THE BEAST

Music streaming services today provide a plethora of exploration options and convenience. They grant you easy and fast access to your favorite artists. The sound quality has improved significantly, with leading services offering spatial Dolby Atmos audio and lossless options for free. There are even free music streaming apps that are worth checking out. We've analyzed the key features, capabilities, and prices of streaming services to bring you a selection of the top services on the market.

Top Music Streaming Services to Get Your Groove On

 #1 Spotify

Spotify boasts top-notch music discovery algorithms and an incredibly sleek user interface. It guides me through deep dives into new artists and beloved classics, based on my previous likes and listening history on the app.

The free tier defaults to a streaming bit rate of 96 Kbps, accompanied by ads. However, you have the option to increase it to 160 Kbps. For $10 a month, the Premium tier offers an ad-free experience and streams at up to 320 Kbps, which is the current streaming standard. Although Spotify announced the upcoming Spotify HiFi tier offering lossless quality two years ago, the company has yet to announce a specific launch date.

Spotify now boasts over 100 million tracks. This number excludes the catalogs of artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, who requested the removal of their songs to protest Spotify podcaster Joe Rogan’s dissemination of Covid misinformation.

#2 Apple Music

Apple Music, despite a slight price increase in 2022, continues to offer great value with a vast library of 100 million tracks. It supports both iOS and Android, placing it second in subscribership behind Spotify but surpassing its rival in one key aspect - hi-res lossless and spatial audio albums, as well as a complimentary classical music app.

While Apple Music is undoubtedly designed for Apple users, it is also a viable option for PC users and those with Google smart speakers like Apple HomePod, Mini, or Nest devices, as it can even be controlled through voice commands. The platform boasts an extensive collection of expertly curated playlists, crafted by musicians and tastemakers. However, it may fall short in terms of sharing features and other appealing add-ons available on Spotify.

#3 Tidal

In response to Apple Music's lossless-quality tier, Tidal elevated its Premium (now known as the HiFi tier) to match Apple Music's streaming quality of 1411 kbps, up from 320 kbps. The disparities between them are now minimal.

Tidal HiFi Plus boasts support for Dolby Atmos Music and 360 Reality Audio, with select tracks available in "Master" quality, reaching up to 9,216 Kbps. However, these tracks are scarce. A noteworthy addition to the HiFi Plus tier is Tidal's Direct Artist Payouts. Approximately 10 percent of your subscription fee goes directly to the artists you listen to the most. This feature may sway you towards Tidal if you value the music industry's state and its relationship with streaming, although details regarding the amount contributed and the recipients remain unclear.

The Premium tier, priced at $10 per month, has been renamed the HiFi tier, accompanied by an improved streaming quality from 320 kbps to 1411 kbps. Tidal also offers a free option, aptly named Tidal Free, which comes with ad interruptions. With Tidal Free, you can enjoy curated channels but are unable to watch videos, and the streaming quality is limited to 160 kbps.

Regional restrictions go further and limit access to even basic applications. The same Tidal is not available to all users, judging by the complaint forums. All you need to do is figure out how to change country in Google Play Store and you will no longer encounter such problems. To do this, you will need a tool from VeePN.com and a minute. By the way, VeePN has a free trial mode. All you need to do is change your location and you will have access to previously inaccessible applications.

#4 Qobuz

Qobuz offers an extensive collection of hi-res music, without the need for a special hardware decoder like Tidal. Choose between two plans - hi-res Studio Premier ($13 monthly or $130 yearly) and $180 annual Sublime Plus. Notably, Qobuz has its hi-res download store, and Sublime subscribers enjoy discounts on purchases.

With a streaming catalog that rivals Tidal and Spotify at 100 million tracks, Qobuz now impresses with its selection of more obscure artists. For serious music enthusiasts, Qobuz stands out as our preferred service, delivering excellent sound quality at a reasonable price. You can also expand the service's library through the free VPN Chrome extension or a similar tool. You may not have access to all tracks in your region, but if you switch to another country, you'll see more options.

#5 YouTube Music

YouTube Music has a sleek and well-organized interface. It distinguishes itself by not emulating Spotify's appearance. The vertical window within the app quickly displays the song queue and lyrics, enhancing navigation efficiency. Additionally, it seamlessly allows users to switch between song listening and music video watching.

With a vast catalog of over 100 million songs, YouTube Music offers interesting band suggestions. Users can save up to 100,000 songs in their library and easily create and share playlists. YouTube Music combines the best artist-tracking features of Apple Music and Spotify. It allows users to view their "liked" songs by artists and subscribe to artists to access their complete catalog and stay up to date with new releases.

Conclusion

Music is something that has become an integral part of life and it is only becoming more abundant. Choosing the best music service is what your mood, your leisure time, and your emotions depend on. Is it worth neglecting all this and choosing the first service you come across?