If you’re one of the 400 million Spotify users, you might have experienced the recent outage, leaving you without your cherished playlists. Fear not! We’re here to guide you through the labyrinth of music streaming options, each with its unique charm. Let’s dive into the melody realm and uncover the best alternatives, waving goodbye to monotony. Learn about the best Spotify alternatives.
Apple Music: More Than Just Tunes
Price: $9.99 USD/month (individual) – $14.99 USD/month (family) – $4.99 USD/month (students) – Free trial: 1 month
Quality: Apple Music Lossless (24-bit/48 kHz) and Hi-Res Lossless
Platforms: iOS devices, Mac, PC, smart speakers
Apple Music boasts a catalog of over 90 million songs, three live radio stations, and 30,000 curated playlists. Unlike Spotify, no free tier here means no ads, aligning with Apple’s privacy values. With an exclusive Apple Music Voice Plan, control your beats with Siri.
YouTube Music: Your Personal DJ
Price: $9.99 USD/month (individual) – $14.99 USD/month (family) – $4.99 USD/month (students) – Free trial: 1 month
Quality: 48 kbps – 256 kbps
Platforms: iOS, Android, desktop
YouTube Music goes beyond tunes, offering location-based playlists and lyrics search. With music videos and karaoke tracks, it stands tall among competitors, providing a personalized musical journey.
Tidal: Dive into Audiophile Heaven
Price: $9.99 USD/month (HiFi) – $19.99 USD/month (HiFi Plus) – Free trial: 30 days
Quality: Up to 24 bit / 352kHz for Master Quality audio
Platforms: iOS, Android, desktop
Tidal leads the quality game, offering Master Quality audio at 384kHZ sampling rate, surpassing competitors. Direct-to-artist payments and exclusive content make it a haven for audiophiles, backed by music giants like Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Pandora: Your Musical Algorithm Companion
Price: Free with ads – $4.99 USD/month (Pandora Plus) – $9.99 USD/month (Pandora Premium)
Quality: Low: 32 kbps AAC+ – High: 192 kbps mp3
Platforms: iOS, Android, Apple Watch, smart speakers
Pandora, with its algorithmic prowess, ensures endless streams tailored to your taste. While the free version comes with ads, the Premium subscription lets you enjoy uninterrupted musical bliss.
Amazon Music Unlimited: Prime Perks
Price: $7.99 USD/month (Prime members) – $9.99 USD/month (non-Prime) – Free trial: 90 days with an eligible Amazon purchase
Quality: HD and Ultra HD included
Platforms: iOS, Android, desktop, Amazon Echo, Fire TV
For Amazon Prime members, the Unlimited version is a gem, offering a vast library at a lower price. Enjoy higher sound quality, playlists, and stations without ads.
Deezer: Beyond the Playlist
Price: Free with ads – $9.99 USD/month (Deezer Premium) – $14.99 USD/month (Deezer Family) – Free trial: 1 month
Quality: 64 kbit/s (Basic) – 1,141 kbit/s (High Fidelity)
Platforms: iOS, Android, desktop, smart speakers
Deezer offers CD-quality audio and a unique feature: transferring your music library from another service. With an expanded catalog and various plans, it’s a solid choice for diverse music lovers.
Qobuz: Audiophile’s Delight
Price: $10.83 USD/month (Studio Premier) – $15 USD/month (Studio Sublime) – Free trial: 1 month
Quality: 1,411 kbps (High Fidelity) – 9,216 kbps (High Resolution)
Platforms: iOS, Android, desktop, smart speakers
Qobuz focuses on high-quality audio, catering to audiophiles with resolutions up to 9,216 kbps. The ability to purchase and download high-resolution songs sets it apart.
Bandcamp: Empowering Artists, One Beat at a Time
Price: Free (some paid tracks/albums)
Quality: Lossy formats: MP3 (LAME, 320k or V0), AAC, Ogg Vorbis – Lossless formats: FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF
Platforms: Desktop, Android, iOS
Bandcamp stands out as the “anti-Spotify,” empowering artists with direct support. Its unique model allows artists to retain control over their creations, providing a platform for genuine music lovers.
Soundcloud: Unleash Your Musical Curiosity
Price: Free with ads – $4.99 USD/month (SoundCloud Go) – $9.99 USD/month (SoundCloud Go+)
Quality: 128 kbit/s MP3 (standard streaming) – 256 kbit/s (high-quality streaming)
Platforms: Android, iOS, Chromecast, Windows, desktop
Soundcloud, the birthplace of “SoundCloud Rap,” thrives on user-generated content. Discover, create, and explore music with social media-like features, making it a hub for emerging artists.
FAQs
- Why choose ForestVPN over other streaming services?
- ForestVPN integrates seamlessly with your musical voyage, ensuring privacy, an extensive library, and a delightful user experience.
- Does ForestVPN offer exclusive content?
- Yes, ForestVPN is committed to bringing exclusive content, giving you more reasons to stick around and explore the musical wonders.
- How does ForestVPN support artists?
- ForestVPN believes in fair compensation for artists. By choosing us, you contribute to a system that values and supports the creators behind the beats.