There has never been a better time to be a music lover! In the age of digital streaming, you only need to pay a relatively small monthly fee to access everything you could possibly want. Tens of millions of songs, podcasts, and playlists all on demand, wherever you are! But with so many options on the market, choosing the right music streaming service can feel tricky. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal all do things a little differently, and the best one for you really depends on what you care about the most. So let’s break down which service could be right for you!
If You Care About Audio Quality: Apple Music and Tidal
If you’re the kind of person who notices the difference between a song that sounds flat and one that sounds rich and detailed, audio quality is probably your number one consideration when choosing a music streaming service. Tidal is the standout here. It offers lossless audio and hi-res streaming as standard on its HiFi plan, meaning you’re hearing the music as close to the original recording as your headphones or speakers will allow. If you consider yourself an audiophile, you probably already know this and know that with the right gear, the difference is definitely noticeable.
Apple Music is a strong runner-up and arguably the better value option. It includes lossless and hi-res lossless audio at no extra cost on its standard subscription. The service also supports Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which gives certain tracks an immersive, almost three-dimensional feel. The catch is that to get the full benefit, you’ll need Apple devices or compatible headphones. So if you’re that deep in the Apple ecosystem, this one is hard to beat!
If You Care About Catalogue: Spotify and Apple Music
All the major music streaming services now sit around the 100 million song mark, so in terms of raw numbers, there’s not a huge amount separating them. Where Spotify and Apple Music pull ahead is in how quickly new releases land on the platform. Both are consistently fast at getting fresh music out quickly!
Spotify has a particular edge when it comes to emerging and independent artists. It tends to be the first place new acts upload their music, which makes it a great choice if you love discovering someone before they make it big! Apple Music is pretty good in this department too, but its catalogue skews slightly more towards established names.
If You Care About Discovery and Playlists: Spotify
Spotify’s algorithm is arguably its biggest selling point. Features like Discover Weekly, Daily Mixes, and Release Radar are great at surfacing music you’ll love based on your listening habits. If you’re someone who enjoys being taken on a musical journey rather than just playing the same albums on repeat, no other music streaming service comes close to Spotify’s personalisation in our opinion right now.
Spotify is also the best option if you listen to podcasts alongside music. Its podcast catalogue is enormous, and switching between music and podcasts in the same app is seamless. YouTube Music does this too, but the interface isn’t quite as polished.
One thing worth knowing is that Spotify’s free tier is decently usable, which none of the other major services can really claim. If you’re not ready to commit to a subscription yet, you can get a solid feel for the platform before you have to drop a dime!
If You Care About Value: Amazon Music and YouTube Music
Already paying for Amazon Prime? Amazon Music is a bit of a no-brainer. The Prime Music tier is included at no extra cost and gives you access to a solid catalogue of songs and playlists. If you want the full experience with unlimited access and higher quality audio, Amazon Music Unlimited is priced very competitively and even includes lossless audio on select tracks. It doesn’t have the same slick interface or discovery features as Spotify, but as a music streaming service, it does the job really well for the price.
YouTube Music is worth a look too, especially if you’re on Android or already use Google services. It has a unique advantage over every other music streaming service on this list: access to unofficial live recordings, remixes, covers, and music videos that aren’t available to stream on other services. If you’ve ever searched for a live version of a song or a remix and it doesn’t come up on Spotify, it’s probably on YouTube Music. It’s also similar to Amazon Music, as if you are already paying for YouTube Premium, you get YouTube Music too! Making for excellent value if you’re already paying for ad-free YouTube.
So Which One Do I Pick?
The honest answer to give is that there is no single best music streaming service; it really does come down to what you prioritise. Spotify ranks as the most used music streaming service in the world, so maybe that will sway your decision. Part of Spotify’s popularity also stems from the collaboration aspect of the app. With users able to make playlists together, or listen to the same song as each other in real time through a Spotify Jam. Alongside their popular “Spotify Wrapped” year-end music recap, which they create for users at the end of each year, Spotify is generally a pretty recommended go-to if you’re just getting into music streaming.
However, if you want the best audio quality, go to Tidal or Apple Music. Want the best discovery and playlist experience? Spotify is your friend. Already in the Apple or Google ecosystem? Lean into Apple Music or YouTube Music. Best bang for your buck? Amazon Music is pretty solid in that department. Luckily, all of these services offer a free trial, so nothing is stopping you from testing a couple before committing!
If you want to make sure your speakers, headphones, or home audio setup can actually deliver the quality these services offer, that’s where we come in! At Geeks on Wheels, we can help you find the right tech for your needs! Now go try out these music streaming services, and we hope you enjoy your favourite tunes!
