Jolley FrankieMusic streaming services offer a world of opportunities for music fans. They make hundreds of thousands of artists available with a few clicks. Even though some audiophiles may criticize the quality of streaming music, a growing number of providers deliver Dolby Atmos audio for free.
With so many digital music services on the market, it can be difficult to make the final choice. Well, difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Once you make your needs and preferences clear, you will be able to narrow down your search. Let’s check out the top digital streaming services and their less-known contenders which deserve your attention.
- Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon is known as a giant in the e-commerce sector. It has recently conquered the digital streaming field as well. Today, Amazon Music Unlimited provides a feature-packed listening experience, with a huge 75-million-song catalog, Hi-Res Audio, and podcast library.
By default, Amazon Prime subscribers get access to 2 million tracks from Amazon Music. For $8.99, they can use music and higher-quality audio, with lossless and high-resolution tracks.
Who is it for?
Amazon is suitable for people who have already become part of the Amazon ecosystem. They can stream crisp audio via a mobile app, web browser, or various Amazon devices, such as the Echo and Fire TV. - Spotify
Spotify is an excellent all-around music streaming service with an intuitive interface, smart social features, and a great collection of music and podcasts. With 350 million users and 150 million subscribers, it has already risen to the top. Its free version comes up with multiple listening options without a monthly subscription fee. A premium plan includes a full-featured desktop app with better-quality content and personalized playlists and recommendations.
Who is it for?
Spotify works well for people who want to enjoy a large catalog of music and podcasts. Those who don’t mind ads can use the free version.
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Apple Music is focused on Apple users by making Android owners look elsewhere. If you’re immersed in Apple’s ecosystem, you will enjoy the local content to the full extent. Even though there is no free tier, Apple Music leads a reasonable pricing policy with a basic plan of $5 per month. To get access to Spatial Audio, Lossless Audio, lyrics, and music videos, you need to switch to Individual or Family plans.
Whether you are using the desktop or mobile app, you won’t have a problem navigating the interface. The service offers a great job of creating playlists based on smart recommendations.
Who is it for?
Apple Music is meant for Apple users only. Its service is surely the most attractive and best-value hi-res streaming service these days. - YouTube Music
YouTube Music provides lossless streaming through a web browser or a mobile app. Subscribers can enjoy songs, live performances, and even podcasts. They can listen to and make playlists from videos that are streaming on the YouTube platform. This can be done for free. With YouTube Premium, the available content gets even more diverse. Premium users can check out the library of 70 million songs, personalized playlists, and music videos. Location-based playlists will even suggest songs for appropriate needs, sports training, meditation, and so on.
Who is it for?
YouTube Music is good for anyone who wants to upload their own library and listen to it for free or for an extra charge. If you are tired of ads or want to get more video content at your disposal, you should try a premium version. - Tidal
Tidal is a less popular streaming service but it offers an overly delightful experience. According to the base free plan, it promises sound quality up to 160 kbps with limited ads. Two monthly paid subscription tiers provide quality music content without ads. Moreover, it allows users to enjoy music while offline.
Apart from music videos, Tidal also offers lossless audio and live-streaming content, including concerts and music festivals. Compared to more competing services, it pays artists more per stream. As a user, you should know that 10% of your subscription cost goes directly to the artists you listen to.
Who is it for?
Tidal is good for musically inclined purists who care about sound quality and new music.
How to Choose the Best Music Streaming Service for You?
If you don’t have any specific needs or preferences for a new music streaming service, you can jump into the very first option on your way. Otherwise, you should take a strenuous effort to find something specific in terms of experience.
Spotify and Tidal are the most intuitive in terms of free features. Apple Music and Amazon Music offer better-quality content. Make your goals clear. So you can get to enjoy the benefits of services that just keep getting better.