In 2024, and there’s no shortage of music streaming services.
Whether you’re a playlist fanatic, an audiophile, or someone who just wants a background soundtrack, there’s a platform for every taste and preference.
But let’s be real—finding the right music streaming service isn’t just about who has the most songs or the cheapest price.
It’s about finding the one that matches you. The service that understands your habits, delivers the sound quality you deserve, and fits into your life seamlessly.
We’re here to help you pick the best music streaming service that aligns with your preferences, habits, and lifestyle without getting bogged down by technical jargon.
Whether you care about playlists, sound quality, or getting the most value for your money, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into it.
For the Playlist Fanatic: Spotify and Apple Music Take the Lead
If you’re the type of person who loves creating and sharing playlists for every occasion—whether it’s for your morning run, a moody evening, or that impromptu house party—Spotify is still your best bet.
What makes Spotify stand out isn’t just its massive catalogue of over 100 million songs—it’s the way it personalises your experience.
- Why Spotify: Spotify’s secret sauce is its algorithm. Play a few songs, and it quickly learns your preferences, delivering personalised playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar. Then there’s Spotify Wrapped, which turns your listening habits into a shareable social media moment at the end of each year. These features create an experience that feels tailor-made just for you. It’s also one of the few platforms where you can collaboratively create playlists with friends, perfect for road trips, parties, or just sharing music across the miles.
But if you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem—using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac—Apple Music offers a different kind of convenience.
Apple Music’s strength lies in how it integrates with your existing music library, allowing you to merge your personal collection with a massive streaming catalogue.
- Why Apple Music: With lossless audio and spatial Dolby Atmos available at no extra cost, the sound quality is a notch above. If you’re someone who already owns a lot of digital music, Apple Music is also the best at blending streaming with your personal library. You can upload your tracks and seamlessly integrate them into curated and algorithm-generated playlists.
Who Wins? Spotify wins for its social features and playlist magic, while Apple Music takes the crown for integration with your personal library and superior audio quality for those who value the highest sound fidelity.
For the Audiophile: Tidal and Qobuz Deliver the Gold Standard
Not all streaming services are created equal—especially when it comes to sound quality.
If you’ve spent a small fortune on high-end headphones or speakers, then you’ll want to stream in nothing less than pristine, lossless quality. Enter Tidal and Qobuz.
- Why Tidal: Tidal offers lossless audio in FLAC format, delivering studio-quality sound. It even has Dolby Atmos tracks for immersive listening, making it perfect for those who care about every single note. Beyond sound quality, Tidal has been working to improve access to high-quality streaming by ditching its proprietary MQA format and opting for widely supported FLAC files, so you get top-notch audio without the fuss.
- Why Qobuz: Qobuz is the audiophile’s dream platform. With streaming that reaches 24-bit/192kHz resolution, it’s ideal for those who want high-res audio at their fingertips. But Qobuz doesn’t stop at streaming—it’s also one of the few services that lets you buy high-resolution music files. This makes it a hybrid platform for those who still believe in owning music while also enjoying the benefits of streaming.
Who Wins? If you care about streaming and don’t mind the subscription cost, Tidal is your go-to.
If you like to own your high-res tracks in addition to streaming, Qobuz gives you the best of both worlds.
For the Social Listener: Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube Music for Connecting and Sharing
If music is more than a solo experience for you and you enjoy sharing playlists, discovering music alongside friends, or even collaboratively building playlists, the social features of streaming platforms can make a huge difference in your choice.
- Spotify:
As the leader in social sharing, Spotify has perfected features like collaborative playlists, which allow you and your friends to add tracks to the same playlist in real time. It also integrates seamlessly with social media platforms like Instagram, letting you easily share what you’re listening to. And of course, there’s Spotify Wrapped—that end-of-year round-up that turns your listening habits into a social event. It’s the only platform where people actually brag about how many hours they’ve spent listening to sad indie tracks.
- Deezer:
Deezer might not have the same brand recognition as Spotify, but it offers some unique social features. For instance, Deezer’s collaborative playlist system allows you to build playlists with friends, much like Spotify. Where Deezer stands out, though, is its music quizzes—a fun way to test your knowledge against friends, making it a more interactive experience. You can also share playlists directly within the app or on social media. While it doesn’t have Spotify’s extensive user base, Deezer is a hidden gem for users who want to discover music in a more social and interactive way.
- YouTube Music:
YouTube Music brings something entirely different to the social scene by leveraging its huge video library. It’s the go-to platform if you’re someone who enjoys sharing music videos, live performances, or even behind-the-scenes clips of your favourite artists. It’s also excellent for mixing media, so if you want to seamlessly switch between watching a music video and listening to the audio version of a song, YouTube Music makes that easy. While it lacks collaborative playlists, YouTube Music is ideal for fans of music videos who want to integrate visual elements into their listening experience.
Who Wins?
If social features are important to you, Spotify remains the top choice with its robust sharing tools and collaborative features.
But Deezer is an underdog for those who want a more interactive experience with its music quizzes and collaborative playlists.
Meanwhile, YouTube Music stands out for those who enjoy mixing audio with video content and sharing music videos with friends.
For the Multi-Tasker: Spotify and Amazon Music Keep You Busy
If you like to bounce between music, podcasts, and audiobooks without missing a beat, Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited are your ideal platforms.
- Why Spotify: Spotify is more than just music. It’s your one-stop shop for podcasts, audiobooks, and even curated radio stations. With seamless integration of all these media types, it’s perfect for someone who wants to switch between a playlist and a podcast episode without opening different apps. And with its personalised Daily Mix and Spotify Wrapped features, Spotify knows how to keep things fresh.
- Why Amazon Music Unlimited: Amazon Music Unlimited also offers podcasts, but its true strength lies in its value for Prime members. For those already in Amazon’s ecosystem, you get access to a massive library, plus exclusive tracks, without paying extra. And with high-res audio included, it’s an affordable way to enjoy better sound quality while managing your music, podcasts, and audiobooks in one app.
Who Wins? Spotify for its sheer variety of features and personalised playlists; Amazon Music Unlimited for its unbeatable value for Prime members who want high-quality sound on a budget.
For the Budget-Conscious Listener: YouTube Music and Amazon Music Offer Great Value
Let’s be honest—streaming subscriptions add up. But if you’re looking for ways to stream without breaking the bank, YouTube Music and Amazon Music Unlimited offer two solid options.
- Why YouTube Music: The free tier of YouTube Music might just be the best option for anyone who doesn’t mind a few ads. You can listen to most of the platform’s catalogue without paying a dime, though you’ll miss out on offline listening and ad-free content. It’s ideal for casual listeners or those who love music videos just as much as audio.
- Why Amazon Music Unlimited: For Prime members, Amazon Music Unlimited is hard to beat. You get access to over 100 million tracks, including high-res audio, for less than most other streaming services. Even if you’re not a Prime member, it’s still one of the more affordable hi-res options on the market.
Who Wins?: YouTube Music wins for casual listeners who don’t want to pay anything, while Amazon Music Unlimited offers the best value for those looking for premium features at a discount.
For the Family or the Student: Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal Go the Extra Mile
If you’re looking to stream for a group of people or you’re a student trying to save some cash, Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal offer the best deals on family plans and student discounts.
- Spotify: Offers a Family Plan that includes six premium accounts under one subscription, plus a student plan that combines Spotify Premium, Hulu, and Showtime for a ridiculously low price.
- Apple Music: Apple’s family plan is similarly priced and allows up to six family members to share access. It also has a robust student discount, making it a great option for anyone already using Apple products.
- Tidal: Tidal not only offers family plans and student discounts; it also has a special military discount. So, if you’re a service member or veteran, Tidal might give you the best value for high-res audio.
Who Wins?: Spotify edges out for its affordable student package, while Tidal wins for military discounts.
If you’re already deep into the Apple ecosystem, though, Apple Music is the better choice for family sharing.
Final Thoughts: Which Streaming Service Is Right for You?
At the end of the day, the best music streaming service depends on how you listen, not just what you listen to.
Whether you’re an audiophile who demands pristine sound, a playlist junkie who loves discovering new music, or just someone who wants the most affordable way to enjoy their favourite tracks, there’s a platform out there for you.
- For playlist lovers and casual listeners: Spotify is hard to beat.
- For audiophiles and collectors: Tidal and Qobuz offer the highest quality sound and options to buy music.
- For Prime members and budget-conscious users: Amazon Music Unlimited provides the best value.
- For families and students: Spotify and Apple Music have excellent sharing and discount options.
Now it’s your turn—pick the service that fits your listening habits and let the music play.
