Portable music has become part and parcel of millions of people’s daily life worldwide as more and more companies have decided to come up with their very own innovative music streaming platforms. Today, there is no shortage of streaming apps on the app store of your respective Operating System. But How can you decide which music streaming service is best for you?
To choose the best music streaming provider, you don’t have to scour the internet or do extensive research. In this article, we will provide you with an updated list of the top music sites you can visit today to sign up for a free, paid, or freemium music streaming service. This list considers the price of the subscription, streaming quality, and resolution of audio, and other features like UI & UX to present you with the best alternatives.
Dominant music streaming services in the market to consider
#1: YouTube Music:
When it comes to multimedia streaming, tech giant Google has its fair share in the market by the branding of YouTube Music. Originally meant as Google Play music’s replacement, YouTube music keeps taking the market by storm. YouTube music has access to a massive catalog of songs, including music videos from YouTube’s large content base. The flamboyant user interface with a significantly fantastic search feature makes it a worthy competitor of Spotify and Apple Music. YouTube provides web-optimized AAC files with 256kbps speed optimized AAC files in a freemium subscription model, which is worth your time.
#2: Spotify:
In recent years if any independent music streaming service has created a solid brand recall value, it’s Spotify. Spotify has become a household name with its user-friendly interface, feature-rich product, and a massive library of over 60 million songs. With a streaming speed of 320kbps and file support for main formats such as MP3, MP4, M4P, this service is winning the grounds like no other brand. Spotify supports music streaming for various platforms including, web, desktop, iOS, Android, smart TVs, connected speaker systems, and even cars. You can enjoy your favorite melodies with an ad-supported free plan or consider subscribing to any of the student, premium, or family plans.
#3: Apple Music:
If you are a subscriber of the Apple ecosystem, you might find Apple music undoubtedly a cost-effective music streaming platform. You can avail of student deals or family membership at a reasonable price, which lets you access well-curated playlists and a comprehensive collection of songs. Unlike Youtube music and Spotify, you can listen to these streams in Hi-res lossless sound quality of up to 24-bit/192kHz using the ALAC codec.
#4: Tidal:
Speaking of Hi-res music streams, Tidal gives tough competition to Apple music. The price structure consists of a rudimentary tier and a HiFi tier that lets you enjoy 320kbps streaming quality and 24-bit/96kHz CD-quality streaming with AAC and FLAC files seamlessly supported. Apart from the Hi-res master tracks, the intuitive and engaging interface will give you a delightful experience while listening to the mesmerizing themes of your favorite movies. Tidal is available for use in iOS, Android, and Sonos, so check it out today!
#5: Amazon Music:
After Apple and Google, if any prominent firm is trying to grab a large chunk of the market share, it is Amazon. With competitive pricing and an excellent catalog, Amazon is consistently becoming a rival to Spotify. Content in this website is HD or Ultra HD but lacks finer detail like Apple Music or Tidal. The mobile application still needs work for its buggy UX can be a real turn down, as Amazon doesn’t provide a free tier.
Honorable Mentions
Among other noteworthy sites, you can check these two out.
- Deezer presents a thorough and well-connected service through its freemium subscription model. It also supports eclectic platforms, including Yamaha, Sonos, Bang & Olufsen, and MOON by Simaudio Network.
- Qobuz is an advanced streaming ecosystem that provides Hi-res audio quality for 70 million+ songs and music tracks.
Wrapping up:
Be it Spotify’s convenient playlist sharing or YouTube music’s extensive media library, one can get something unique from each of these platforms. Now it is up to your Operating System and sense of aesthetics that will decide the perfect solution for your music consumption.
