The Best Music Streaming Services of 2023
Music streaming services offer instant access to millions of songs and features to help you discover new artists or listen to old favorites. Some offer music videos, podcasts, or the ability to download tracks for offline listening.
After a significant amount of research and testing, we found that Tidal is the best streaming music service for most people right now. It offers an enormous catalog of songs, high-definition audio, and is easy to use.
Tidal recently adjusted their pricing to be more in line with their competitors, added a large catalog of indie artists, and now offers a free tier similar to our favorite free service, Spotify.
Spotify’s free plan gives you a huge catalog and a strong user-tailored experience. Its options for discovering new music give it a slight edge on Tidal’s free tier. You can’t select your own tracks and albums on mobile, and you have to deal with ads. But Tidal’s free tier has the same weaknesses.
Finally, if you’re an iPhone user, you’ll want to consider Apple Music. It offers the best experience for Apple hardware owners.
Credit:
Tidal
With high definition sound, a free tier of service, and a reputation for paying artists well, Tidal is a great option for music lovers.
Best Overall
Tidal offers high-definition audio by default on all of its paid plans. The basic HiFi plan has around 75 million songs, as well as exclusive content like articles and interviews. It also has early access to some albums and singles, and a wide range of music videos for streaming.
Tidal’s quiet improvements propelled it into the top spot. It added Soundrop, nabbing the last big indie distributor it lacked and bringing its catalog in line with Spotify’s. It also recently added a free tier comparable to Spotify’s.
High-quality audio helped our winners stand out from the pack, and Tidal shows strongly here. Even with the natural degradation you get with Bluetooth headphones, you can hear a marked difference in quality over Spotify. (The same goes for Apple Music and Deezer’s hi-fi tier.)
The HiFi plan is also discounted for military and first responders, and available as a family plan. Tidal offers a free 30-day trial of HiFi, as well as an ad-supported free plan that lets you choose your own music on desktop, or stream shuffled tracks and playlists on mobile.
Tidal’s top-tier HiFi Plus plan uses direct master recordings authenticated by the labels and artists that own or produced them. Tidal also offers 3-D audio via Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality spatial audio. It also consistently pays one of the highest rates to the artists who supply content to the app’s library.
There are a few downsides. You may still find things on Spotify you can’t find here, though not as many as you used to. The app’s user interface isn’t always as slick. Finally, it takes a little time for Tidal to lock into your tastes for music discovery compared to Spotify or Pandora.
Get the Tidal app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the Tidal app on Google Play
Mục lục
Pros
-
High-resolution, “Master Quality” audio
-
Exclusive content
-
Easy-to-use interface
Cons
-
Fewer discovery options than Spotify or Pandora
Buy now at Tidal
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Spotify’s free, ad-supported service is a great option for those uninterested in paying a monthly subscription.
Best Free Option
Spotify’s free version provides plenty of listening options without a monthly subscription fee. It provides the same personalized features as Spotify’s premium plan, and includes a full-featured desktop app.
However, even the best free plan comes with compromises. Prepare to be peppered with ads every few songs or so. (Occasionally, you’ll have the option of enduring a longer advertisement in exchange for an extended ad-free listening session.)
Another downside is that the free mobile app is limited compared to its desktop counterpart. You can listen to playlists based on a song or artist, but individual songs or albums are limited, as is the number of songs you can skip.
Finally, the free-tier plan doesn’t offer offline listening, and the audio quality is less than the Premium service. It’s basically a slightly-tailored version of listening to the radio. If that’s what you want, it’s great.
Get the Spotify app on Apple iTunes
Get the Spotify app on Google Play
Pros
-
Same personalized features as Spotify’s premium plan
-
Full-featured desktop app
Cons
-
Ads can be annoying
-
Mobile app is more limited
-
No offline listening
Buy now at Spotify
Credit:
Apple
Featuring lossless audio and a massive collection of music, stations, and exclusive content, Apple Music is the best streaming music service around.
Best For iPhone
Apple Music is among the most full-featured services around, touting 90 million songs in lossless quality. (That is, high-fidelity sound free from the compression of formats like mp3.) It also offers a cloud-based music locker that lets you upload your pre-existing music collection online to listen on the go.
Its recent price bump makes it slightly more expensive than other services’ basic offerings, but if high-definition audio is a priority, the extra couple of bucks is worth it. Its Apple Lossless Audio Codec file format sounds richer and crisper than compressed, lossy mp3s. A special flag notates when it’s using the original masters.
Apple Music is well-integrated with other Apple products like Macs, iPhones or Apple Watches. It’s fully compatible with Siri for voice control on devices that have it. But even on other machines, Apple Music runs smoothly.
If you’ve purchased a lot of music through iTunes or ripped a ton of CDs to your iTunes library, you can sync that to Apple Music, as well. That makes your existing library accessible across multiple devices.
An Apple Music subscriptions also include live radio stations hosted by well-known artists, DJs, and producers. This includes Apple Music Radio (formerly Beats 1 radio), which can be listened to live or on-demand. This augments an already solid array of additional content including music videos and other exclusives.
They also offer Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which allows creators to place sounds precisely in space around the listener, regardless of what they’re using to listen.
There are plenty of plan options, including a standard monthly subscription and a discounted annual plan. There’s also a bare-bones “Apple Music Voice” plan. This streamlined option doesn’t include computers or mobile apps—it works exclusively through Siri.
Apple Music doesn’t offer a free plan, but you can give it a free trial spin for a generous three months. If you’re passionate about supporting the artists you listen to, Apple Music is among the more generous when it comes to streaming payouts.
Get the Apple Music app on Apple iTunes
Get the Apple Music app on Google Play
Pros
-
Large library of songs
-
Lots of exclusive content
-
Music syncing across devices
Cons
-
Better for Apple users than Android
-
No free option
Buy now at Apple Music
Other Music Streaming Services We Tested
Deezer subscription plans provide access to exclusive content, including live performances and original podcasts. For those looking for hi-res audio, Deezer’s premium HD audio plan is a great option, priced between Tidal’s two options. It also boasts one of the simplest, most intuitive interfaces of the services we tested.
Deezer’s free tier is present but limited: you can’t choose your tracks or listen offline, and the audio quality is lower than what paying users enjoy. But you can listen to music, podcasts, and radio for free.
Deezer’s library isn’t the largest, but it does boast most major artists and a wide slew of indies. If you’re a fan of discovering smaller artists, Deezer could be for you. If you care about how much these services pay artists, Deezer pays less than Tidal, but much more than Spotify.
Get the Deezer app on Apple iTunes
Get the Deezer app on Google Play
Pros
-
Streamlined interface
-
Hi-def plan available
-
Some exclusive content
Cons
-
Podcasts not available in all countries
-
Hi-definition music is an extra, not the default.
Buy now at Deezer
Spotify Premium has been one of the most popular music streaming services around for years. It’s great for discovering new music and podcasts. Its Discover Weekly playlist automatically based on your listening habits is eerily good at finding new music you’ll love.
During testing, its user interface on Android, iOS, and desktop was among the simplest to navigate. You can quickly find the music you want and easily build playlists.
Like many competitors, Spotify Premium lets you download songs, albums, podcasts, and even playlists for offline listening. Downloads take up storage space on your device, but it’s a great option if you don’t have Wi-Fi or cell service, or you’re worried about data overages.
Unfortunately, Spotify has dropped the ball on high-definition audio. In early 2021, the service announced that it would be offering a hi-fi streaming option by the end of the year. Nearly two years later, other services offer high-definition audio as standard and Spotify Hi-Fi is still nowhere in sight.
It’s also worth noting that Spotify competes with YouTube for last place on paying artists for their work. Spotify can be great for discovering new artists, but it’s not a great way to listen to those artists, for their benefit or yours.
Get the Spotify app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the Spotify app on Google Play
Pros
-
Available on multiple platforms & devices
-
Great personalized recommendations
-
Simple, intuitive interface
Cons
-
No high-resolution audio
Buy now at Spotify Premium
Amazon Music Unlimited offers high-definition audio by default for all of its subscription tiers, at no additional cost. The service boasts a library of 75 million songs. Amazon Prime members can listen to 2 million of those tunes for free. Additionally, anyone with an Alexa device can listen to the service’s “top playlists and stations” for free—but can’t choose songs on demand.
Amazon Music’s pricing is competitive with other services we tested, and the discounts offered to Prime members can make it a great deal. Echo device owners also have access to a low-cost voice control-only plan, similar to Apple Voice on Siri.
Amazon offers support for Dolby Atmos Music, expanding the traditional stereo mix of most popular music into a virtual 3-D listening experience. This lets users hear select music in a more immersive way. Unfortunately, device support for spatial audio is currently only available on Amazon’s Echo Studio smart speaker.
You should also note that Amazon Music Unlimited’s catalog size is fairly limited compared to some other services in this guide, and it only offers the basics for music recommendations and custom playlists.
Get the Amazon Music Unlimited app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the Amazon Music Unlimited app on Google Play
Pros
-
Discount for Amazon Prime users
-
Hi-def audio plan available
-
Dolby Atmos music support
Cons
-
Additional features limited at present
-
Less attractive if you don’t have Amazon Prime
Buy now at Amazon Music
YouTube isn’t just the world’s most popular video streaming site: it’s also one of the most used search engines in the world. YouTube Music uses its subscribers’ usage history to strengthen their recommendations and discovery features. That said, not every song on YouTube is accessible through YouTube Music.
The cost of a YouTube Music subscription is in line with the pricing of the other services in this guide. There’s a discount for students and a discounted family plan for five people over age 13 at the same address.
Unfortunately, you may have trouble accessing YouTube Music on some devices. There isn’t a smartwatch app, or even a dedicated desktop app. Additionally, YouTube’s artist payouts are among the worst of any streaming music service.
Get the YouTube Music app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the YouTube Music app on Google Play
Pros
-
YouTube integration adds exclusive music
-
Solid recommendations and personalized content
Cons
-
Unavailable on some devices and platforms
-
Light on features
Buy now at YouTube Music
Pandora’s music discovery features are the best of any music streaming service. Most services start by asking you to choose a selection of favorite artists, but Pandora skips that and builds straight off of the first track you listen to. Its algorithm is good enough that it doesn’t need the help.
Our first test album using Pandora was one that Garrett recorded: a small indie release that he uses to test most services since he knows it so well. Once the album ended, the next song that Pandora cued up fit the vibe of the album so perfectly that he couldn’t turn it off. The song that played after that was from an artist that Garrett’s producer was listening to when they recorded his album. Pandora clearly understood the vibe.
Pandora offers its ad-supported streaming radio for free. A “Plus” plan gives you ad-free radio streaming, more skips and replays, and offline listening. Its relatively new on-demand listening service, Pandora Premium, finally lets you choose the artist and songs you want to hear at will.
Unfortunately, its discovery algorithm is the only strong point. Pandora is plagued by lower-quality audio and a smaller library than other services in this guide. Not only is there no high-definition audio, but Pandora’s standard audio quality is also sub-par compared to its competition.
Get the Pandora app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the Pandora app on Google Play
Pros
-
Incredible for discovering new music
Cons
-
Audio quality is pretty rough
-
Library is lacking
Buy now at Pandora
SoundCloud Go+ provides access to millions of songs from established and independent artists. Subscribers enjoy access to some cool features. There’s a library of podcasts, and an automated SoundCloud Weekly playlist for discovering new music. SoundCloud GO+ also offers integration with select DJ apps, though most average listeners won’t get a lot of mileage out of that.
In addition to its Go+ service, SoundCloud also offers a less expensive SoundCloud Go plan, with less music to choose from and lower quality audio. No matter which plan you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy offline listening and, better still, no ads.
Unfortunately, SoundCloud’s support for devices other than smartphones and computers is poor. Its computer web interface is also far less intuitive than other services’.
Get the SoundCloud app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the SoundCloud app on Google Play
Pros
-
Tons of indie and community-created tracks
-
Variety of subscription options
-
Lots of free music available
Cons
-
Web interface is clunky
-
Not as widely available as other services
Buy now at SoundCloud Go+
As its name suggests, LiveOne places a heavy emphasis on live content, with a wealth of original programming and exclusive performances. While this helps it stand out from other music streaming services, LiveOne can’t measure up to the libraries of studio-recorded music other services offer.
During testing, LiveOne’s web interface was sluggish and difficult to use. While the mobile app was slightly better, it still isn’t up to par. These issues make it difficult to recommend LiveOne’s “PLUS” plan.
If you’re intrigued by the exclusive content, there is a free, ad-supported plan which lets users listen to concert and festival live streams, audio stations, personalized recommendations, and original content. It’s a great way to check out what’s unique about LiveOne without having to pay a dime.
Get the LiveOne app on Apple iOS App Store
Get the LiveOne app on Google Play
Pros
-
Plenty of live content and exclusive programming
-
Less expensive plan available for more limited streaming.
Cons
-
Sluggish, confusing interface
-
No family plan
-
No free trial option
Buy now at LiveOne by Slacker
How We Test Music Streaming Services
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
It took us hours of listening, comparing features and pricing to figure out which music streaming service is best for most people.
The Testers
Michael Garrett Steele makes most of his living as a writer. However, he’s also a composer and recording artist, primarily for video games. He’s composed for properties like Fallout and Commander Keen and recorded for game composers like Megan McDuffee and Ryan Ike.
Don Melanson is a veteran tech journalist who listens to a lot of music from a number of sources, including a vinyl collection, digital audio files, and, of course, streaming music services. He always strives to get the best sound quality possible—both from his audio equipment and his music sources.
The Tests
We began by using previous experience and expert opinion to determine which music services to test. We evaluated premium and free versions of each service. Next, we assembled 21 popular and lesser-known songs, representing a wide range of genres from various eras. We used these songs to build a playlist for each service, to assess:
- The user-friendliness of each service
- How difficult it was to build a playlist
- How easy it was to find and play music
- The breadth of music available on each service—the fewer songs available, the lower the marks
We also used each service to listen to music on a daily basis. This helped to judge how well each service’s music recommendation features worked. We also spent time exploring extra features like live radio, videos, curated playlists, and exclusive content.
We took into account the cost of each service’s plans. We also considered podcast support, offline capabilities, audio quality, and smartwatch app availability. While conducting these tests, we used each service’s web interface and desktop application (where available), as well as their Android and iOS apps.
What You Should Know About Music Streaming Services
While there are exceptions, most streaming services will offer the majority of the music you’re looking for. They all offer decent sound quality and should be available to use with iOS, Android, and Windows. Some are available using your smartwatch or smart speaker, while others are not.
The biggest differences are found in their interfaces, ease of use, and features beyond basic streaming. Some offer exclusive content, live radio, custom playlists, and music recommendations that become more tailored to your taste the more you use them.
Standard vs. High-Res/HD Sound Quality
Standard resolution streaming audio was once the norm for music services. It gets the job done, more or less, but the music’s quality suffers. Due to digital compression, you can lose clarity and finer details, and you may hear a hiss or digital artifacts as you listen.
High-resolution/definition audio brings richness to the music you stream. Background noise is lessened or removed entirely. Overall, what you hear will be closer to how the artist intended it to sound.
As high-resolution audio has become more common, it was a more pressing factor in our latest scoring process. Our original choice for best overall was dethroned, in favor of a service that provides a massive catalog of high-definition and lossless audio tracks.
High-definition audio has increasingly become standard with a basic subscription. Still, some services ask users to pay a premium to stream higher quality audio to their devices.
What Streaming Services Pay Artists
Audio streaming services are notorious for not paying artists well. While most services don’t release official figures, information collected from musicians and other sources indicates that artists can expect to make anywhere from $0.00069 to $0.019 per stream. That’s miniscule compared to what they make from album sales, and the variables regarding how much one artist makes over another are opaque.
The convenience of streaming music is tough to beat. But if there are artists you want to support, consider purchasing a song or album after you’ve sampled it on your favorite service.
