There are plenty of Spotify alternatives that can offer features (and artists) you can’t get from the green-themed giant. If you’re passionate about music, it’s a great idea to search around and check out some different options. Some options even work out as better value too. 

We’ve searched through all the Spotify alternatives currently out there and picked out some of the best examples of a different way of music or podcast streaming. These services are available on numerous platforms but bear in mind that not all are available in every country worldwide. 

Apple Music - Best for Apple users

If you own Apple devices, Apple Music is an obvious choice. While there’s no free plan, it does offer an extensive trial period to check it out. Over 90 million songs are available with thousands of playlists, including curated options as it learns your music taste. Podcasts are also ably catered for here. Spatial audio features in conjunction with your Apple hardware mean it sounds great too. It’s a well-designed rival to Spotify. Just watch for quirky limitations if you want to listen offline.

  • Integrates very well with all Apple devices.

  • Spatial audio support.

  • Live radio options.

  • No free plan option.

  • Some limitations with listening offline.

  • Free trial.

  • Spatial audio.

  • Some ultra HD quality tracks.

  • Not quite as many tracks as competitors.

YouTube Music: Best for Uploading your Own Collection

YouTube Music offers up a free trial which is always welcome news. Once in, it offers some intelligent algorithms to ensure your playlist recommendations are suitably in key with your tastes. It has easy-to-use apps, and you can even upload up to 100,000 of your tracks to keep everything in one place. That includes support for high-fidelity tracks, but it’s a bit limited compared to other online options.

  • Smart algorithms.

  • Easy to use.

  • Limited high fidelity music.

Bandcamp: Best for Discovering New Artists

Bandcamp is for the music fan who loves to discover new artists before everyone else. Bandcamp is indie-focused; you won’t find big names here, so it’s a service best paired with something else. However, it offers some lesser-known names and is entirely free to check out. It’s down to you if you want to pay for an album with pre-orders easily arranged and even live concerts available through the service. Its interface is delightful to look at but not exactly as straightforward as others out there. 

  • New music you won’t have heard of before.

  • Helps support independent artists.

  • Interface could be clearer.

SoundCloud: Best for Remixing Music

SoundCloud offers the best of many worlds. It has more than 265 million songs and podcasts, including some upcoming indie artists, as well as better-known people who started there. Like Bandcamp, it’s best for those seeking out the next big thing, but there’s a fun twist. Subscribe to the Go+ plan, and you can dub multiple tracks over each other, acting like your very own DJ and creating remixes. It also has more regular features like unlimited downloads, high-quality audio, and intelligent recommendations.

  • Millions of songs and podcasts.

  • Can create your own remixes.

  • No free plan available.

Deezer: Best for Great Recommendations

Deezer has a lot of different options, but it’s the service’s intelligent algorithm system that makes it most appealing. Sometimes referred to as Deezer Flow, it formulates a mix of favorites and new tracks in a way that means you’re highly likely to enjoy. It works better than some competitors and has a reasonable price too. High-fidelity music is available, but it’s not as high-end as elsewhere. Still, with 73 million songs, you won’t run out of choices fast. 

  • Deezer flow algorithm is great.

  • Available in hundreds of countries.

  • Easy to use.

  • Limited number of podcasts.

  • Not as high fidelity as some.

Tidal: Best for High-Fidelity Music

Tidal is the best streaming service for high-fidelity music bar none. It offers over 80 million tracks with its basic HiFi plan offering up to 1,411kbps quality music as standard. Spend a little more, and you get up to 9,216kbps which is sure to delight audiophiles. Elsewhere, it has everything else you could want from a music streaming service, including offline functionality, easy-to-use apps, and tons of choice. The only downside is that its CarPlay app is flawed, and it costs more if you subscribe directly through the App Store.

  • Extensive audio library.

  • High-fidelity audio as standard.

  • More expensive when subscribed to via App Store.

  • Potential CarPlay issues.

Pandora: Best for Podcasts

One of the first streaming services, Pandora continues to be a hit thanks to offering a more extensive non-music-based selection. That includes plenty of podcasts as well as comedy, so there’s something for every mood. It has a clever algorithm set up via thumbs up or down with extensive search features backing it up. According to some reports, it’s not as stable as something like Spotify, but you’ll rarely notice an issue.

  • Simple to use.

  • Extensive podcast options.

  • Some issues with buffering.

  • What are good alternatives to Spotify?

  • As with picking out any new service, there are some great alternatives to what you’re used to using. There isn’t one streaming service to beat all other streaming services. Each offers different pros and cons, different artist options, and other functionality. Much of the decision-making process depends on what you value most from listening to music or podcasts.

  • Is there a cheaper alternative to Spotify?

  • Some streaming services are cheaper than Spotify, while others may cost more in exchange for better features or higher audio quality. We’ve made sure to highlight the most affordable options for those on a budget and looked at how some services tie in with other subscriptions you may already use.

As with picking out any new service, there are some great alternatives to what you’re used to using. There isn’t one streaming service to beat all other streaming services. Each offers different pros and cons, different artist options, and other functionality. Much of the decision-making process depends on what you value most from listening to music or podcasts. 

Some streaming services are cheaper than Spotify, while others may cost more in exchange for better features or higher audio quality. We’ve made sure to highlight the most affordable options for those on a budget and looked at how some services tie in with other subscriptions you may already use. 

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