Until recently, PC users have been in the dark as far as Apple Music is concerned as they lacked a dedicated app. There are also a ton of curated playlists, many handcrafted by musicians and tastemakers, though it lacks the robust sharing options (or some of the cool add-ons) available to Spotify. If you own an Apple HomePod, Mini or Nest device you can summon Apple Music tracks with your voice. While it makes the most sense if you're an Apple user, Music is an option if you've invested heavily in smart speakers, including those from Google. Yes, it has hi-res lossless, spatial audio albums, plus a new classical music app at no extra charge. The service runs second to Spotify in terms of subscribers, but surpasses its rival in one key respect. Podcasts have begun to overshadow music in importanceīest for: People who want a solid all-around service, and especially for people who love to make, browse and share playlists for any scenario.ĭespite a small price increase in 2022, Apple Music is still able to offer a lot for the money, including 100 million tracks and boasting both iOS and Android compatibility.You can't listen to specific songs in the free tier, just a mix based on the requested music.Advertisements in the free service can be intrusive.Allows you to follow artists and be alerted when they release new music or announce an upcoming show.Easy to build your own playlists and sync them for offline listening.Spotify Connect simplifies connecting to wireless speakers and AV receivers.In addition, the company hiked prices on a number of plans in 2021, even though the base price remains $10 a month in the US. Meanwhile, Spotify's planned HiFi (lossless) tier is still MIA and the company can't say when it will be coming. Unlike Spotify, competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal are now offering lossless or even Dolby Atmos music at no extra charge. Spotify also offers the best free tier: Without paying a dime or providing a credit card number, you can listen to millions of tunes and even stream Spotify Connect to numerous Wi-Fi devices. This is thanks to a fun, easy-to-use interface, an extensive catalog and the best device compatibility. When it comes to choosing a service, it's a close race between Spotify Premium and Apple Music, but Spotify still wins as the best music streaming service overall. The service has also ramped up its nonmusic content with a push toward podcasts, which indirectly led to folk-rock icon Neil Young removing his music from the service. It offers a number of curated music discovery services, including its Discover Weekly playlist, and is constantly implementing new ones, such as Stations and an AI DJ. Spotify is a pioneer in music streaming and is arguably the best-known service. Spotify: Comparing the Top Music Streaming Services We'll update this list periodically.Īnd if you want the TL DR, these are the top three. So which music streaming services offer the best combination of price, sound quality and library size? Read on to find an in-depth look at each of the services and a feature comparison, along with a full price breakdown in the chart at the bottom of the page. It's worth noting that, in this roundup, I've purposefully left out services that can only play music in a radio format (such as basic Pandora and UnRadio) and that don't allow you to select your own songs. I've checked out the biggest names, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon MusicĪnd YouTube Music, as well as smaller contenders such as Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Pandora Premium, to see how each platform stacks up for your subscription buck. Until recently, prices had been stable at around $10 a month, but both Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited have increased their prices by a dollar. Most of the services have music catalogs with around 100 million tracks, plus they enable you to stream from multiple devices. If you're shopping around, the main two things you need to consider are monthly cost and connectivity. Besides that, there are numerous extra features, such as karaoke, classical music, podcasts and audiobooks, vying for your attention. In the past, some audiophiles may have scoffed at the quality of streamed music, but a growing number of providers include lossless and spatial Dolby Atmos audio at no extra charge. Music streaming services offer users a world of convenience and discovery, allowing people to listen to their favorite artists easily and quickly.
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