What it lacks in features, it makes up for with availability in many countries where many of these other services are not available. Students get a 50% discount ($4.99 per month), while family plans max out at $14.99 per month. Apple still has some bugs to work out, so it’s not the best experience for Android, though it’s a rock-solid streaming experience overall.
You can create custom radio stations around your music interests based on different genres, artists or songs, and find stations created by other users. You can also use Deezer’s music discovery tool to find new music to your liking and enjoy it from any mobile device or computer. Like other free music streaming services on this list, the free service is ad-supported and does not stream music in high-definition quality. Deezer is a music streaming website with many genres, radio stations, and fun pre-made mixes. Many people upload their material to SoundCloud for others to hear.
You can also try Spotify Stations if you want to experience the service in a different way. Apple Music launched in late 2015 and received mixed reviews. However, it has quickly become one of the best music streaming apps on the market. It has over 30 million songs as well as playlists, 24/7 live radio, and you can upload and stream your music to your device. There’s also a social component where you can follow artists and see what they’re up to. There are several monthly plans, including individual plans, a cheaper plan for students, and a family plan that supports up to six family members.
Now podcasts are also included, so you can listen to your favorite shows directly on Spotify without needing another app. Apple launched its own music streaming service, Apple Music, in June 2015. You’ll also get personalized Free music playlists tailored to your tastes based on your previous listening activity. You’ll also have access to Beats 1, a 24-hour global radio station that features celebrity DJs playing their favorite hits.
The service also offers a premium music retrieval service with millions of songs. The $4.99 version allows you to play music on demand, while the $9.99 version offers a number of additional features. Honestly, it’s not a bad option, although many competitors have better a la carte selections.
SoundCloud Go, SoundCloud’s on-demand service, adds several million popular songs to the service. In total, more than 150 million songs are available for $9.99 per month. It’s a great place to discover indie material that no one else knows about. Beyond that, the service includes the usual, like playlists, stations, and other discovery features. Which music streaming services offer the best combination of price, sound quality, and library size?