# Best Music Streaming Services _CompareFairly · en/US · neutral comparison, cited sources, no paid placement_ **Category:** entertainment › music › music streaming **Our pick**: Spotify (70/100) · **Cheapest**: Soundiiz · **Best value**: Spotify ## Comparison table | Criterion | Spotify | Deezer | Tidal | Apple Music | Pandora | Amazon Music Unlimited | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Price / month (USD) | 11.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 11 | 11.0 | | Family Plan Cost (USD) | 17.0 | 15.0 | 18.0 | 17.0 | 15.0 | 17.0 | | Student Discount | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | | Catalog Size (songs) | 100000000 | 90000000 | 100000000 | 100000000 | 100000000 | 100000000 | | Podcast Integration | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | | Live Radio Stations | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | | Audio Quality | Standard | Lossless | Hi-Res Lossless | High | Standard | High | | Offline Listening | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | Recommendation Engine | Advanced | Good | Good | Good | Advanced | Good | | Lyrics Display | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | | User Interface | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | | Device Compatibility (platforms) | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | ## 1. Spotify Spotify offers an exhaustive discovery feature and is considered slick and intuitive, making it a good choice for users of almost any phone, smart device, or computer. **Best for:** Users looking for a widely compatible service with strong music discovery features, despite concerns about artist payouts and audio quality. **Pros:** - Ubiquity - Community features - Easy pairing with other devices - Slick and intuitive interface **Cons:** - Crappy payouts - Subpar audio quality - AI and military tech involvement - Lack of album folders _Source (verified): [https://www.techradar.com/audio/audio-streaming/the-best-music-streaming-services](https://www.techradar.com/audio/audio-streaming/the-best-music-streaming-services)_ ## 2. Deezer Offers a large music library, including HiFi audio options and curated playlists. _Source (estimate): [https://www.deezer.com](https://www.deezer.com)_ ## 3. Tidal Tidal is recognized for its excellent sound quality, particularly for hi-res audio, and offers thoughtful editorial content and playlists. **Best for:** Audiophiles and users prioritizing high-fidelity sound and better artist compensation. **Pros:** - Great sound quality - Hi-res audio support - Thoughtful editorial content and playlists - Strong artist payouts **Cons:** - Higher price tag compared to some competitors - May not be as widely compatible as Spotify _Source (verified): [https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services)_ ## 4. Apple Music Apple Music offers well-curated playlists and is one of the services that allows users to store their existing digital music library. **Best for:** Users within the Apple ecosystem who want to integrate their existing digital music library and appreciate curated playlists. **Pros:** - Well-curated playlists - Digital locker for existing library - Good for indie artists **Cons:** - Less yielding to PC and Android users - Tagging and organization of personal library can be time-consuming _Source (verified): [https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services)_ ## 5. Pandora Pandora Premium offers more flexibility than most competitors and is known for its streaming radio service. **Best for:** Users who primarily use streaming radio and value flexibility, but are less concerned with the highest audio fidelity. **Pros:** - Flexibility - Popular streaming radio service - Higher payouts than Spotify **Cons:** - Audio quality is among the lowest available (192Kbps) - Not keeping up in terms of overall catalog size - Limited access to some things _Source (verified): [https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-music-streaming-service/](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-music-streaming-service/)_ ## 6. Amazon Music Unlimited Amazon Music Unlimited offers a discount for Prime subscribers and has added high-res audio to its platform. **Best for:** Amazon Prime subscribers looking for a comprehensive music streaming service with high-quality audio options. **Pros:** - Discount for Prime subscribers - High-res audio support - Was one of the first services to offer cloud uploading of MP3s **Cons:** - Cloud uploading of MP3s was officially discontinued in 2018 _Source (verified): [https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services)_ ## 7. YouTube Music YouTube Music offers a brilliant search feature and allows users to store their existing digital music library, though it does not support hi-res audio. **Best for:** Users who also subscribe to YouTube Premium and want integrated access to music videos and live performances. **Pros:** - Brilliant search feature - Digital locker for existing library - Access to music videos and live performances **Cons:** - Hi-res audio not supported - Discovery algorithm can be overwhelming - Payouts could be better _Source (verified): [https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services](https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/streaming/best-music-streaming-services)_ ## 8. Qobuz Qobuz allows users to stream and purchase music, offering higher artist payouts and editorial content like reviews. **Best for:** Passionate music fans willing to pay a premium for high-quality audio, the option to buy music, and support for artists. **Pros:** - Option to purchase music - Higher artist payouts - Editorial content (reviews) - Lossless audio features **Cons:** - Higher price tag - Library may be limited compared to other services - Not one of the most popular platforms _Source (verified): [https://theneedledrop.com/i-ranked-all-the-music-streaming-platforms/](https://theneedledrop.com/i-ranked-all-the-music-streaming-platforms/)_ ## 9. Soundiiz ## 10. Audible ## 11. Tune My Music ## In short This comparison evaluates 11 music streaming services based on 12 criteria, including price per month, family plan cost, student discount, catalog size, podcast integration, and live radio stations. Spotify ranks highest with a score of 70/100, excelling in device compatibility and catalog size, both scoring 100/100. Deezer also achieves a 70/100 score, surpassing Spotify in live radio stations. Soundiiz is identified as the most affordable option. The data used for this comparison is sourced from 7 out of the 11 options, with the remaining values being estimates and flagged accordingly. The facts in this summary are computed from the table below; only the wording is generated. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best music streaming services in 2026?** In 2026, Spotify leads our comparison with a score of 70/100, closely followed by Deezer, based on criteria like price, catalog size, and features. **How do Spotify and Deezer compare on price and features?** Spotify is currently ranked highest, excelling in areas such as podcast integration and live radio. Deezer is also a strong contender, offering competitive pricing and a vast catalog. **Are there student discounts for music streaming services?** Yes, many music streaming services offer student discounts to make their plans more affordable. Check individual service details for eligibility and pricing. **How is the music streaming service ranking determined?** Our ranking is based on objective data for each criterion, including price, catalog size, and feature availability. We maintain strict neutrality, and our placement is not influenced by any paid arrangements. --- _Generated by CompareFairly - neutral universal comparator. Ranking not for sale, data sourced._ --- _CompareFairly · https://comparefairly.com/en/US/best-music-streaming-services — citation with a link is allowed; bulk extraction/redistribution is prohibited._