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The best music streaming apps for Android and iPhone in 2022

Music Streaming Apps
© Pravinrus / Shutterstock.com

What are the best and most important music streaming services for Android and iOS in 2022? Many mainstays such as Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon, and Tidal are in Spotify's slipstream. NextPit compares the most important music streaming service providers for you and reveals what you get for your hard-earned buck.

Music was my first love and it will be my last!

Songs are always a matter of taste, and what is music to one's ears might be trash to another person. However, I find that without music, I would die just like any other plant that has ever lost its way into my own four walls. Thanks to the availability of music streaming services, I have access to not only an unbelievable 70 million songs at any one time, but also have them right on my smartphone regardless of where I am.

Streaming killed the Radio Star

As music streaming becomes more and more important, playing a prominent role in our daily life, let us take a look at the most important services available currently, compare them with one another and also list down their respective prices. Remember that this list is a subjective one, so let us know in the comments if you have other favorites that we should take note of and why.

We shall begin with an overview of the services offered and present them to you one by one. It is time to get cracking with your favorite music playing in the background!

Key facts at a glance

The best music streaming services compared directly
  Spotify Amazon Music  Apple Music Deezer Tidal YouTube Music Napster Qobuz
Trial period 30 days 30 days 3 months 3 months

3 months

30 days 30 days 30 days
Price
  • Spotify Free - free with advertising
  • Spotify Premium Individual - 1 account, $9.99
  • Spotify Premium Duo - 2 accounts, $12.99
  • Spotify Premium Family - 6 accounts, $15.99
  • Spotify Premium Student - 1 account, $4.99 
  • Amazon Music Free - free
  • Amazon Music - included in "Prime"
  • Amazon Music Unlimited - $9.99 ($7.99 for Prime customers)
  • Amazon Music Unlimited for families (up to 6 people) - $14.99 
  • Amazon Music Unlimited for students - $4.99
  • Apple Music - $9.99

  •  

    Apple Music for students - $4.99

    Apple Music for families (up to 6 people) - $14.99

     

  • Deezer Free - free
  • Deezer Premium - $9.99
  • Deezer Family - $14.99
  • Deezer Student - $4.99
  • Deezer HiFi - $14.99
  • Tidal Free - free
  • Tidal Premium - $9.99
  • Tidal Family Premium - $14.99
  • Tidal Family HiFi - $29.99
  • Tidal Student Premium - $4.99 
  • Tidal Student HiFi - $9.99
  • YouTube Music - free
  • YouTube Music Premium - $9.99
  • YouTube Music Premium Family (up to 6 people) - $14.99
  • YouTube Music Premium Student - $4.99
  • Napster Music - $9.99
  • Napster Music Family (up to 6 people) - $14.99
  • Studio Premier -  $129.99 annually (equivalent to $10.83 per month) or $12.99 per month

  • Studio Sublime - $179.99 annually (equivalent to $15 per month)

  • Studio Premier Family - $199.99 annually (equivalent to $16.67 per month) or $19.99 per month

  • Studio Sublime Family - $349.99 annually ($29.17 per month)

Sound quality
  • Spotify Free - up to 160 Kbit / s

  • Spotify Premium - up to 320 Kbit / s

  • Up to 850 kbps
  • "Ultra HD" - 7+ million songs - (up to 24 bit / 96 kHz / 3730 Kbit / s
  • AAC format with a data rate of 256 Kbit / s

  • Losless - 1600 Kbit / s, up to 48 kHz

  • Hi-Res Lossless - 9666 Kbit / s, 48 ​​kHz to 192 kHz

  • Deezer Free - 128 Kbps

  • Deezer Premium - 320 kbps

  • Deezer HiFi - FLAC, 16-bit 1411 Kbit / s lossless, CD quality

  • Premium: 320 Kbit / s

  • Hi-Fi: FLAC (16 bit / 44.1 kHz / 1411 kbit / s)

  • Master quality in MQA format (24 bit / 96 kHz / 4608 kbit / s)

  • Free: 128 Kbit / s
  • Premium: up to 256 Kbit / s
  • Up to 320 kbit / s
  • Lossless: 16 bit, 44.1 kHz (CD quality) 
  • Hi-Res: 2 million songs (24 bit, up to 192 kHz)
Maximum number of devices you can listen on simultaneously 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1
Song library 70+ million 75 million 75 million 73 million
  • 70+ million
  • 250.000 videos
70+ million 60 million 70+ million
Audiobooks Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Podcasts Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Table of Contents:

Spotify: NextPit's recommendation

Spotify is our very first recommendation when it comes to music streaming services. The top dog is simply a very good all-rounder that combines a large library, many functions, a fair price, and availability across a large number of platforms. Spotify is still generally the most popular music streaming provider while commanding a market share of 32 percent

Spotify remains the most popular music streaming platform.
Spotify remains the most popular music streaming platform. © Tama2u / Shutterstock.com

30 day free trial

Try Spotify

Pros

  • Over 70 million songs
  • Plenty of podcasts and audio books
  • Reliable algorithm for recommendations
  • Collaborative playlists
  • Available for many platforms
  • Available for free
  • Numerous payment methods accepted
 

Cons

  • App could be more intuitive könnte intuitiver sein
  • No proper lyrics feature
  • No HiFi plan (although it is in the pipeline)
Price:   Spotify Premium: $9.99/month

What Spotify offers:

Premium customers get to enjoy 70+ million songs, audio books/games, and podcasts. In addition to your very own playlists, you can listen to sensibly curated Spotify playlists or the millions of available playlists by other users. You can also create these playlists as a collaborative effort. The app is filled to the brim with functions, such as a private mode, and a sleep timer. However, it could be more intuitive and I miss a decent lyrics feature.

Spotify scores with a wide range of available device compatibility and plans. Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, Alexa, Google Assistant - Spotify connects to just about everything that comes to mind and is of course, also available for iOS and Android.

Spotify is continuously recommending fresh content.
Spotify is continuously recommending fresh content. / © NextPit

Who is Spotify for?

Spotify is the perfect all-rounder who will offer music that you like - whether you listen to rap, dance, indie, classical, or even dubstep. There are more affordable plans for families, students, and also couples, and therefore, is suitable for just about everyone who wants to have the entire world of music on their smartphone for a reasonable price. The songs are now also available in 320 Kbit/s, but HiRes fans are not (yet) served in this department. Spotify is perfect for podcast fans, and there is a very wide range to pick from including numerous originals. 

For us, Spotify is the top recommendation simply because for $9.99, you get a wide range of functions, fantastic compatibility, and a podcast selection that is second to none. 

Amazon Music Unlimited: Perfect for Amazon Prime customers

Amazon Echo Show smart display
Amazon's Echo devices were specially designed for the use of Amazon Music. / © Amazon

Check out which plan suits you best!

Pros

  • More than 70 million songs
  • HD songs include
  • Cheaper for Prime customer
  • Plenty of podcasts and audiobook
  • Large song lyrics library
  • Reliable algorithm for recommendation
  • Available for many platforms
  • Free subscription available
 

Cons

  • Hardly any exclusive content
  • Cannot enjoy other users' playlists
Price:   Amazon Premium Unlimited $9.99/month

Amazon Music Unlimited offers:

Amazon Music Unlimited offers just as much as Spotify, but it loses out to Spotify in terms of exclusive content. However, it is certainly catching up in that department, and fast! Personally, I like the app better than the Spotify equivalent and it also serves up lyrics. What's great about it? HD songs with bitrates of up to 850 kbit/s (16 bit / 44.1 kHz) are included in the regular plan, with seven million songs being available in "Ultra HD" (up to 24 bit/192 kHz). Amazon Music is also available on many devices, including Echo devices that are compatible with Alexa.

You can also view your purchased songs here.
You can also view your purchased songs here. / © NextPit

Who is Amazon Music for?

Amazon is an excellent Spotify alternative, especially for those who are already Amazon Prime subscribers. They can take advantage of Amazon Music, which offers around two million songs at no additional cost. Alternatively, Prime customers can also subscribe to Amazon Prime Unlimited for $7.99 instead of $9.99 monthly. It is even a little cheaper if you link your plan directly to an Echo device, you end up paying only $3.99 per month!

Apple Music

Music streaming from Cupertino.
Music streaming from Cupertino.  / © BongkarnGraphic / Shutterstock.com

Try it free!

 

Pros

  • Over 70 million songs
  • Long trial period
  • Lossless audio included
  • Plenty of podcasts and audio books
  • Live radio
  • Lyrics supported
  • Edit your own music selection with curated playlists
  • Available for many platforms
  • Purchased songs can be integrated 
 

Cons

  • Recommendation algorithm could work better
  • No free plan to try out
  • Podcasts for Android can be enjoyed but requires a little workaround
Price:   Apple Music $9.99/month

Apple Music offers:

Apple offers different artists, unique playlists, and weekly recommendations based on what you hear. However, I like the recommendation algorithm that works better on other competitors. Another highlight would be the exclusive Beats 1 radio station, where hip DJs provide you with music around the clock. Plus there are plenty of curated lists and real-time lyrics to enjoy.

Subliminal message: Buy the new Chvrches album!
Subliminal message: Buy the new Chvrches album! / © NextPit

With more than 70 million songs in its library, you will stumble across Apple-exclusive content from time to time, and you can also listen to your purchased songs in the app itself. Apple recently switched to offer lossless audio support, so you get to enjoy really fine audio quality on your ears (see table above) and also 3D audio with Dolby Atmos

Who is Apple Music for?

Anyone who focuses on radio and live events, and also feels comfortable within the Apple ecosystem, should find Apple Music to be a no-brainer. Incidentally, Apple also pays out more generously to artists on this platform than its Swedish competitor, so your favorite band could also be happier if you prefer to stream their work via Apple Music. 

Deezer

Deezer has plenty to offer.
Deezer has plenty to offer.  / © Deezer

Try it free for 3 months

Try Deezer

Pros

  • Over 70 million songs
  • Plenty of podcasts and audiobooks
  • Free plan available
  • Offers HiFi audio
  • Reliable recommendation algorithm
  • "Shazam"-like feature
  • Supports lyrics
  • Upload your own music
  • Available for many platforms

 

 

Cons

  • Limits when it comes to favorites, playlists, and offline music
  • Limited uploads of your own music

 

Price:   Deezer Premium $9.99/month

What Deezer offers

I have the feeling that Deezer is always underestimated or looked over by the masses. The service hails from France, and now has amassed a library of 73 million songs, having mastered just about every trick that the other music streaming services offer. You can stream Deezer on any device that you want, it offers a great recommendation feature with Flow, allowing you to listen to radios, display lyrics, organize songs in playlists (also together), curate your own music collection, and listen to them offline. There is also a HiFi plan for audiophiles.  

Deezer does a decent job with suitable music recommendations.
Deezer does a decent job with suitable music recommendations. / © NextPit

Who is Deezer for?

Short answer: Basically, anyone who wants to stream music. Some exclusive podcasts are unavailable on this platform and you have to live with the fact that there are some content limits (for example only 2,000 songs per playlist and a maximum of 1,000 albums).

Tidal

Rapper Jay-Z made Tidal famous.
Rapper Jay-Z made Tidal famous. / © Tidal

30 days free trial

Try Tidal

Pros

  • Over 70 million songs
  • Videos, live concerts, and exclusive content
  • HiFi music available
  • Import function for playlists
  • Artists receive higher royalties
  • Support for many platforms
 

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • Cannot access other users' playlists
  • Music-themed podcasts only
  • No lyrics support
  • Expensive HiFi plan
Price:   Tidal Premium $9.99/month

What Tidal offers

Tidal is considered very artist-friendly and pays out some of the highest royalties to its content creators. Not only is there exclusive content on Tidal this service also offers live concerts and videos. 

For instance, a mere $1.99 allows you to extend the trial period to two months. Keep your eyes peeled on its social media, because every now and then there is an offer that offers an extended trial subscription which might even hit the three month mark. 

You can also find live videos and music documentaries at Tidal.
You can also find live videos and music documentaries at Tidal. / © NextPit

Who is Tidal for?

Tidal offers up to 320 Kbit/s AAC for music, or 1,411 Kbit/s in the HiFi subscription. Tidal is therefore suitable for advocates of HiFi music who are willing to pay $19.99 monthly for superior quality. Fans of American rap or RnB music tend to be better catered to compared to than other genres. 

YouTube Music

YouTube users can find their way around YouTube Music Premium quickly.
YouTube users can find their way around YouTube Music Premium quickly. / © Google

30 day free trial

Try YouTube Music Premium

Pros

  • Over 70 million songs
  • Reliable algorithm for recommendations
  • Playlists and recommendations are taken from YouTube
  • Free plan available
 

Cons

  • No HiFi or HiRes plan
  • No lyrics function
  • No desktop application
  • No podcasts (requires a separate Google app)

 

Price:   YouTube Music Premium $9.99/month

What YouTube Music offers

YouTube Music is also a serious alternative to Spotify. One of the strengths of YouTube Music would be the seemingly infinite reservoir of videos and the possibility of introducing a subscription plan that includes "regular" YouTube. Hence, for the standard $9.99 monthly fee, you get to enjoy the music version, while for $11.99 you can take advantage of YouTube Premium which includes YouTube Music Premium. In addition to music, there are also music videos, concerts, and other content. 

You can also upload your own songs via the browser, but with YouTube Music Premium you have to live with 256 Kbit/s quality (the free plan that includes advertising maxes out at 128 Kbit/s).

YouTube Music also offers recommendations based on your mood or genre.
YouTube Music also offers recommendations based on your mood or genre. © NextPit

Who is YouTube Music for?

Its close connection to the classic YouTube makes it easier to find your way around the YouTube Music app, but more importantly: Your playlists and recommendations will follow you to the music service. This way, you can join YouTube Music today and still use an algorithm that is already very well suited to your needs. This makes YouTube Music perfect for those who have used YouTube extensively in the past. 

Napster

Napster: From file sharing to music streaming.
Napster: From file sharing to music streaming. / © Napster

30 day free trial

Try Napster

Pros

  • High royalties for artists
  • Converter works great to import playlists
  • Napster for Business
  • Available on many platforms

 

 

Cons

  • App is a little bit confusing
  • No HiFi or HiRes plan
  • "Only" 60 million songs
  • No family or student plans
  • No free plan
Price:   Napster + Mobile $9.99/month

What Napster offers

With 60 million songs in its library, Napster offers around 10-15 million tracks less than the rest of the competition. Otherwise, this app offers you pretty much everything that you can get elsewhere. There is the possibility to listen to playlists or radio stations sorted by mood and genre and you can easily discover more of what you like to hear this way.

However, I think that Napster could have done a better job in presenting itself in the app. It takes a little getting used to before everything can be found, but the interface could be more user-friendly and intuitive. One great feature it has that virtually nobody else offers: A converter that lets you import your Deezer or Spotify playlists to Napster. Another huge plus point: Napster pays out more royalties to the artists than the rest of the competition!

Napster also offers radio stations and audiobooks.
Napster also offers radio stations and audiobooks. / © NextPit

Also interesting: Napster is also available for businesses. This means you can license Napster and use it with your branding (did I hear a suggestion to introduce music streaming at NextPit?). Perhaps you even know a prominent example of this yourself, and if you want to make your business stand out from the rest of the crowd, why not?

Who is Napster for?

Napster loses out to its peers in terms of its song library and functionality, but pays out higher royalties to musicians than the rest of the music streaming service providers. This makes Napster the ideal choice if you want your favorite artist to benefit more. 

Qobuz

THE service for audiophiles!
THE service for audiophiles! / © Qobuz

30 day free trial

Try Qobuz

Pros

  • Over 70 million songs
  • Very high sound quality
  • Offers its own music magazine
  • Plenty of background information
  • Includes a large download store
  • Available for many HiFi systems
 

Cons

  • App could be vastly improved
  • No lyrics function
  • More expensive than the competition
  • Value-for-money plan available on an annual plan only
Price:   Studio Premier $19.99/month

What Qobuz offers

Finally, with Qobuz, I have added a rather exotic streaming service to our recommended list, which you may not have come across yet. We are dealing with a high-quality service here, but this is not only related to the audio quality of the songs. As with Tidal and some other streaming services, Qobuz also offers tracks in studio-quality format. Having over 70 million songs that are generally available in CD quality (16 bit, 44.1 kHz), there are also two million hi-res songs (24 bit, up to 192 kHz) you can enjoy. 

In addition - and this is where Qobuz differs from the rest of the field, the service offers editorial contributions in the form of a music magazine. In there you will find, among other things, band interviews, detailed articles on artists or labels, discographies, album reviews, and even reviews of high-quality hi-fi systems. You can also purchase downloads directly from Qobuz. 

Qobuz is meant for audiophiles.
Qobuz is meant for audiophiles. / © NextPit

Who is Qobuz for? 

Clearly this is one music streaming service for audiophiles! While you do pay more, you will also have to make do without some convenient features in the app. In return, you not only get the best sound quality available, but also a music magazine and a lot of useful, informative articles from a dedicated music editor. There is also additional information about albums and artists you have the opportunity to buy music directly from. So if you have a fantastic sound system in your house, you can surely think about using this exotic streaming service. On this page, you will find sonorous (pun intended!) names such as Dynaudio, KEF, Bang & Olufsen, Yamaha, and many others who enjoy direct Qobuz support. 


Tip: The best in-ear Bluetooth earbuds

Have you finally decided on a music streaming service, but you don't have the necessary audio equipment to go along with it for maximum enjoyment? Then you will find our recommendations for the best in-ear Bluetooth earbuds with ANC.

Here ends NextPit's comprehensive compilation of recommendations for music streaming services. You would surely know of at least one music streaming service that we have not included in our list. If that is the case, we look forward to your comments as you tell us why we should add your favorite music streaming service to the list. Otherwise, we look forward to your feedback on your music streaming habits in general. Where and how do you listen to music and which music streaming service provider is your favorite?

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Go to comment (63)
Carsten Drees

Carsten Drees
Senior Editor

I started blogging in 2008 and have written for Mobilegeeks, Stadt Bremerhaven, Basic Thinking and Dr. Windows. I've been at NextPit since 2021, where I also discovered my passion for podcasts. I have been particularly interested in Android phones for many years now, and would like to get involved with the highly exciting smart home market. LEt's see, did I miss anything else? Oh yes, I love Depeche Mode and suffer with Schalke 04.

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  • FileRehab 3
    FileRehab Dec 1, 2022 Link to comment

    You have shared informative stuff I really love it, keep posting valuable posts like this. Have you tried Mobdro on your Android device, As it provides best streaming service with categories for streaming.


  • Landmark Grp 2
    Landmark Grp Feb 23, 2022 Link to comment

    Hi, thanks for the useful information on "music streaming apps for Android and iPhone in 2022". BTW, Hi, you can try MUSCONV, its a free tools to transfer playlists from Spotify to Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, or Tidal.


  • 3
    SSSUUU Apr 28, 2020 Link to comment

    I like to use Apple Music to stream the music on my phone. The AudFree Audio Converter Mac helps me to get the converted Apple MP3 files. So I can listen to the songs on my apps. The songs are wonderful and I like to play them when I walk, study or relax.


  • 1
    Garry Butler Mar 27, 2020 Link to comment

    I think Amazon will be the clear winner in the end. Maybe youtube too later on. For the most part its important to be able to transfer your music playlists anytime you want which can be easily done by MusConv


  • eSparkBiz 14
    eSparkBiz Jun 4, 2019 Link to comment

    Your comparison table is just enough to understand, which is the best music streaming app worldwide. Thanks for providing such a list!


  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown Apr 20, 2019 Link to comment

    I bounce between Spotify and Pandora, Pandora I don't pay for, Spotify I used to pay for (commercial breaks don't bother me, having more choices of my music selection does).

    It takes a lot for me to want to pay for a service, you have to deliver what I want, or I will not pay (and even go as far as deleting the App).


  • 25
    Deactivated Account Apr 19, 2019 Link to comment

    I prefer high quality offline music files, to which I listen using Neutron Music player, or Poweramp Pro or Stellio Music Player, depending on the mood.

    eSparkBiz


  • 49
    storm Apr 19, 2019 Link to comment

    why should i stream music? Low quality, ads or paid service.
    I can carry my own curated high quality rips and not worry about bandwidth, coverage, and more.

    perhaps occasionally to find new music but thats the extent of its usefulness really.

    eSparkBiz


  • Deejay Muzik-al 1
    Deejay Muzik-al Sep 7, 2017 Link to comment

    Regarding these apps only in Chinese, wouldn't Google Translator solve that problem?


  • 2
    Deactivated Account Mar 22, 2017 Link to comment

    Sad thing is Google play music doesn't work in India. Spotify and Tidal haven't launch their service too.


    • Diptangshu M. 15
      Diptangshu M. Mar 23, 2017 Link to comment

      Last I checked, you can buy albums from GPM India.


    • 8
      Vijay Jan 22, 2019 Link to comment

      I use google play in India without issues.


  • 3
    mostto Mar 18, 2017 Link to comment

    Is it the best music streaming app? I am using Google Play Music.

    Brittany McGhee


    • Brittany McGhee 21
      Brittany McGhee Mar 20, 2017 Link to comment

      It depends on your preferences. Google Play Music is great, but I prefer Spotify because of its user interface.


  • Steve 2
    Steve Jul 2, 2016 Link to comment

    Usually I am not one to bother commenting on posts like this, Im more of a lurker. I set up a 3 month trial with Google Play music as I bought a Nexus 5x device and, well, frankly, it's balls. I live outside the US and guess what.. for whatever dumb licensing restrictions that escape me, Google don't let me use YouTube Red outside the US. Yet another instance of a high tech company completely ignoring the 95% of the population outside the 5% of idiots that are almost going to let Trump become president.. I don't really like the GPM interface that much either, and it crashes frequently on my Nexus which is pretty retarded. I wanted to make it work, I really did - but I think I'll have a better chance with Spotify..

    Jamie Harvey


  • Eleazar Parham 4
    Eleazar Parham May 30, 2016 Link to comment

    Google Play Music is my choice. I like the design a lot better than other music streaming apps and that YouTube Red combination is hard to pass up. Everytime I see myself trying to switch to a different app to try it out YouTube Red always brings me back


  • Fire Tail 1
    Fire Tail May 30, 2016 Link to comment

    Recently switched from Spotify to GM. Reason being, the selection of music is faaaar better, youtube red, radio algorithm is very good and the ability to upload music is awesome. I have found lots of obscure hard to find music on GM 9/10


  • 3
    S Wolfe May 28, 2016 Link to comment

    "Prime Music can only be shared between the two adults sharing the Amazon Prime account."

    This seems to be incorrect as there doesn't appear to an actual way to share this. Unless you can describe how I am wrong you probably should correct the article.


  • Alex 17
    Alex May 25, 2016 Link to comment

    I don't agree with The best title because one should test it for themselves and see what's their own best app or things are and the best title seems not to be fair and it seems to spread false news because by seeing it people opinions change.


  • GrimJimCrowley 14
    GrimJimCrowley May 25, 2016 Link to comment

    I miss Songza, which provided free and unlimited streaming with no commercials (maybe had popup ads? I can't remember). But Google bought it and included it in Google Play Music. blah


  • 3
    S Wolfe May 25, 2016 Link to comment

    I'm confused. My wife has amazon prime. How can I use her membership through my app with my login?


  • Systempit 1
    Systempit May 24, 2016 Link to comment

    BEST TIP EVER: ( SOME MUSIC APPS WITH TRILLION OF USERS)IF YOU WANT A NON FREE TRIAL AND FOREVER FREE MUSIC STREAMING APP,YOU GOT THE RIGHT PLACE. YOU KNOW ALIBABA,THE CHINA E-COMMERCE GIANT, RIGHT? THEY OFFERED SOME MUSIC STREAMING APPS THAT IS COMPLETELY FREE AND PACKED WITH TON OF FEATURES SUCH AS KUWO MUSIC, KUGOU MUSIC ALIBABA PLANET & MORE. THEY ARE FAR MORE USEFUL THAN SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER APPS. IT CAN LET YOU LISTEN TO STORY RADIOS, COMMUNITY RADIOS, HUMOR RADIOS AND MORE. FREE. WITH THESE MUSIC RADIOS OFFERED COMBINED THEY ALMOST HAVE 3 TRILLION USERS. WAIT... YOU CAN ONLY DOWNLOAD IT IF YOU KNOW HOW TO READ IN CHINESE. IT'S WORTH TO STUDY CHINESE, SINCE THEY ARE REALLY COMPLETELY FREE AND ALL MUSICS ARE AUTHORIZATION PASSED. WELL, THEY HAVE VIP PACKAGES DUE TO THE FACT THAT SOME MUSICIANS NEED TO EARN MONEY. THEY RELY ON ADS TO SUPPORT THEM, ON PCs. THE MOBILE VERSION OF THESE APPS ONLY HAVE 2 TO 3 ONLY-BANNER ADS ON THE ENTIRE APP.


    • 28
      itprolonden May 27, 2016 Link to comment

      And all the spyware you don't want!!

      GT Ohh


    • Steve 2
      Steve Jul 2, 2016 Link to comment

      Is it worth studying Chinese just to save ten bucks a month? What planet do you think we're from?


  • 11
    Steve May 24, 2016 Link to comment

    Having used Spotify and Google Music on both paid for individual plans I found Spotify restricted as as soon as I had added 100 albums in my account it said I had reached my limit for downloads to play offline. So I had to undownload albums and delete some. So I went to Google Music which I had used before and not found it so restricted yet. I have also got audio plays and other audio stuff on memory card which Google Music plays for me too. Does anyone know if such a limit of downloads exists for Google Music?


    • Julie 10
      Julie May 25, 2016 Link to comment

      I do like Google Play Music for their own music and it allows me to "upload" the music I have from my own computer (I went back to the free version temporarily). Most of my music is "uploaded" and I have also "downloaded" a lot of music from their site as well (purchased or free). The only restrictions I've found are that you can only "upload" from your computer about 50,000 songs, but I have over 200 albums downloaded from them and haven't seen anything about a restriction for downloads. After I read your note, I reviewed the Google Play Music info and can only find "unlimited downloads" if you pay for their service. Now, I've just glanced over everything but I didn't notice any album/song download restriction, but as I said I glanced over it.


  • 14
    Alex Simpson May 24, 2016 Link to comment

    why to stream? just download all songs you like from yt and enjoy them in a musicplayer like poweramp


    • Systempit 1
      Systempit May 24, 2016 Link to comment

      There are apps like Kuwo Music, Kugou Music or Alibaba Planet offered by Alibaba, the China e-Commerce giant that is COMPLETELY FREE with ALMOST NO ADS. Those music are authorization passed. Some music still needs to pay for downloaded, Bacchus some musicians need money. THE APPS EVEN CACHE THE MUSICS, SO YOU DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO DOWNLOAD TO LISTEN FOR FREE. BUT MAKE SURE NOT TO DELETE THE CACHE IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN WITHOUT DOWNLOADING. ( Bad news: Only available in Chinese language)


    • Aswin 7
      Aswin May 28, 2016 Link to comment

      I used to do that until it took me too much effort doing so. Since then I pay Google music every month and in a few clicks I get the songs I want to listen to on my player. I only rarely upload music myself for foreign music.


  • Hrishi 1
    Hrishi May 24, 2016 Link to comment

    Damn I miss MixRadio :|


  • Diptangshu M. 15
    Diptangshu M. Apr 13, 2016 Link to comment

    I use Gaana ( gaana.com ) as neither GPM nor Spotify is available in my country.


    • Surfine 1
      Surfine Jun 29, 2016 Link to comment

      You can get the services by using a proxy. Once the services are activated, you can use them without using proxies.


  • Pwillco 1
    Pwillco Mar 17, 2016 Link to comment

    Spotify is great, switched to it after Rdio folded. It does "just work" and works very well.
    Google Pay music I use to upload my own collection, the free version works great. Both have great sound quality on my equipment.


  • 2
    Clayton Kann Mar 1, 2016 Link to comment

    google also comes with you tube red no extra charge thats the main reason i got it over the others i do like how on pc spotify has a program google music has a website so there is a offline mode on pc for spotify but not on google music

    Sebastian H


    • Sebastian H 2
      Sebastian H Mar 17, 2016 Link to comment

      Completely agree, my situation is the same as yours haha


  • Darren Kelly 1
    Darren Kelly Feb 13, 2016 Link to comment

    Considering the length of time is more or less the same. Downloading these songs from chrome would be more beneficial .
    Paying apple,Spotify is pointless when the number of legitimate sites to do this is endless.


  • 1
    Richard Feb 2, 2016 Link to comment

    I used Apple music when it was still Beats. It was not an intuitive user interface for me. I then tried spotify for a while, which was pretty decent but them not having a family plan drove me away. My favorite feature with Spotify was the ability to fade into the next song so you have virtually no gaps between songs....great for parties.
    I went back to Google Play Music when they started offering the family plan. I had used them since the beginning and even uploaded my entire CD library (about 250 CDs) years ago, but stopped using them because of the lack of a family plan. If they could add a feature to mix or fade songs like Spotify, they would be perfect for me.


    • 1
      Jason Roig Feb 4, 2016 Link to comment

      Hey Richard!

      Spotify does have a family plan. And also a student plan! Check it out on their website. 50% off each family member. Same for students.


  • 1
    badre zouiri Jan 14, 2016 Link to comment

    what about Musica :
    play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tyolar.inc.musica

    use Musica to listen to music for free.

    Millions of tracks and albums are waiting. Your favourite artists too . create your own playlist of your favorite songs. Listen to music without limits.

    Interface and Navigation
    Musica interface, like Spotify's, resembles a music player—Windows Media Player, specifically. It features an interface with dark tinges, a main content area, a playback area, and a sidebar that lists your playlists, and favorits albums. It isn't as attractive as Slacker (Free, 4.5 stars) or Spotify (Free, 4 stars)'s (in fact, it looks a hair amateurish), but it's easy to navigate. When you first install Musica.

    The Musica Experience

    Naturally, you can search for songs, musicians, or album by keying a query into the search field.
    Selecting the band sent me to a page that featured dozens of the band's songs pulled from several albums. Unfortunately, due to Musica's peer-to-peer nature, duplicate song entries appear in the search results—a problem Slacker, Spotify, and other services do not suffer. Highlighting a track revealed additional options to Favorite it, add it to a playlist.

    Audio Quality and Music Recommendations

    Musica's audio is on a par with Slacker's, as it features crisp, hiccup-free audio with a solid bottom end. Musica contains a very solid recommendation based on the songs in your playlists. Unlike Slacker, Musica music analyzer is turned off by default, and it's not easily spotted. The implementation isn't as seamless as Slacker's, but it did serve up songs by The Gories when I loaded my The Dirtbombs playlist (rocker Mick Collins fronted both bands), so I was happy. As with other recommendation-based streaming music service.

    Should You Tune Into Musica?
    Musica is a solid streaming music service that those looking for a different music listening experience.


  • Chris Beavans 1
    Chris Beavans Jan 14, 2016 Link to comment

    Google Play Music is what I use. It's the best out there. You get YouTube Red plus you get the new YouTube Music app which is nice too. You get 50,000 uploads of your own music and they have a family plan and podcasts coming soon!


  • Bruno Hébert-Brassard 2
    Bruno Hébert-Brassard Jan 13, 2016 Link to comment

    I use Google Play Music since so long. It is the best music steaming service so far even through all the bugs on windows.

    Chris Beavans


  • 2
    Bob Dole Jan 9, 2016 Link to comment

    You should also mention that if Google Play doesn't have the music you want, you can upload it from your personal collection. I know Amazon has a clunky version of this, don't know about Apple but do know you're screwed with Spotify.

    Chris BeavansBruno Hébert-Brassard


    • Kristoffer Jacobsson 2
      Kristoffer Jacobsson Jan 11, 2016 Link to comment

      You can add downloaded files to Spotify, so you're not screwed. It's actually really easy and comfortable on Spotify.

      Jason Roig


      • Sebastian H 2
        Sebastian H Mar 16, 2016 Link to comment

        Just for the record, I used Spotify for over a year before I switched to Google Play Music a few months ago, and I can confirm that Spotify's "local files" feature is EXTREMELY limited. The ability of Spotify (on the desktop app ONLY) to access local music only functions as a mere music player (like Windows Media Player), and doesn't not affect any music on your Spotify account. Google Play Music has the ability to upload your music directly into your music library, and that music is then accessible on any device, not just a local desktop app/site. After uploading, it finds relevant album info from the Play Store and merges it with your uploaded music, creating an environment in which your uploaded music is in the same place and works seamlessly with your subscription/streaming music.


  • William K. 10
    William K. Dec 29, 2015 Link to comment

    I am a prime subscriber. Amazon's pc app for music is FANTASTIC. Easy to search and download what you want. I know the library is a lot smaller but it is still plenty of music for me.

    Their android app however is horrific. And I think I feel that way mostly because I have to actually open it to play/pause. I still use google play app because I can do it all from my lock screen. Hopefully one day Amazon updates it's app and makes it more user friendly.


  • Groovy Techhound 3
    Groovy Techhound Dec 28, 2015 Link to comment

    Obviously this site is just another silent cell backdoor funded Applewellian Prole, Troll and Shill based website. Isn't Apple Music just another name change for FAILED iTunes Radio? What makes this writer think it'll survive any better than $3 Billion Dollar.... Beats Radio and iFailed iTunes Radio? That have all had disastrous beginnings. Barely out the door and already seen as just another iCloud, iTunes Radio, iPhone 5c Failure!!! .....but we all know it's just because it's got the one and only rotting bitten apple.... Fruit Fly attractant laden.... iJihadist's Religious Cult Logo. It's all about the logo and nothing about them being a bunch of overly greedy iDiot Wall Street Loving Tax Dodging Suits!

    Will they ever break the 100 Million Subscribers at this rate they were projected to break in their 1st Year. You all know we're over half there and they haven't even broken 10 Million Paying Subscriber retention rates!

    I pay for both Google Play Music and Spotify Streaming Service and am extremely happy with what I actually get!

    I'm still paying just $7.99 for Play Music and I'm hooked on it's largest selection of music ever available. I'm actually liking YouTube Red now too. Which I was one of those saying I never would. I just can't see why any intelligent Android user ever switching loyalties or choosing to get stuck in Apple's CLOSED iBOX MINDED ECOSYSTEM...... voluntarily and paying for it!!! ........it's like hanging a Kick Me Sign on a Dog, who just shat on your carpet for the umpteenth time in a day. You must assume that forever after even getting constantly through the day, wearing that sign would bring him to his senses. But it never does learn from it's failures!!!

    Apple needs to wear a Shock Collar to bring it back to REALITY...... since Saint Steve Jobs Died.... the fascist fuhrer Tim 'Hitler' Crook has not launched a single new successful product. Even after paying Billions for it..... they've all been shafted..... by his Royal Boring iDiotic ignorance of actual technology, that Saint Steve Jobs could at least understand. This fool probably can't even Cook his own toast and must have his boyfriend do it for him, like everything else technically challenging!

    Now what we really want to know.... is where's all those 100 Million Apple Music Subscribers we all heard was it's Ultimate Year End Target? I mean yeah..... the potential is there.... but only if they had successfully raided all their competitor's customers..... claiming "All Your Base are belongs to us". Hasn't happened and most likely never will. Why would anyone but fellow brainwashed Fruit Flies and iCult of iDiots drop their Google PLay Music Subscription or Spotify for Apple Music????

    Just so they could all contribute more of their dollars to Apple's filthy rich share holder elitists... forever more. I mean really there are luckily just so many fools in the world believing by joining ISIS they'll get their 72 Virgin Little Boys.... as long as they don't kill any Kurdish Women Soldiers. Who are right now Shaming all those fools into being beaten into submission by women. Now the world will only see them all heading iHell with Apple's FAILING Streaming Music Service! ........minus their 72 Virgin Little Boys Reward from Allah in Heaven. According Apple Legend..... they'll all get kicked out of Eden and never set foot in iHeaven with their virgin little boys either! .........so why is Apple Music even included as a choice?

    Babak Sanei


    • 9
      Babak Sanei Jan 3, 2016 Link to comment

      EXACTLY


    • 1
      Mario Jan 16, 2016 Link to comment

      Lol look at this guy classic example of android fanboys at their best
      Hey dumbass pull your head out of your ass stop sipping that haterade your unessacary hate for Apple is what's wrong with the world grow up moron


    • Collin Zirnheld 1
      Collin Zirnheld Jul 1, 2016 Link to comment

      Haha grow up dude. Who cares I have a iPhone and a android and I like both of them. Smfh


  • Pieter Uys 8
    Pieter Uys Dec 16, 2015 Link to comment

    Apple music for Android too buggy!

    Groovy Techhound


    • Dylan S. 11
      Dylan S. Dec 17, 2015 Link to comment

      Of course it's buggy as mentioned in the article it's in beta!


      • Pieter Uys 8
        Pieter Uys Dec 17, 2015 Link to comment

        Thank you Captain Obvious.


  • Logain UBiv Tnomal Ablar 2
    Logain UBiv Tnomal Ablar Dec 15, 2015 Link to comment

    I went with Google Music All Access which is now Google Music/YouTube Red. It's matured really well over the years and it works great with my Android Wear device and Chromecast. There's very little I can't find on Google Music and I've found even more awesome tracks, live performances and covers on YouTube Red. This combination is my daily driver.

    SoundCloud should be mentioned because not only does the service have a good interface and great options, it also features tracks that you'd never hear anywhere else. Everything from the rough idea that a band just put together to a rare track that an artist wanted to share. SoundCloud is a permanent addition to my streaming life.

    I've never used Spotify and have no intention of trying it anytime soon.

    I used Amazon for a year or so and it was okay. The biggest benefit for me was the ability to either download tracks or order the CD depending on the artist and age of the album. But I've always hated Amazon's UI. Too cluttered. Amazon Prime also became a burden that was more expensive than I'm willing to pay for so once I canceled that subscription, I slowly stopped using Amazon for music.

    I avoided Apple like the plague after owning an iPod for a year or so. The need to sync my device with my home computer each time I wanted to add a track or an album was asinine. The hatred for drag and drop support was ridiculous. So when Apple announced their purchase of Beats (which I've never been a fan of) in combination with the horrid experience I'd had with iTunes, I decided to not bother with Apple Music at all even though it released for Android. I simply don't like the way Apple designs software. If Apple designed the hardware but Google provided the OS, you'd have a killer device beyond anything we've seen to date. But I will give credit where credit is due, Apple's music selection is massive including some really hard to find (outside of Apple's catalog) tracks that even Google Music doesn't have.

    Pandora was awesome for a long time and I listened to that even through the PS3's horrid browser. But as the adverts increased and users lost control over playback, I gave up on it.

    Bruno Hébert-Brassard


  • 1
    Mobile App Development Dec 15, 2015 Link to comment

    In android application development, orientation is the deciding factors for presenting the layout in a row wise or a column wise fashion. Set orientations are used for setting the values and values can either is horizontal or vertical.


  • 4
    Pooja Mobileapptelligence Dec 15, 2015 Link to comment

    In android application development, orientation is the deciding factors for presenting the layout in a row wise or a column wise fashion. Set orientations are used for setting the values and values can either is horizontal or vertical.


  • 1
    Blinkmaster Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    Wow. No one mentioned MusicAll by Nivelapp. It's completely free. Stream or download ANY song or whole album. Google them. The site is in Spanish, but google translates to English and the download link is in red. Enjoy. And yes, it's completely free on Android.


    • Bob visser 14
      Bob visser Dec 29, 2015 Link to comment

      How do you download albums? I can only see a option to buy them


  • 3
    Daniell Marcussen Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    Where is Deezer?


  • 2
    Natasa Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    Surprised me that Deezer isn't on the list

    Daniell Marcussen


  • 1
    Yon ebten Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    Soundcloud all the way....


  • 4
    Ankur Jain Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    I have been using Apple Music in India for quite sometime (beat tested it). I have faced few annoying issues e.g. app is little bit slow but the pricing is very good in India and pricing makes it for all the annoying issues. It's is very affordable also. Catalog is huge and quality is also food.


  • 1
    Matt Turner Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    I have a huge problem with Apple Music. While they have what I believe is the best engine that caters to my tastes, the user experiencing is amazingly poor. The problem: it doesn't remember the last song/station/playlist one was playing if the app stops for whatever reason. When I stream music on my way to work, I have my personalized station playing. When I get back in my car to go home and open the Apple music app, I have to find my station again. I can't just push play to continue where I left off. It may seem small, but it is a super annoyance.


  • 13
    Arjun Paliath Dec 14, 2015 Link to comment

    Completely agree with this list..
    After years of using proxies like Hola etc for Spotify and Google Play Music, I finally went for a paid subscription on Apple Music which is surprisingly cheap in India(Rs120/month or $1.79/month) with a lot of songs.
    English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and the list goes on.. :) And there is no limit to the no. of songs you can have off line so that is an added bonus.

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