Finding it hard to decide which music streaming service is best? From music discovery to quality, we’ve selected the most popular services available today.
Music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, Qobuz, and Deezer have dramatically changed the way we discover, listen to, and share music, allowing us to do it wherever and whenever we want.
But the current music streaming service landscape is vast. Each contender houses immense music libraries that boast every conceivable artists, album, playlist, and podcast, all coming at you with just as many interface designs and features like song lyrics, offline downloads, AI DJs, hi-res audio formats, and much more.
To help you decide which of these music titans is best for you, we’ve put together this roundup of the best music streaming services, focusing on criteria like subscription cost, user experience, and track quality. Let’s get things started.
SpotifyThe best for most people
When it comes to music streaming, Spotify is definitely one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. Launched in 2006, the platform is available across the globe, and is home to more than 100 million songs and growing. Spotify is also the world’s biggest podcast platform. Whether you’re rocking an iPhone, a Google Pixel, a laptop, or you’re in your car, there’s a good chance that Spotify is going to be compatible with your hardware.
Beyond the music archive, Spotify offers several different subscription options, including individual, family, and student plans, as well as a free version with ads. Spotify Premium users also receive unlimited track skips, 320kbps audio quality, and offline downloads for up to 10,000 songs across five devices. The company is also really good at keeping its user interface familiar and reliable from one hardware type to another.
Spotify is also great for sharing. Thanks to integrations with social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, your circle of pals will get to see what you’ve been jamming out to lately. You’ll even have the option of sharing songs with others and even creating collaborative playlists you can all add to. And if you’re all about listening to tunes with the help of Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, you’ll be glad to know that Spotify is a big staple of just about every smart ecosystem out there.
So, where does the service struggle? Track quality, for one. Unlike platforms like Tidal and Qobuz that place a big emphasis on hi-res audio, Spotify’s tracks are capped at 320kbps, which only the most critical of audiophiles will notice. But if you just want a music streamer that offers tons of genres, playlists, and fun social features, Spotify is going to be your best bet.
Apple MusicPerfect for Apple users who want hi-res audio
Some folks will remember Apple’s original foray into digitized music from a little platform called iTunes that launched back in 2000. Paving the way for Apple’s streamlined interface and big music library, iTunes eventually evolved into Apple Music in 2015. A fierce competitor to rivals like Spotify and Tidal, Apple Music is simple to use, boasts a library of more than 100 million tracks, is available across multiple platforms, and even offers hi-res listening options.
Apple Music also lets you test the waters before enrolling in one of its many subscription options. With a one-month free trial, you’ll have plenty of time to get a good lay of the land, at which point you’ll need to shell out for a monthly subscription, which runs $6 for students, $11 for an Individual plan, and $17 for the Family plan.
Every tier gives you access to full playback controls, recommended music based on your listening habits, and some nice visual treats for your phone, tablet, and computer screens. We’re talking immersive album artwork, line-by-line lyrics, and intuitive search tools that make finding songs and artists a breeze.
As far as track quality is concerned, Apple’s audio far exceeds Spotify’s 320kbps cap, with lossless ALAC tracks that can get as high as 24-bit/192kHz. Apple Music also uses the smaller AAC format with resolution up to 256kbps and offers many tracks and albums in Dolby Atmos, which Apple brands as Spatial Audio. And while you’ll be able to share tracks with friends and family, Apple Music doesn’t offer the same social integrations as Spotify.
If you’re familiar with the design and UI of devices like the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple TV, you’re going to feel right at home using Apple Music.
