. Users can find it through a dedicated button on YouTube's homepage or under the 'You' tab in their user menu.
The move puts YouTube squarely in competition with the streaming services that have already capitalized on the year-end recap trend. Apple Music and Amazon Music both launched their own Wrapped alternatives in recent years, but YouTube's version tackles the much broader category of video content rather than just music.
Interestingly, YouTube's main Recap won't completely replace YouTube Music's existing year-end feature. Music-focused stats like top artists and songs will appear in the main Recap, but YouTube Music users will still get 'a separate YouTube Music Recap available within that app,' according to the support documentation. This dual approach suggests Google recognizes the different social sharing behaviors between its video and music platforms.
