With its massive reach of over 165 million global subscribers, Spotify dominates the music streaming landscape. But some listeners are exploring alternatives for certain extra features or even cost savings.
This guide compares five top Spotify competitors across key categories like library size, audio quality, price points and device compatibility. We‘ll arm you with in-depth knowledge so you can confidently choose the best premium music streamer for your needs.
Why Consider Spotify Alternatives?
Loyal users cherish Spotify for its smooth, user-friendly interface and personalized music discovery. However, there are some compelling reasons you may want to weigh other streaming options:
Price – Spotify‘s premium subscription runs $9.99 per month. Some alternatives cost less for comparable catalogs and features.
Sound Quality – Spotify streams at a maximum 320 kbps bitrate quality. Other services offer lossless CD-quality streams up to 1411 kbps for audiophiles.
Device Support – Competitors like Apple Music integrate tightly with a brand‘s own hardware ecosystem.
Exclusive Content – Niche streamers boast rare content and exclusives as a draw for new listeners.
Let‘s explore how five top contenders stack up on these fronts.
1. Apple Music
With over 90 million songs and direct integration with the Apple ecosystem, Apple Music poses the fiercest threat to Spotify‘s dominance.
Launched in 2015, Apple Music has grown rapidly to surpass 78 million subscribers globally as of January 2022. That‘s nearly half of Spotify‘s base. In the key U.S. market alone, Apple overtook Spotify in subscriber count in early 2022.
A major Apple Music differentiator is lossless audio added mid-2021. Lossless streams in near CD-quality at 16 bit / 44.1 kHz (1411 kbps), which is over 4 times more data than Spotify‘s max bitrate. To take full advantage requires external DACs or Apple devices with Lightning ports for pristine playback.
Pricing mirrors Spotify at $9.99 for individuals. Families get 6 accounts for $14.99 per month. Discounted Apple Music Voice grants Siri access for $4.99 monthly.
For those deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem with AirPods, HomePod and AppleTV, Apple Music offers unmatched integration. Seamless conveniences like automatic switching between devices keeps you immersed in your music.
2. Amazon Music
Another tech titan tossing its hat into the ring is Amazon Music. Like Apple, Amazon leverages its existing digital media ecosystem – in this case leveraging its Amazon Prime subscription base.
Amazon Music listeners can choose from three main tiers:
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Amazon Music Free – An ad-supported free streaming option resembling Spotify‘s model. Limited song skipping ability and standard definition quality maxes out at 256 kbps bitrate.
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Amazon Music Prime – Available to existing Amazon Prime subscribers, this ad-free tier contains 2 million songs that can be downloaded for offline listening. But it still caps audio quality at 256 kbps.
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Amazon Music Unlimited – Paid subscription offering 75+ million songs and access to higher quality audio – from standard definition quality up to 850 kbps for Ultra HD tracks. Spatial audio also available. $7.99 per month for individuals or $14.99 for up to 6 family members.
One advantage over Spotify is tight integration with Alexa voice controls. You can request songs hands-free on supporting Echo speakers without ever touching your phone.
As of January 2022, Amazon Music boasted over 55 million subscribers but still trails Apple and Spotify by a wide margin. Since Amazon doesn‘t regularly report listener figures, estimates extrapolate from quarterly financial reports.
3. YouTube Music
As the world‘s largest free video streaming platform with over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube boasts incredibly deep music libraries – both official and unofficial uploads.
YouTube Music grants full access to the platform‘s entire catalog of over 80 million official, licensed songs and albums from artists. But beyond that, you also gain access to rarities like live concert footage, remixes, covers by bedroom creators and music videos unavailable elsewhere.
Total content libraries exceed Spotify but audio quality is currently limited to 256 kbps AAC files (for comparison, Spotify maxes out at 320 kbps). However, a tiny subset of music videos and concert footage offer 4K or even 360 degree immersive reality audio.
Paid YouTube Music Premium plans run $9.99 for individuals or $14.99 per month for family sharing (up to 5 additional members). Discounted student plans are also available.
As of 2020, YouTube Music boasted over 30 million tracks with 15 million-plus paying subscribers globally. Integrating with the world‘s largest video site provides unique discovery potential beyond core streaming competitors.
4. Deezer
While Deezer garners just 2-3% of total music streamers globally, this French platform punches above its weight with broad appeal across Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Today Deezer hosts 73 million tracks available in over 190 countries. While lagging the biggest American players, Deezer holds its own with audio technical prowess.
All subscribers gain access to 16-bit CD quality audio with bitrates up to 1411 kbps on "Deezer HiFi" plans costing $14.99 monthly. More common Premium plans with standard quality MP3 streams run just $9.99.
One neat bonus feature is SongCatcher, which identifies music playing around you that you can instantly add to playlists. Fans laud Deezer‘s custom music algos serving up fresh, unexpected deep cuts rather than just top hits in heavy rotation.
As of early 2022, total worldwide subscribers reached nearly 30 million and counting. While often overlooked stateside, Deezer‘s global appeal and audio format support makes it a formidable Spotify competitor around the world.
5. Tidal
Backed by billionaire rap/business mogul Jay-Z, Tidal positions itself as a platform "for artists, by artists" promoting audio quality and fair streaming royalty payouts.
Total library size (70 million+ songs) fails to measure up to category leaders. Instead, niche service Tidal targets music purists focused solely on pristine audio above all else. Their $19.99 Tidal HiFi Plus tier offers immersive studio master-quality streams from select artists at 9216 kbps bitrate – nearly 30 times more data than Spotify‘s max bandwidth. Support for Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio pushes the soundscape possibilities even further.
The platform also promises higher royalty payouts compared to rivals – as of 2021 averaging $7 per 1000 streams. A few globally recognized artists like Kanye West and Beyoncé periodically release exclusive albums or concert films viewable only on Tidal.
Naturally, tapping into uncompressed audio requires compatible equipment ranging from external DAC setups to premium headphones and speakers. So costs stack up – but for audiophiles seeking a no-compromise "vinyl-like" streaming experience, Tidal HiFi Plus delivers a truly elevated listening encounter unmatched by Spotify.
With on-demand streaming services continuing to multiply, which makes the most sense for former Spotify listeners seeking alternatives?
We suggest narrowing your priorities:
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If you already pay for Amazon Prime or own Echo speakers, try Amazon Music Unlimited to unlock lossless streaming bundled into services you likely already use daily.
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Apple users willing to pay a premium for luxury, refined hardware and software integration will cherish Apple Music‘s ecosystem tie-ins. Seamless handoff between devices makes playing DJ easier than ever.
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Budding music nerds eager to plunge into the chaos of remixes and covers should explore YouTube Music. All your video faves in one place plus under-the-radar rising talent you won‘t find anywhere else.
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International listeners and Europhiles who crave fresh niche recommendations beyond predictable hits should sign up for Deezer. Impressive HiFi audio fidelity pleases discerning ears.
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Finally, true zealots with high-end audio gear desiring uncompressed sound should subscribe to Tidal HiFi Plus. Just be prepared to pay nearly double Spotify‘s rates.
The streaming music arena keeps expanding exponentially. But these five robust platforms currently stand out from the endless crowd of Spotify challengers thanks to their depth of content, pricing, features and audio format support.
We hope breaking down key strengths and target users for each service helps you make an informed decision. Music is too personal and powerful to settle, so choose the streaming alternative that best amplifies your passion.
