Seven alternatives to Apple Music
- Tips
Overview
Apple Music is a music streaming service launched by Apple Inc. It offers over 90 million songs, three radio stations, and over 30,000 curated playlists. It also provides TV shows, movies, and music videos. It doesn't have a free version and is ad-free, supporting Siri voice control.
However, Apple Music is not the only music streaming option available. If you're looking to try out other platforms or are unsatisfied with Apple Music, you can consider the following seven alternatives, each with its own features, advantages, and limitations.
Contents
YouTube Music
YouTube Music is a music streaming service owned by Google that leverages the vast video resources and user community of YouTube. It recommends suitable playlists based on your location and time, and allows you to search for songs by lyrics. It also provides official music videos, karaoke tracks, and user-generated videos.
Advantages of YouTube Music include:
① It has a free version, albeit with ads and limited features.
② It has an extensive library of video content, allowing you to watch music performances, documentaries, and behind-the-scenes footage.
③ It has a powerful personalized recommendation system that suggests music based on your preferences, history, and context
④ It supports voice control via Google Assistant.
Disadvantages of YouTube Music include:
① Its audio quality is not as high as some other platforms, reaching a maximum of 256 kbps.
② Its music library is not as comprehensive as Apple Music or Spotify, potentially limiting access to exclusive or restricted songs.
③ Its interface and navigation may not be as intuitive and user-friendly, making certain features hard to find or use.
Tidal
Tidal is a music streaming service founded by renowned rapper Jay-Z. It takes pride in offering high-quality audio and provides four different audio quality tiers, with the highest reaching CD-level quality. It also supports direct artist payments and offers many exclusive content, such as live performances, meet-and-greets, and livestreams.
Advantages of Tidal include:
① It offers lossless and high-resolution audio options, allowing you to enjoy the best audio quality.
② It has a focus on hip-hop and R&B genres, including some exclusive or premiering songs and albums.
③ It has a philosophy centered around artist rights and social responsibility, allowing you to have a closer connection with your favorite musicians.
Disadvantages of Tidal include:
① It doesn't have a free version, only offering a 30-day trial.
② Its pricing is higher compared to other platforms, especially if you want the high-quality audio options.
③ Its interface and navigation may not be as user-friendly and smooth, potentially experiencing bugs or delays.
Pandora
Pandora is one of the earliest music streaming services and is known for its recommendation algorithm. It has an ad-free premium subscription that allows you to enjoy and discover music tailored to your preferences. It also provides album commentaries and artist touring information.
Advantages of Pandora include:
① It has a free version, albeit with ads and limited features.
② It has an intelligent recommendation system based on your preferences and feedback, enabling you to discover new music and artists.
③ It has a clean and user-friendly interface and navigation, allowing you to quickly find and play the music you want.
Disadvantages of Pandora include:
① Its audio quality is not as high as some other platforms, reaching a maximum of 192 kbps.
② Its music library is not as comprehensive as Apple Music or Spotify, potentially limiting access to exclusive or restricted songs.
③ It is only available in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, making it inaccessible in other regions.
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music Unlimited is the premium version of Amazon Music Prime, which is a free service for Prime members offering 2 million songs. Amazon Music Unlimited, on the other hand, provides access to 75 million songs, higher audio quality, and curated playlists and radio stations.
Advantages of Amazon Music Unlimited include:
① It offers a 30-day trial, with Prime members enjoying lower prices.
② It seamlessly integrates with Amazon Echo and Alexa, allowing you to play music through voice control.
③ It has a library that includes some exclusive or premiering songs and albums, as well as original content and podcasts.
Disadvantages of Amazon Music Unlimited include:
① It doesn't have a free version, only offering a 30-day trial.
② Its audio quality is not as high as services like Tidal or Qobuz, reaching a maximum of 320 kbps.
③ Its interface and navigation may not be as visually appealing and smooth, potentially making it hard to find or use certain features.
Deezer
Deezer also offers CD-quality audio and has a wide range of original content, radio stations, and videos. It also allows you to transfer your music library from other music streaming services. Recently, Deezer increased its music catalog from 70 million to 90 million songs.
Advantages of Deezer include:
① It has a free version, albeit with ads and limited features.
② It offers a premium subscription that supports lossless compression formats, allowing you to enjoy better audio quality.
③ It has a feature that recommends suitable music based on your mood and activities, as well as a community enabling you to share and discover music with other users.
Disadvantages of Deezer include:
① Its pricing is higher compared to other platforms, especially if you want lossless compression audio options.
② Its music library may not be as comprehensive as Apple Music or Spotify, potentially limiting access to exclusive or restricted songs.
③ It is only available in select countries, making it inaccessible in other regions.
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is known for its artist-first approach, charging only a 10%-15% commission and allowing independent artists to retain control over their intellectual property. During the pandemic, this service provided a better way for many artists unable to tour to make money.
Advantages of Bandcamp include:
① It has a free version, albeit with ads and limited features.
② It supports artists in directly selling music and merchandise, allowing you to have a closer connection with your favorite musicians.
③ It has a community that enables you to discover and support emerging and independent music and artists.
Disadvantages of Bandcamp include:
① Its audio quality is not as high as some other platforms, reaching a maximum of 320 kbps.
② Its music library may not be as comprehensive as Apple Music or Spotify, potentially limiting access to mainstream or restricted songs.
③ Its interface and navigation may not be as visually appealing and smooth, potentially making it hard to find or use certain features.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a platform where users can upload their own songs and podcasts, as well as discover and listen to music. It is also a starting point for stars like Billie Eilish, Lorde, Chance the Rapper, and more. It has social media-like features where users can find music using tags and leave comments on songs.
The advantages of SoundCloud are:
① It has a free version, although there are ads and limited features.
② It allows you to upload and share your own music and podcasts, as well as interact and collaborate with other users in the community.
③ It has a community where you can discover and support emerging and independent music and artists.
The disadvantages of SoundCloud are:
① The audio quality is not as good as some other platforms, with a maximum of 256 kbps.
② Its music library is not as comprehensive as Apple Music or Spotify, and some mainstream or copyrighted songs may not be available.
③ Its interface and operations are not as visually appealing and smooth, and there may be bugs or delays in some features.
What's more
In conclusion, above are eight alternatives to Apple Music, each with its own features, advantages, and limitations. You can choose a music streaming service that suits your preferences, needs, and budget. Additionally, if you want to explore music cultures from different countries and regions or get lower-priced subscription services, you can consider using MetroVPN to unlock content and access lower prices . MetroVPN is a secure, fast, stable, user-friendly, and free unlimited traffic VPN software. It can help you bypass geographic restrictions, protect your privacy and security, and enhance your network speed and quality.
