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 strongest pick for discovery and social listening, even after its Individual price rose to $12.99 per month in the US.
- Apple Music is now cheaper than Spotify for an individual plan at $10.99 per month, with lossless audio and Spatial Audio included.
- TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz all charge $11.99 to $12.99 per month for an individual plan, so sound quality and catalog extras decide between them.
- YouTube Music suits listeners who want videos, live recordings, and rare tracks beside studio albums.
- Amazon Music Unlimited is best value for Prime members, who pay less than non Prime subscribers for the same catalog.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Spotify | Discovery and social listening | $12.99 per month | Yes |
 Apple Music | Lossless sound at a lower price | $10.99 per month | Free trial |
 YouTube Music | Videos and rare recordings | $11.99 per month | Yes |
 Amazon Music Unlimited | Prime members and Alexa homes | $11.99 per month | Free trial |
 TIDAL | High resolution sound and DJ tools | $11.99 per month | No |
 Deezer | Flow playlists and CD quality sound | $11.99 per month | No |
 Qobuz | Audiophile listening and downloads | $12.99 per month | No |
 Pandora | Radio style listening in the US | See website | Yes |
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The best music streaming services
Starting price$12.99 per month
Free planYes
Spotify is still the default for many listeners, and the reason is habit as much as catalog. Discover Weekly, Daylist, Blend, and shared listening sessions make it easy to find new music and to listen with friends. The app runs on phones, computers, TVs, game consoles, cars, and speakers, so a playlist started at home usually follows you without friction.
Price is now the weak point. The US Individual plan rose to $12.99 per month in January 2026, with Duo at $18.99, Family at $21.99, and Student at $6.99. Lossless audio is available, but it tops out at 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, below the high resolution tiers from Apple, TIDAL, and Qobuz. If discovery and social features matter most, Spotify still earns its price. If sound quality per dollar matters most, Apple Music undercuts it.
What we like- Strong playlists and personalization
- Large podcast catalog
- Works on almost every device
Watch out for- Highest individual price among the majors in the US
- Lossless tops out below some rivals
- Free tier has ads and shuffle limits on mobile
Starting price$10.99 per month
Free planFree trial
Apple Music has become the value leader for sound quality. The Individual plan costs $10.99 per month, Family costs $16.99 per month for up to six people, and Student costs $5.99 per month. The full catalog is available in lossless audio, with Hi-Res Lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz and many tracks in Dolby Atmos, all at no extra charge. Apple Music Classical is also included, which suits classical listeners who want proper work and movement browsing.
The limits are familiar. There is no free tier, so you must pay or use a trial to listen on demand. Android users can subscribe, but the experience feels most natural on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. If you already use Apple devices, and you want high quality sound without paying the highest price, Apple Music is the clearest pick in this comparison.
What we like- Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless included
- Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos
- Apple Music Classical included
Watch out for- No free ad supported tier
- Best experience inside Apple devices
- Family plan still requires household checks
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planYes
YouTube Music wins on material you cannot find elsewhere. Official videos, live performances, covers, remixes, and fan uploads sit beside studio albums, and its search can find a song from a lyric fragment or a vague description. That makes it a strong second service for music fans, and a strong first service for listeners who watch as much as they listen.
Sound quality is the trade. Streams run at up to 256 kbit/s in compressed formats, which is below lossless services, though most listeners will not notice on phone speakers or basic earbuds. The US Premium price rose to $11.99 per month in 2026, and YouTube Premium at $15.99 per month adds ad free YouTube video. Choose YouTube Music for breadth and video, not for audiophile sound.
What we like- Huge catalog of videos, live versions, and covers
- Strong search for lyrics and descriptions
- YouTube Premium bundle option
Watch out for- Audio quality is compressed compared with lossless rivals
- Free tier has ads and background limits
- Interface can feel busy
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planFree trial
Amazon Music Unlimited fits a specific household well. If you already pay for Prime, the Unlimited price for Prime members is $10.99 per month, below the $11.99 non Prime price, and the catalog includes more than 100 million songs with HD and Ultra HD tracks. Alexa control is a real advantage in a home full of Echo speakers, since you can start music by voice in any room.
Discovery and social features lag Spotify and Apple Music, and some listeners report a less polished mobile app. Podcasts and audiobooks are present, but they are not the main reason to choose this service. Pick Amazon Music Unlimited if you live in the Amazon ecosystem, want high resolution sound, and want the Prime discount. Pick another service if playlist discovery drives most of your listening.
What we like- HD and Ultra HD audio included
- Strong Alexa and Echo integration
- Prime members pay less
Watch out for- Discovery is weaker than Spotify
- App quality varies by device
- Non Prime price is higher
#5TIDAL
Best for: High resolution sound and DJ tools4.6/5 on
G2 (73 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit tidal.com
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planNo
TIDAL has narrowed its offer to one clear promise, which is sound quality. The Individual plan costs $11.99 per month in the US after the August 2026 increase, with Family at $19.99 per month and Student at $6.99 per month. That price includes HiRes FLAC, Dolby Atmos, and a DJ plan for use with supported DJ software, which is a genuine niche that other services serve less well.
The loss of a free tier in 2024 means every listener pays, and the Family plan is now more expensive than Apple Music for the same number of members. Playlist discovery and podcast depth also trail Spotify. TIDAL suits a listener with good headphones or speakers, a DJ, or someone who wants high resolution sound with artist focused features. For most households, Apple Music gives similar sound quality for less.
What we like- HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Dolby Atmos tracks
- DJ integration with supported software
Watch out for- No free tier
- Family plan costs more than Apple Music
- Catalog extras are thinner than Spotify
Starting price$11.99 per month
Free planNo
Deezer is a calm, capable alternative that rarely tops a headline but serves many listeners well. The Individual plan costs $11.99 per month, Duo costs $15.99 per month, and Family costs $19.99 per month. Paid plans include lossless FLAC at 16-bit/44.1 kHz, which is CD quality, and the Flow feature builds a personal radio mix from your taste and favorites.
The limits are at the top end. Deezer does not offer high resolution audio above CD quality, and it does not offer Dolby Atmos, so audiophiles should look at Apple Music, TIDAL, or Qobuz. In the US, Deezer Free is not available, so you need a paid plan or a trial. Choose Deezer if you like Flow, want CD quality sound, and want a Duo option that TIDAL does not offer.
What we like- Lossless FLAC at CD quality on paid plans
- Flow personal radio
- Duo plan for two people
Watch out for- No free tier in the US
- No high resolution above CD quality
- No Dolby Atmos
Starting price$12.99 per month
Free planNo
Qobuz is the purist pick. The monthly Solo plan costs $12.99 per month, with an annual option that lowers the effective monthly cost, and the catalog focuses on sound quality, editorial writing, and a download store where you can buy albums to keep. That combination appeals to listeners who build a library, read about recordings, and care about mastering and format details.
The trade is breadth. Qobuz has no podcasts, no music videos, and no Dolby Atmos, and its discovery tools are quieter than Spotify. It also plays high resolution audio best on capable hardware, since phones and basic earbuds will downsample the highest formats. If you want one service for everything, Qobuz is too narrow. If you want the best sounding library with notes you can read, it is a strong specialist.
What we like- HiRes FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Download store to own music
- Strong editorial notes and reviews
Watch out for- No podcasts, videos, or Atmos
- Higher price than Apple Music
- Smaller social and discovery features
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Pandora still has a place for listeners who do not want to choose every song. The free tier builds stations from artists, songs, and genres, and thumbs up and down shape the station over time. That lean back style suits work, driving, and background listening, where picking tracks feels like a chore.
The limits are clear. Pandora is available in the US, on demand playback and offline listening require a paid tier, and pricing should be checked on the vendor site, since plans and trial offers change. Sound quality and catalog depth also trail Apple Music and Spotify for active listening. Choose Pandora as a free radio companion, or as a paid tier if you love stations, and pair it with another service if you want full on demand control.
What we like- Free radio tier in the US
- Strong station personalization
- Simple lean back listening
Watch out for- US only
- On demand features require a paid tier
- Catalog and sound quality trail the leaders
How we chose
We compared services on price, sound quality, catalog breadth, discovery, device support, and free or trial access, using vendor pricing pages, company announcements, and public reviews. US individual prices were used as the baseline, since family, student, and annual prices change the value picture for different households.
We also separated sound quality claims from listening reality. Lossless and high resolution formats matter most on good headphones, speakers, or a dedicated DAC. On phone speakers or basic earbuds, discovery, offline downloads, and device support often matter more than the highest sample rate.
Matching a service to your listening
Price alone does not pick a winner, because the cheapest service for one household can be the wrong service for another. Use the patterns below as a shortlist, then use a free trial with your own headphones.
If discovery drives your listening
Start with Spotify. Its playlists, social features, and podcast catalog are still the strongest combination, even at $12.99 per month. Check whether Duo or Family pricing lowers the per person cost before you judge the individual price.
If sound quality per dollar matters most
Start with Apple Music. At $10.99 per month for an individual, it gives lossless and high resolution audio plus Spatial Audio for less than Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz. TIDAL and Qobuz remain relevant for DJs and for listeners who want a download store.
If you listen with video and rare tracks
Start with YouTube Music. Its catalog of live versions, covers, and videos is unmatched, and the YouTube Premium bundle adds ad free video for $15.99 per month. Accept compressed audio, or pair it with Apple Music for critical listening.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best music streaming service overall?
Spotify is the best overall pick for discovery, social listening, and device support. Apple Music is the best value pick for sound quality, at $10.99 per month for an individual plan. The right answer depends on whether you value playlists, sound quality, video, or household price most.
Which music streaming service has the best sound quality?
Apple Music, TIDAL, and Qobuz all offer high resolution FLAC, with Apple Music including it at the lowest individual price among the three. Deezer offers CD quality lossless, while Spotify lossless tops out lower and YouTube Music uses compressed audio. Good headphones or speakers are needed to hear the difference.
Is Spotify or Apple Music cheaper in 2026?
Apple Music is cheaper for an individual plan in the US, at $10.99 per month compared with Spotify at $12.99 per month. Apple Music Family at $16.99 per month is also cheaper than Spotify Family at $21.99 per month. Student prices are $5.99 for Apple Music and $6.99 for Spotify.
Can I listen to music for free?
Yes, with limits. Spotify and YouTube Music have free ad supported tiers, and Pandora has a free radio tier in the US. Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer, and Qobuz require a paid plan, though trials are often available. Free tiers usually include ads, shuffle limits, or no offline downloads.
Can I keep my playlists if I switch services?
Playlist transfer tools can move many playlists between services, though matches are not always exact and some tracks may be missing in a new catalog. Export or save a copy of important playlists before you cancel, and check the new service for favorite albums and artists after transfer.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/
- https://www.apple.com/apple-music/
- https://music.youtube.com/
- https://music.amazon.com/
- https://tidal.com/pricing
- https://www.deezer.com/us/offers
- https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/
- https://www.pandora.com/
- https://www.notebookcheck.net/Spotify-announces-price-hikes-across-all-major-plans-in-the-US.1205251.0.html
- https://www.ecoustics.com/news/tidal-price-increase-2026/
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.