10 Best Online Music Streaming Services in 2024
We fervently believe that our life would not have the colours as it does sans music! This is why a music streaming service is, in all likelihood, one of the most used apps on our phones after social media if you started tracking your screen time. If you are on the lookout for a new home where you can find all the latest tunes and the best listening experience, then this review is for you; where we compare music streaming online services that are popular in 2024!
- Free version available with best value plan
- Premium Individual Plan at $10.99 per month
4.5
Excellent
- Free version available with best value plan
- Amazon Music Prime at $14.99 per month
3.5
Excellent
- Free version available with best value plan
- Pandora Plus at $4.99 per month
3.0
Good
- Free version available with best value plan
- Plus Membership at $2.99 per month
3.0
Good
- Free version available with best value plan
- iHeartRadio Plus at $4.99 per month
4.0
Good
10 Most Popular Music Streaming Services in 2024:
- Spotify: Streaming Pioneer with Unrivaled Music Selection
- Apple Music: Premium Integration with Your Apple Ecosystem
- Google Play Music: Seamless Integration with Your Android Device
- Amazon Prime Music: The Value For Money for Prime Members
- SoundCloud: The Go To Platform for Independent Artists and Creators
- Pandora: The Original Customized Radio Experience
- Tidal: Best Choice for Hi-Fi Sound Quality
- Deezer: The Global Music Streaming Service with Local Expertise
- Slacker Radio: The Curated and Personalized Radio Experience
- iHeartRadio: The Ultimate Free Radio Streaming Service
There’s always that one player in the market – that underdog who comes out and changes the course of history within a night. Spotify Music is that underdog. This massive, leading music streaming platform requires no introduction. It stands as the paramount service on a global scale – devoid of hyperbole. The platform provides millions of singles and albums and podcasts, encompassing exclusives and originals unattainable elsewhere. Esteemed by aficionados and those craving straightforward auditory indulgence alike, this auditory streaming platform reigns supreme. Spotify’s intuitive interface and robust algorithms facilitate seamless exploration, playback, and dissemination of music among acquaintances.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, you can access the complete collection with ad support.
- Hi-Res Audio: No, but streams at up to 320 kbps
- Non-Music Content: Yes, includes podcasts and videos
- Song Lyrics: Yes, available on most tracks
Pricing:
- Free Version: Ad-supported access to the entire library
- Premium Individual Plan: $10.99 per month
- Premium Duo Plan: $14.99 per month (for two accounts)
- Premium Family Plan: $16.99 per month (up to six accounts)
- Premium Student Plan: $5.99 per month (with student verification)
Selection of Music:
Spotify contains nearly 80 million songs, from top hits to obscure artists and independent labels. You can discover classical, jazz, country, electronic music, and so much more on the platform. Its vast repertoire includes hits, cult masterpieces, and hidden gems from throughout the world and bygone eras. Its growing library of audiobooks, podcasts, and films makes it a one-stop shop for everything audio.
Artists:
Spotify works with mega record labels and independent performers to offer a wide range of music. The collection includes artists like Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles. Listeners can also check out new and established performers in a range of genres. With its vast and increasing collection, Spotify can play practically any song.
Why You Should Pick It
Music aficionados should choose Spotify for its customised and full-featured streaming. With its enormous collection, user-friendly features, and affordable prices, casual listeners and music enthusiasts can discover what they need. Social integration lets you share playlists and follow artists and friends. Spotify also releases fresh artist partnerships, exclusive material, and unique features like Spotify Wrapped to keep things exciting.
You are likely acquainted with the Apple Music streaming app if you are an Apple aficionado. This premium music streaming online service trails closely behind Spotify in notoriety and the amenities it furnishes. The app is accessible to music lovers working on the iOS and delivers an effortless amalgamation with the Apple ecosystem. Users can anticipate a personalized and handpicked music encounter across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Not entirely free, users can grab a 1 month free trial
- Hi-Res Audio: Yes, supports lossless audio up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Non-Music Content: Yes, includes music videos and exclusive video content
- Song Lyrics: Yes, with real-time synchronised lyrics
Pricing:
- Individual Plan: $10.99 per month
- Family Plan: $16.99 per month (up to 6 accounts)
- Student Plan: $5.99 per month (with student verification)
Selection of Music:
Users have access to a large library of genres like pop, classical, electronics, hip-hop, and more. Its catalogue includes big and indie labels, exclusive releases, and customised playlists.
Artists:
Apple Music has a wide selection of musicians across genres in its huge collection. Pop fans may enjoy Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande. Rock fans can listen to Foo Fighters and Queen, and if you are into hip-hop, try Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Cardi B. Dance and electronic musicians include The Chainsmokers and Calvin Harris. Country music aficionados may enjoy Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, and others.
Why You Should Pick It
Apple Music is an excellent option for iPhone users and listeners who value high-quality music and seamless connection with their devices. It offers a personalised and immersive music experience with its massive song selection, exclusive content, and customised playlists. For music fans wanting the highest audio quality and listening experience, lossless audio, live events, and synced lyrics make it a top pick.
Google Play Music has gone through major changes. While the platform itself isn’t available anymore, all of its best features have been made live on YouTube Music. This music streaming service is designed for the Android ecosystem. It works pretty much the same way as Apple Music does- offering a user-friendly platform for listeners, but only on Android. You can easily discover, stream, and manage your music library across various devices without any hassle.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: No, but users can grab a 30 day free trial
- Hi-Res Audio: No, streams at up to 320kbps
- Non-Music Content: No, focused solely on music streaming
- Song Lyrics: Yes, with synced lyrics support
Pricing:
- Individual Plan: $10.99 per month
- Family Plan: $16.99 per month (up to 5 accounts)
- Student Plan: $5.49 per month (with student verification)
Selection of Music:
YouTube Music offers over 40 million songs in its catalogue. The app includes pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic, classical, jazz, and world music. The platform offers music from big labels and smaller artists, creating a wide and extensive repertoire.
Artists:
The platform has songs from many popular music artists- pop singers like Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Adele, rock bands like Imagine Dragons and Coldplay, hip-hop acts like Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and classical music from composers like Mozart and Beethoven.
Why You Should Pick It
This app is ideal for Android users seeking seamless integration. It offers simple and customized music streaming with its large music catalogue, user-friendly interface, and low prices. Its connectivity with the Android environment and ability to stream music across devices makes it a good choice for Google ecosystem fans despite its limited capabilities.
If you’re already a subscriber to Amazon’s Prime membership, Prime Music presents itself as a superb choice. Subscribers can play songs from its many playlists across smart speakers, tablets, and smartphones. If you don’t have a membership, you can still try their free plan that allows you to play tracks with ads. And if you want access to a premium selection, then that can also be accessed in the Amazon Music Unlimited plan.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, for Amazon Prime members
- Hi-Res Audio: No, streams at up to 256kbps
- Non-Music Content: No, focused solely on music streaming
- Song Lyrics: No
Pricing:
- Amazon Music With Ads: Enjoy 100 million ad-supported tracks for free
- Amazon Music Prime ($139 per year or $14.99 per month): Included with Amazon Prime subscription
- Amazon Music Unlimited (premium tier): $9.99 per month for Prime members and $10.99 per month for non-prime users
Selection of Music:
Access more than two million songs in diverse genres on Amazon Prime Music. Rock, pop, hip-hop, and country are just a few options available. Their library might not be as extensive as other specialised music streaming services, but it does offer all the mainstream and popular songs.
Artists:
If you are a fan of artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons, Khalid, and Luke Combs, you are in for a treat. There are also songs by legendary artists like Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, and The Beatles that are hard to miss!
Why You Should Pick It
Amazon Prime Music is a fantastic option for current Amazon Prime members looking to add value to their membership with unlimited access to music. Its music library isn’t extensive compared to specialised streaming services, but it’s cheap, easy, and perfect for occasional listeners or Amazon fans. Serious music lovers may upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited Premium for access to an even larger collection and more features.
SoundCloud is a music streaming and sharing network aimed at independent artists, makers, and music fans. It offers artists a unique platform to post, share, and market their original music while fans can discover and hear a wide collection of new and rising talent.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, with ads and limited functionality
- Hi-Res Audio: No, streams at up to 128kbps for free accounts (higher for paid)
- Non-Music Content: Yes, allows for sharing of podcasts, audiobooks, and other audio content
- Song Lyrics: No
Pricing:
- SoundCloud Go: $4.99 per month (ad-free, save unlimited tracks)
- SoundCloud Go+: $6.99 per month (ad-free, offline listening, higher audio quality)
Selection of Music:
SoundCloud’s music collection is continually growing with original content from independent artists and developers. While it lacks substantial libraries from big companies, it does provide a wide and diversified variety of niche genres, underground performers, remixes, and unique audio experiences that are difficult to obtain elsewhere.
Artists:
SoundCloud promotes independent musicians from many genres, such as hip-hop (Chance the Rapper, Lil Uzi Vert), electronic (Kygo, Flume), and alternative rock (Imagine Dragons, HAIM). It has also aided the careers of numerous now-mainstream musicians who first garnered popularity on the site.
Why You Should Pick It
SoundCloud is a unique and valuable platform for music fans looking to discover new and developing musicians outside of the mainstream. Its open style allows for a varied and ever-changing variety of music, making it an excellent destination for people who have specific interests or want to support independent producers. While SoundCloud may not provide the same degree of curation or functionality as other specialised streaming services, its community-driven approach and commitment to promoting unsigned talent make it an excellent alternative for music discovery and exploration.
One of the first internet radio services, Pandora, allows users to play music based on their own likes. To provide users with a one-of-a-kind, personalised radio experience, it employs a cutting-edge Music Genome Project to examine and classify songs according to their musical traits.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, with ads
- Hi-Res Audio: No, streams at up to 192kbps
- Non-Music Content: No, focused on music streaming
- Song Lyrics: No
Pricing:
- Free Version: Enjoy personalised stations with ads
- Pandora Plus: $4.99 per month (ad-free listening)
- Pandora Premium: $9.99/month (access to offline listening and on-demand streaming)
Selection of Music:
Pandora offers millions of global songs, including pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and more. Even while it lacks the enormous archives of other music streaming services, its strengths include personalised radio stations and song suggestions.
Artists:
Pandora showcases a diverse range of performers, from mainstream hitmakers to indie artists. The platform’s top artists include Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Luke Combs, and many others from various genres.
Why You Should Pick It
Pandora offers personalized radio and on-demand streaming. It creates unique playlists for every user using its Music Genome Project and advanced algorithms to simplify music discovery. Pandora is a relaxing streaming service that lets users choose music easily, but with less versatility than other platforms.
Tidal is a great premium streaming service for audiophiles. It has high-quality, uncompressed audio formats that makes your listening experience way more nuanced and clear
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: No, subscription-based only
- Hi-Res Audio: Yes, it offers lossless and high-res audio
- Non-Music Content: Yes, includes music videos and exclusive video content
- Song Lyrics: Yes, with synchronised lyrics available
Pricing:
- Individual Plan: $10.99 per month (lossless, high-quality audio)
- Family Plan: $16.99 per month (lossless and high-resolution audio, up to 6 members)
- Student Plan: $4.99 per month (save over 50% via student verification)
Selection of Music:
The Tidal music streaming platform curates a repertoire exceeding 80 million tracks encompassing mainstream icons, independent talents, and specialized artisans. Enthusiasts indulge in their preferred melodies sans alteration, owing to its dedication to uncompromising audio quality.
Artists:
Tidal collaborates with prominent record labels and independent musicians to curate a diverse array of musical genres. The platform has hit music of Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Daft Punk, Metallica, and other esteemed artists
Why You Should Pick It
Music fans who prioritise sound quality will love Tidal. Tidal provides an engrossing, unadulterated auditory journey with its lossless and high-fidelity audio formats, distinctive content offerings, and extensive music repository. While Tidal’s premium pricing may deter those less inclined to invest substantially in their musical selections, connoisseurs of music will unequivocally appreciate the platform’s superior audio quality.
Deezer is a global music streaming service with so many songs, podcasts, and playlists. It uses its worldwide footprint and local music knowledge to offer a tailored and localised music experience.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, with ads and limited functionality
- Hi-Res Audio: Yes, supports lossless FLAC audio up to 16-bit/44.1kHz
- Non-Music Content: Yes, includes podcasts and live radio channels
- Song Lyrics: Yes, with synchronised lyrics available
Pricing:
- Deezer Premium Plan: 11.99 dollars billed monthly (without ads, radio on demand, high-quality audio).
- Deezer DUO Plan: $15.99 per month (premium plan, cross-device listening, and no ads; 2 accounts)
- Deezer Family Plan: $19.99/month (6 individual accounts, better audio stream, 320 kb/s audio stream + download to your favorite songs)
Selection of Music:
Deezer Music has more than 90 million sound recordings that cover the whole extent from Pop music and Rock to Hip-Hop, Jazz, World, and Classical tunes. With its global presence and local tailoring, Deezer can bring music you would not be able to hear in local curated stations from all the countries.
Artists:
Deezer provides music from various artists- Ed Sheeren, Backstreet Boys, and BTS as well as local and indie musicians.
Why You Should Pick It
Deezer offers a worldwide and diversified music experience with a local touch, making it a great option for music fans. Its huge collection, tailored suggestions, and specialised curation make it a top choice for discovering new music from other countries. Deezer’s lossless audio and synced lyrics enhance the listening experience for audiophiles and casual users.
Slacker Radio Music, now known as LiveOne, provides tailored internet radio to its users. It also lets them build music-specific stations using the comfort of conventional radio and the customisation options of on-demand streaming services.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, with ads and limited functionality
- Hi-Res Audio: No, streams at up to 320kbps
- Non-Music Content: Yes, includes news, sports, and talk shows
- Song Lyrics: No
Pricing:
- Free Version: With ads and limited skips
- Plus Membership: $2.99 per month (ad-free, unlimited skips, high-quality)
Selection of Music:
LiveOne provides access to millions of music under genres such as pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and more. The library’s tunes and playlists are handpicked by music specialists for variety and quality.
Artists:
LiveOne showcases music from both mainstream and indie musicians. You can listen to Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Luke Combs, Shakira, JayZ, Justin Beiber and more.
Why You Should Pick It
Enjoy the relaxed listening experience of classic radio with greater control and personalisation. Discovering personalised music is easy with its curated channels and expert suggestions. Live radio, news, and chat shows give diversity to listening. While it may not have the largest on-demand library of dedicated streaming services, LiveOne’s unique combination of radio and streaming capabilities makes it an attractive alternative for curated and customised audio.
iHeartRadio is a free, entirely digital radio platform enabling users to access live broadcasts, curate personalized artist channels, engage with podcasts, and stream music at their leisure. Its aim is to provide an expansive auditory experience by amalgamating conventional radio with streaming facilities.
Specifications:
- Free Version Available: Yes, with ads
- Hi-Res Audio: No, streams at up to 128kbps
- Non-Music Content: Yes, includes podcasts, news, sports, and talk shows
- Song Lyrics: No
Pricing:
- Free Version: With ads and limited functionality
- iHeartRadio Plus: $4.99 per month (ad-free radio, unlimited skips)
- iHeartRadio All Access: $9.99 per month (on-demand streaming, offline listening)
Selection of Music:
iHeartRadio streaming service plays millions of rock, country, pop, and hip-hop songs. Even though its music inventory is less than comparable streaming services, its live radio and tailored artist stations are its strengths.
Artists:
iHeartRadio broadcasts songs from major labels and new artists. The site features Maroon 5, Ariana Grande, Aurora, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, etc.
Why You Should Pick It
iHeartRadio offers real-time broadcasting of radio transmissions, many on-demand music, and entry to podcasts. The vast compilation of live radio channels and customizable artist stations streamlines the endeavour of indulging in favoured artists and discovering novel ones. Sports, chat, and news make listening more entertaining. Despite having a smaller music repertoire than other streaming services, iHeartRadio’s free ad-supported tier and affordable premium options make it a good choice for many users.
How to Choose the Best Music Streaming Service for You
Given the many music streaming services available, choosing one might be difficult. Consider your tastes, device compatibility, and budget to make an informed choice. Start by checking the music library’s size, diversity, and availability of your favourite artists and genres. If you’re an audiophile, choose lossless or Hi-Res streaming services.
Next, evaluate the platform’s features and functions. Curated radio stations or tailored suggestions may be preferred by certain users over on-demand streaming with custom playlists. For a cheaper solution, consider connection with your existing devices and ecosystems and a free or ad-supported tier.
The best music streaming service should match your listening habits, musical choices, and user experience. To choose the finest audio service for your needs, try free trials and read reviews from other music fans.
How we review the best music streaming services
We thoroughly assess the top music streaming services to provide a great listening experience. We start by examining the music library’s breadth and depth to ensure it covers a wide range of genres and interests, from major singers to niche and independent artists.
We also focus on audio quality, reviewing streaming formats and the platform’s capacity to offer lossless and Hi-Res sound for audiophiles. We evaluate the user interface and functionality, including customised suggestions, playlist building, offline listening, and cross-device compatibility.
Pricing and subscription choices are also vital to ensure an objective examination of each service’s value proposition. We go over each platform’s capabilities, such as exclusive content, live programming, or ecosystem integration.
In our assessment method, we utilise the services as everyday consumers, testing them across scenarios and devices. Our ultimate objective is to allow readers to make educated decisions and select the best music streaming service for their interests, budget, and listening habits by providing comprehensive and impartial recommendations.
Conclusion
Music streaming services have become an important part of our lives. Apart from social media, this is where we spend most of our time, exploring tunes and original shows. In our comprehensive review of the top music streaming online apps, we discover what they all have to offer and how they are all unique in their own way. Now you know which music streaming service is the best in the market! Before you commit to any one music streamer, make sure to do a thorough research.
FAQs
Some of the best music streaming services in the market right now are Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Prime Music. Apart from these mainstream services, there are some unique platforms that offer one-of-a-kind listening experiences, like SoundCloud and iHeartRadio.
The cheapest music streaming that doesn’t compromise on the quality is definitely Spotify. Even with ads, it makes sure you can access the majority of its libraries and playlists at premium quality.
Yes, there are many music streaming services that offer free plans and trials. If you are on a budget, then you may go for Spotify, SoundCloud, Pandora, and Deezer.
