If you’re among the millions who have made Spotify their go-to for music streaming, you’re probably aware of the recent service outage that left many without access to their favorite tunes. But fear not, because the world of music streaming is vast and filled with alternatives that might just suit your taste even better. In this article, we’ll take a journey through some of the top contenders to Spotify’s crown, exploring their features, prices, and unique selling points.
Apple Music: Your All-in-One Entertainment Hub
Most Comprehensive Content
- Price: $10.99 USD/month for individuals, $16.99 USD/month for families (up to six users), $5.99 USD/month for college students, $4.99 USD/month for voice plan
- Free trial: 1 month
- Quality: Apple Music Lossless (24-bit/48 kHz) and Hi-Res Lossless
- Platforms supported: iOS devices, desktop apps for Mac and PC, smart speakers
Apple Music boasts a catalog of over 90 million songs, three live radio stations, and over 30,000 curated playlists. Unlike Spotify, Apple Music doesn’t offer a free tier, ensuring an ad-free experience across all your devices.
YouTube Music: Personalized Recommendations and More
Best for a Personalized Experience
- Price: $10.99 USD/month for individuals, $16.99 USD/month for families (up to 5 members), $5.49 USD/month for students
- Free trial: 1 month
- Quality: 48 kbps – 256 kbps
- Platforms supported: iOS, Android, desktop
YouTube Music offers unique features such as location-based playlist recommendations and lyrics search functionality. Its association with YouTube also provides access to official music videos and karaoke tracks.
Tidal: Where Quality Meets Advocacy
Best for High-Quality Sound
- Price: $9.99 USD/month for HiFi, $19.99 USD/month for HiFi Plus
- Free trial: 30-day free trial
- Quality: Up to 24 bit / 352kHz for Master Quality audio
- Platforms supported: iOS, Android, and desktop
Tidal stands out for its commitment to high-quality sound and direct-to-artist payments. With exclusive content and support from industry heavyweights, Tidal offers a premium streaming experience.
Pandora: Endless Streams with Powerful Algorithms
Best Algorithm for Endless Streams
- Price: Free with ads, $4.99 USD/month for Pandora Plus, $9.99 USD/month for Pandora Premium
- Free trial: 30 days for Pandora Plus, 60 days for Pandora Premium
- Quality: Low: 32 kbps AAC+ – High: 192 kbps mp3
- Platforms supported: iOS, Android, Apple Watch, smart speakers
Pandora’s strength lies in its powerful algorithm, which tailors endless streams to your preferences. While the free version includes ads, premium subscriptions offer an ad-free experience and additional features.
Amazon Music Unlimited: A Prime Choice for Prime Members
Best if You’re Already a Prime Member
- Price: $7.99 USD/month or $79 USD/year for Amazon Prime members, $10.99 USD/month for non-Prime members
- Free trial: 90 days with an eligible Amazon purchase
- Quality: HD and Ultra HD included
- Platforms supported: iOS, Android, desktop, Amazon Echo, Fire TV
Amazon Music Unlimited expands upon the Prime Music library, offering a vast selection of songs and higher-quality audio for Prime members at a competitive price point.
Deezer: Original Content and Seamless Transfers
Best for Original Content
- Price: Free with ads, $11.99 USD/month for Deezer Premium, $17.99 USD/month for Deezer Family, $14.99 USD/month for Deezer HiFi, $5.99 USD/month for Deezer Student
- Free trial: 1 month
- Quality: 64 kbit/s to 1,141 kbit/s
- Platforms supported: iOS, Android, desktop, smart speakers
Deezer stands out for its original content and seamless transfer options, making it a solid choice for music lovers seeking variety and convenience.
Qobuz: High-Resolution Audio and More
Best for Purchasing Downloads
- Price: $12.99 USD/month for Studio Premier, $17.99 USD/month for Studio Sublime, $17.99 USD/month for Qobuz Family
- Free trial: 1 month
- Quality: 1,411 kbps to 9,216 kbps
- Platforms supported: iOS, Android, desktop, smart speakers
Qobuz offers high-resolution audio and allows users to purchase and download songs directly, supporting artists while providing an exceptional listening experience.
Bandcamp: Empowering Artists and Fans Alike
Best for Empowering Artists
- Price: Free (with paid tracks/albums available)
- Free trial: N/A
- Quality: MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF
- Platforms supported: Desktop (via browser), Android and iOS apps
Bandcamp’s artist-first approach and revenue-sharing model make it a favorite among independent musicians and fans alike, offering a platform for discovery and support.
Soundcloud: Discovering and Creating Music
Best for Discovering and Creating
- Price: Free with ads, $4.99 USD/month for SoundCloud Go, $9.99 USD/month for SoundCloud Go+
- Free trial: 7 days for SoundCloud Go, 30 days for SoundCloud Go+
- Quality: 128 kbit/s MP3 and 64 kbit/s Opus for standard streaming, 256 kbit/s for high-quality streaming
- Platforms supported: Android, iOS, Chromecast, Windows, desktop via browser
Soundcloud’s user-friendly platform encourages music discovery and creation, with features like hashtag search and artist comments fostering a vibrant community of creators and listeners alike.
FAQs
- Are these Spotify alternatives available worldwide?
- Yes, most of the listed services are available globally, although certain features and pricing may vary by region.
- Can I transfer my playlists from Spotify to these alternatives?
- In many cases, yes. Several platforms offer tools or integration options to transfer playlists from Spotify seamlessly.
- Do these alternatives offer family plans?
- Absolutely! Many of the services mentioned provide family plans, allowing multiple users to enjoy premium features at a discounted rate.
- Are there any platforms focused on supporting independent artists?
- Indeed, Bandcamp is known for its artist-first approach, providing a platform for independent musicians to share and sell their music directly to fans.
- Which service offers the best sound quality?
- Tidal and Qobuz are renowned for their high-quality audio, offering options for audiophiles seeking the best listening experience.
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