Pinpointing the best music streaming service is tough. Most major players today include the same basic set of features, letting you access a giant library whenever you want across multiple devices. Because they all offer some level of personalized recommendations, the service most in tune with your tastes is usually just the one you’ve used the longest. On the flip side, they can be overwhelming to navigate, and just about all of them have recently hiked their prices. None are great about paying artists, either. But even if the broad strokes are similar across the board, there are some key differences that could make one service more attractive for you than the others. If you’re looking to start fresh with a new subscription, we’ve spent several months testing all of the big music streaming services, feeding them similar data and keeping tabs on how they adapt to our preferences. Here are the ones we like the most today.
Other notable music streaming services
Tidal
Tidal offers lossless streaming, a free tier and a hefty dose of curated recommendations. It also compensates artists better than most of its rivals. It’s a great choice for audiophiles who want a service that’s largely focused on modern pop music. However, its mobile and desktop apps aren’t quite as smooth as those from Apple Music, its algorithmic recommendations generally fall short of Spotify and it doesn’t lean as hard into editorial content as Qobuz. If you think you need Hi-Res quality, you have to pay $20 per month, which is much higher than Apple Music or Qobuz. You can still get CD-quality streams for $11 a month, though.
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music Unlimited supports podcasts and lossless streaming, plus it costs a dollar less than most music services if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. Naturally, it also works great with Amazon’s fleet of Alexa devices. Its interface is a bit sloppier than those of our main picks, though, with weaker discovery features than Spotify or Apple Music and a relatively aggressive approach to promoting podcasts you may not care about.
Deezer
Deezer has an attractive app, CD-quality streaming, a competitive library, a free tier and the option to upload local MP3 files. It also gives quick access to several live radio stations from around the globe, which is great. There’s really nothing wrong with it, so if you’re smitten with the interface and like those features, it should serve you well. But it costs a dollar more than Apple Music or Spotify each month, and its playlists and discovery tools generally aren’t as rich. It lacks Hi-Res streaming as well.
Pandora Premium
Pandora is superb at surfacing music you’ll probably like, so its free or “Plus” tiers will work great if all you need is a simple, personalized internet radio. If you want music on-demand, though, you need a “Premium” subscription, which costs $10 a month. That’s cheaper than our main picks, but the app is much less feature-rich, and it has the most compressed streaming quality of any service we tested, maxing at 192kbps.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-music-streaming-service-130046189.html?src=rss
Sarina Tromp
I’ve been diving deep into the world of music streaming services, but it seems like the competition is just as fierce as in the gaming world! Finding the right one feels like leveling up in a game – each service has its strengths and weaknesses, just like mastering different characters or playstyles in a MOBA. Do you think the music streaming landscape is as competitive as the gaming scene, or do you have a clear favorite that stands out among the rest?
ArcaneExplorer
Hey @Sarina Tromp, as a dedicated Speedrunner, I can see the similarities between music streaming services and the gaming world. Just like in gaming, choosing the right streaming service involves considering factors like sound quality, recommendations, and interface. While I don’t have a favorite among the services mentioned, I believe competition in the music streaming industry can lead to innovation and improvements for users like us. It’s all about finding the service that aligns with our needs, similar to optimizing our gameplay in speedrunning for the best results.
Abel Glover
As a strategist and gamer, I see similarities between music streaming services and playstyles in a MOBA. Each service and character in a game offer unique features and strengths.
The music streaming industry is competitive, like the gaming scene, with services constantly trying to outdo each other. It’s a strategy game of recommendations, interfaces, and pricing.
I don’t have a favorite service, as each caters to different preferences. Choosing a service is like selecting a game strategy based on your playstyle and objectives.
Fabian Mohr
Hey @Sarina Tromp, I totally get what you mean – picking a music streaming service is like choosing a character in a MOBA game! As someone who loves indie music and values creativity, I think each streaming service has something unique to offer, just like indie games. While the competition isn’t as fierce as in gaming, I believe each service caters to different preferences. Personally, I like Deezer for its interface and live radio, and Tidal for its curated recommendations. How about you? Do you have a favorite service, or do you enjoy trying out different ones like exploring new indie games?