How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Spotify remains the easiest all-round choice, thanks to its free tier, strong discovery playlists, and support on nearly every device.
- Apple Music offers the best audio value for Apple users, with lossless and spatial audio included at no extra charge.
- YouTube Music is the best deal for people who already pay for YouTube Premium, since the music service is included at no extra cost.
- TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz compete on sound quality, and the difference only matters with good headphones or a wired setup.
- Pandora still leads for hands-off radio-style listening, while SoundCloud remains the best place for independent and unreleased tracks.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Spotify | All-round listening and discovery | $12.99 per month | Yes |
 Apple Music | Apple users and audio quality | $11.99 per month | No |
 YouTube Music | Music videos and YouTube Premium users | $11.99 per month | Yes |
 Amazon Music Unlimited | Prime members and Alexa homes | $11.99 per month (Prime members) | Free trial |
 TIDAL | High-resolution audio | See website | Free trial |
 Deezer | Flow recommendations and lossless audio | See website | Yes |
 Pandora | Personalized radio stations | $11.99 per month | Yes |
 Qobuz | Audiophile downloads and streaming | See website | No |
 SoundCloud | Independent and new artists | See website | Yes |
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The best music apps ranked by what they do best
Starting price$12.99 per month
Free planYes
Spotify is the default music app for a reason: it does everything well enough that most listeners never need a second service. The catalog covers more than 100 million tracks, podcasts and audiobooks sit in the same app, and discovery features such as weekly playlists and daily mixes surface new music without effort. Playlists, liked songs, and listening history move cleanly between phone, desktop, speaker, car, and watch.
Premium costs $12.99 per month for an individual plan, with family and student plans also available, and the free tier remains genuinely usable for casual listening despite ads and shuffle limits. Lossless audio has arrived on Spotify, though its rollout and device support should be checked before paying for sound quality alone. The main weakness is price: Spotify is now the most expensive major individual plan. Listeners who mainly want the lowest bill, or the best lossless audio, can find cheaper or stronger options below.
What we like- Free tier with a huge catalog
- Best discovery playlists
- Works on almost every device
Watch out for- Free tier has ads and limited skips
- Highest individual price among major services
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planNo
Apple Music is the strongest value for anyone already inside the Apple ecosystem. Lossless audio up to 24-bit/192kHz and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos are included in the standard individual price of $11.99 per month, with a family plan at $19.99 per month. On AirPods, Apple Watch, HomePod, and CarPlay, playback, Siri control, and offline downloads work with very little setup.
Discovery has improved, with personalized playlists and radio stations, but social features such as collaborative playlists and friend activity still lag behind Spotify. There is no free tier, so trying the service means a paid subscription or a trial offer, often bundled with a new device. Android users can use Apple Music too, but the integration advantage disappears outside Apple hardware. For iPhone owners who care about sound quality, Apple Music is hard to argue against.
What we like- Lossless and spatial audio included
- Deep integration with iPhone, Watch, and HomePod
- Large catalog
Watch out for- No free tier
- Social and discovery features trail Spotify
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planYes
YouTube Music stands apart because its catalog goes beyond official studio releases. Live recordings, covers, remixes, and fan uploads sit beside albums, which suits listeners who enjoy versions of songs that other services never carry. Music videos play inside the same app, and switching between audio and video is a single tap.
The individual price is $11.99 per month, and the free tier works with ads, but the real value appears for YouTube Premium subscribers, who get YouTube Music Premium included at no extra cost. That bundle also removes ads from YouTube videos, which makes it a strong deal for heavy YouTube users. Audio quality tops out below lossless rivals, so audiophiles should look at Apple Music, TIDAL, or Qobuz instead. For everyone else, the breadth of content is the draw.
What we like- Included with YouTube Premium
- Huge range of live versions, covers, and remixes
- Music videos built in
Watch out for- No lossless audio option
- Recommendations can mix in low-quality uploads
Starting price$11.99 per month (Prime members)
Free planFree trial
Amazon Music Unlimited makes the most sense in a household that already pays for Prime. Prime members pay $11.99 per month, while non-members pay $12.99 per month, and the catalog covers more than 100 million songs with HD and Ultra HD audio included. Alexa control is the practical advantage: asking a speaker to play a song, an album, or a playlist works without touching a phone.
Prime members who do not upgrade still get a smaller Prime Music selection included with Prime, which is enough for background listening. The full Unlimited service is needed for on-demand albums and offline downloads. Discovery playlists and the app design are serviceable rather than standout, and podcast support is thinner than Spotify. Amazon Music Unlimited is a value pick for Prime and Alexa households, not a reason to join Prime on its own.
What we like- Cheaper for Prime members
- HD and Ultra HD audio included
- Voice control through Alexa
Watch out for- Non-Prime price is $12.99 per month
- App and discovery feel less polished than Spotify
#5TIDAL
Best for: High-resolution audio4.6/5 on
G2 (73 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit tidal.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
TIDAL is built for listeners who care about how music sounds. Its catalog of more than 110 million tracks includes high-resolution lossless audio and Dolby Atmos mixes, and the app presents artist credits, editorial features, and live sessions more prominently than most rivals. For a listener with good wired headphones or a home audio setup, the difference over standard streaming is audible.
Pricing has moved during 2026, with reports listing individual plans at $11.99 and later $12.99 per month, so the vendor page is the reliable figure at signup. There is no permanent free tier comparable to Spotify, though trials are offered. Discovery and social features are weaker, and the catalog, while large, is not the reason to choose TIDAL. Choose it for sound quality and artist content, and confirm the current price before subscribing.
What we like- High-resolution lossless audio and Dolby Atmos
- Artist-focused editorial content
- Large catalog
Watch out for- Price has risen and varies by reporting date
- Discovery trails Spotify
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Deezer is a strong European-born alternative that deserves more attention in the US. Its signature feature, Flow, builds an endless personal mix from favorite tracks and new recommendations, which suits listeners who want music playing without choosing every song. Premium includes lossless FLAC audio, offline downloads, and a catalog of more than 120 million tracks, and a free tier covers basic listening with ads.
Pricing for Deezer Premium has been reported around $11.99 per month in the US, but regional variation means the vendor page should be checked at signup, so this article lists it as See website. Deezer has a smaller US footprint than Spotify or Apple Music, which shows up in fewer exclusive releases and less social buzz. Listeners who like radio-style discovery and lossless audio, and who do not need the largest social graph, will find Deezer a pleasant surprise.
What we like- Flow creates a personal radio mix
- Lossless FLAC audio on Premium
- Free tier available
Watch out for- Smaller US presence and marketing
- Some features vary by region
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planYes
Pandora invented the personalized station, and it still does that job better than anyone. A station built from a single song or artist learns from thumbs up and thumbs down, and the Music Genome Project analyzes songs by musical traits rather than popularity alone. That approach produces stations that feel personal in a way that generic playlists often do not.
Pandora Premium, the on-demand tier, rose to $11.99 per month for new subscribers in September 2026, with a family plan at $19.99 per month, while Pandora Plus, the improved radio tier, costs $5.99 per month. The free tier still offers personalized stations with ads. Pandora suits listeners who press play and let the music choose itself, especially at work, in the car, or at home. Listeners who want to pick exact albums every time, or who want lossless audio, should choose a service higher on this list.
What we like- Best personalized stations from the Music Genome Project
- Free radio tier
- Simple, low-effort listening
Watch out for- On-demand catalog experience trails rivals
- Audio quality is lower than lossless services
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Qobuz is the service for listeners who treat music as a collection, not just a stream. Streaming reaches up to 24-bit/192kHz, and the built-in store allows buying high-resolution downloads to keep permanently, which appeals to collectors and to people with a serious home setup. Album pages carry detailed credits, booklets, and editorial notes that most streaming apps skip entirely.
The trade-offs are clear. Qobuz has a smaller mainstream and pop catalog than Spotify or Apple Music, there is no free tier, and pricing varies by plan, including a student tier reported at $4.99 per month, so the vendor page is the authority. The interface is calm and information-rich rather than fun. Qobuz is not the best first music app for most people, but it is the best second app for a listener who already has a main service and wants the best sound and a real collection.
What we like- High-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Store for buying downloads
- Rich liner notes and credits
Watch out for- Smaller mainstream catalog
- No free tier
- Interface is less playful than rivals
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
SoundCloud is where new music appears first. Independent artists upload demos, remixes, DJ sets, and unreleased tracks directly, often months before they reach other services, if they ever do. For fans of electronic music, hip-hop mixtapes, and underground scenes, SoundCloud is not a substitute for Spotify: it is a different library altogether.
The free tier covers most listening, with ads, while paid Go plans add offline listening and remove ads, with pricing that varies by region and offer. Audio quality and completeness vary because tracks come from artists themselves rather than a licensed master catalog. SoundCloud works best alongside a main streaming service: use Spotify or Apple Music for albums, and SoundCloud for the tracks that exist nowhere else.
What we like- Largest range of independent, demo, and unreleased tracks
- Direct artist uploads
- Free tier
Watch out for- Major-label catalog and audio quality vary
- Paid Go plans add cost for offline listening
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, store listings, documentation, and public reviews, keeping only services that are currently available in the US and genuinely built for music listening. Each service was judged on catalog, audio quality, discovery, free tier, device support, and price, with extra weight on the features a listener actually uses daily. Prices change often in this market, so figures reported inconsistently across sources are marked as See website rather than guessed.
Picking by listening habit
The best music app depends on how listening actually happens during the week. A commuter who shuffles playlists and shares songs with friends gets the most from Spotify. A home listener with good headphones gets the most from Apple Music, TIDAL, or Qobuz. A household that talks to Alexa, or already pays for Prime, gets the most from Amazon Music Unlimited. A YouTube-heavy household gets the most from YouTube Music through Premium.
Checking the total cost
Compare the plan that fits the household, not just the individual price. Family plans change the ranking: Pandora Premium Family at $19.99 per month and Apple Music Family at $19.99 per month can beat two individual subscriptions, while Spotify Family at $21.99 per month costs more. Student plans, annual billing where offered, and bundles with video or device purchases can also cut the bill. Before switching, check whether playlists can move: transfer tools and import features make switching easier than it used to be, but a large curated library still takes time to rebuild.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best music app overall?
Spotify is the best all-round choice for most listeners, because it combines a free tier, strong discovery, podcasts, and support on nearly every device. Apple Music is the better pick for iPhone users who value lossless audio, and YouTube Music is the better pick for households already paying for YouTube Premium. There is no single winner for every listener.
Which music app has the best sound quality?
Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz all offer lossless or high-resolution audio, with Qobuz reaching up to 24-bit/192kHz and Apple Music including lossless at no extra charge. The difference is only audible with good wired headphones, a decent speaker, or a dedicated audio setup. On basic wireless earbuds, standard quality from any major service sounds very similar.
Is there a good free music app?
Yes. Spotify and Deezer offer free tiers with ads, YouTube Music has a free tier, Pandora offers free radio stations, and SoundCloud offers free listening to a huge independent catalog. Free tiers limit skips, offline downloads, and sometimes on-demand choice, but they are enough for casual listening and for testing a service before paying.
Can I keep my playlists if I switch music apps?
Mostly, yes. Playlist transfer tools can move playlists, liked songs, and albums between major services, and some services offer their own import features. Transfers are rarely perfect: a few tracks may be missing on the new service, and play counts or custom ordering may not carry over. Export or transfer playlists before cancelling the old subscription.
Do music apps work offline?
Paid plans on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, TIDAL, Deezer, and Pandora Premium all allow offline downloads, with limits on device count and download numbers. Free tiers generally do not allow offline downloads, apart from limited podcast options in some apps. Check the download limit before a long trip without reliable internet.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.spotify.com
- https://music.apple.com
- https://music.youtube.com
- https://music.amazon.com
- https://tidal.com
- https://www.deezer.com
- https://www.pandora.com
- https://www.qobuz.com
- https://soundcloud.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.