When choosing the best music streaming service, the options may seem overwhelming. Many platforms offer similar features—but some stand out with superior audio quality, exclusive content, or better discovery tools. Whether you’re an audiophile, casual listener, or playlist curator, the right platform can significantly enhance your music experience.
As a consumer tech editor and music enthusiast with hands-on experience across most platforms, I’ve analyzed the top music streaming services of 2025 based on sound quality, user experience, pricing, and unique features to help you choose the ideal platform.
Best Music Streaming Services In 2025
1. Tidal
Due to one of its key features, which allows users to freely switch between three different audio qualities when streaming music, Tidal is ranked first on our list. You can choose the audio of standard quality to save data. On the other side, you can choose the HiFi version of the website, which supports Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio, for a lossless high-definition listening experience.
The service also hosts over 80 million well-known songs across all genres. In addition to music, the portal offers approximately 350000 HQ videos, including live broadcasts, music videos, and other videos. Running this platform on your computers, mobile devices, or tablet computers won’t be a problem.
Pros
- Exclusive content High-resolution,
- “Master Quality”
- Audio Simple to use interface
Cons
- Fewer choices for discovery than Spotify or Pandora
Price:
AAC+ music at 320 kbps costs $9.99 per month, while 1441 kbps music costs $19.99 per month.
2. Amazon Music
How could Amazon lag far behind when Apple entered the fight? Amazon Music originally started as an online retailer for CDs, vinyl records, and other tangible versions of music albums. They moved with the times to meet the needs of an expanding user base that sought constant, free access to music online.
Amazon Music is exactly what it says it is.
Like its rival for content streaming, Amazon offers a vast collection of audio files, including music and podcasts. Here, you can also find original content created by Amazon. You also get access to a tonne of playlists that have been carefully selected, just like any great platform, to aid in discovering new songs and exploring your musical preferences.
Pros
- Offer for Amazon Prime subscribers.
- Available plans for high-definition audio
- Support for Dolby Atmos music
Cons
- Limited additional features at the moment
- If you don’t have Amazon Prime, it’s less appealing.
Price:
Available plans include a free 30-day trial and an unlimited plan for $9.99.
3. iHeartRadio
You can access the top radio stations in the nation through iHeartRadio and listen to them whenever you want for free. Additionally, you receive a customized list of artist radio stations. Additionally, you gain access to all of its podcasts. The platform’s premium plan, however, really lives up to expectations.
You can access the song and album library on iHeartRadio with a premium subscription. Additionally, you are free to play songs as often as you like. The option to make unlimited playlists and download songs for offline listening are further advantages.
Price:
Available plans: Free, Plus, $4.99/month, and All Access, $9.99/month.
4. Deezer
Deezer, which has its roots in France, is rapidly sweeping the globe with its user-friendly music platform. It presently has approximately 73 million audio recordings in its music library from all over the world. Deezer also publishes its original material, including music, videos, and podcasts.
Deezer analyses your musical preferences to compile a selection of books specifically suited to your taste. It’s also simple to make your playlist with your favorite songs here. Although Deezer’s free plan is pretty proper, its subscription plans are much superior. You can download music and attend to them offline with a Deezer subscription.
Pros
- Streamlined design
- There is a high-definition plan available.
- A few special materials
Cons
- There are no podcasts available worldwide.
- Music in high definition is an option, not the standard.
Price:
The free plan is accessible for 30 days, while the premium plan costs $14.99 monthly for students and $4.99.
5. Spotify
Spotify’s convenient desktop and mobile music platform transformed the streaming market. Undoubtedly a household name in the music streaming sector, Spotify has 165 million unique paying customers worldwide. It upholds its reputation with a music platform that is incredibly user-friendly.
There are almost no tracks you won’t find on Spotify. Spotify contains everything from classic pop songs to unique movie soundtracks. The platform offers exclusive original material in films, podcasts, and live streaming as if that weren’t enough.
Pros
- Identical tailored features to Spotify’s premium subscription plan
- Complete desktop application
Cons
- Ads can be annoying.
- Mobile apps have fewer features.
- No listening while offline
Price:
Free plan, 30-day free trial, $9.99/month premium subscription, and $4.99/month student plan are all options.
6. YouTube Music
When it comes to streaming video material, YouTube is a tremendous player. The platform succeeds in trying to recapture the magic of its predecessor with YouTube Music. YouTube music is a different animal, with separate mobile and desktop software explicitly designed for music streaming.
Due to the platform’s ability to search for songs based on album titles, artist names, and curated suggestions, finding new songs is simple. By entering song lyrics or describing a song, you can also find music with accuracy. Similar to the original YouTube, this platform has a trending tab that showcases the most-listened-to new and popular songs.
Pros
- Integrating YouTube adds original music.
- Dependable suggestions and individualized content
Cons
- Unavailable on some platforms and devices
- Lacking in features
Price:
Free for 30 days, then 9.99 per month.
7. Apple Music
A few years ago, Apple made waves when it declared it would enter the music streaming industry. Apple Music has, in fact, quickly overtaken all other music platforms as the most popular in both the US and the rest of the world.
One can access Apple Music’s over 70 million songs on iOS and Android devices. The website lets you make your own custom playlists of music in addition to curating playlists for others. A surround sound effect is produced with the addition of Spatial Audio and Dynamic Head Tracking, allowing you to appreciate the music and its beats fully.
Pros
- Large song collection
- Several exclusive works
- Synchronizing music across devices
Cons
- Apple users should prefer it to Android.
- No free choice
Price:
Student Plan: $4.99/month; Individual Plan: $9.99/month; Family Plan: $14.99/month; 30-day free trial.
8. Quoboz
You can stream 70 million music songs in ultra-high quality whenever you want using Quoboz. In reality, the music quality you can enjoy with our platform was influenced by several well-known artists.
Along with titles, the portal also provides comprehensive information on Artists.
Also, exclusive interviews here are available to read or listen to at your convenience. For music fans who prefer to acquire physical versions like CDs, Quoboz also has a specially dedicated store. Such CDs are available to browse through its online store, and you can order home delivery immediately.
Pros
- Superior sound quality
- Excellent curation
- Greatly enhanced software
Cons
- Less focus on recent hits
- This may not be a con at all.
- No support for Sony 360 Reality Audio or Dolby Atmos (ditto)
Price:
Free for 30 days, then $10.93 per month
9. LiveXLive
LiveXLive is dedicated to living, high-definition broadcasting of musical performances or concerts. You get alerted right away each time a live stream is available. Its live feeds are archived, so you can view them whenever possible. We appreciate the range of channels it provides, each dedicated to a different artist.
Additionally, they provide some pre-made playlists to make finding sound music simple. You will be greeted by playlists like “Today’s Top 10,” “Top Electronic Music,” and “Top Hip Hop Albums,” among many others, each time you visit their music website. Additionally, the site offers podcast and video material.
Pros
- A lot of live programs, as well as exclusive programming
- There are more affordable streaming options available.
Cons
- Slow and ambiguous interface
- No family strategy
- No option for a risk-free trial
Price:
Available plans: Free, Plus, $3.99/month, and Premium, $9.99/month.
10. Go+ SoundCloud
Millions of tracks from well-known and unsigned musicians are accessible through SoundCloud Go+. Access to several exciting features is available to subscribers. There is a podcast library and an automatic SoundCloud Weekly playlist for finding new music. Although most regular listeners won’t benefit much from it, SoundCloud GO+ also offers integration with a few DJ apps.
In addition to its Go+ service, SoundCloud now has a cheaper SoundCloud Go plan, with a smaller selection of music and inferior audio quality. You can enjoy offline listening with any plan you select, and what’s even great is that there is no advertising. Unfortunately, SoundCloud offers limited support for gadgets except for smartphones and laptops. Additionally, it has a much less user-friendly online computer interface than comparable services.
Pros
- Numerous independent and community-produced songs
- A range of subscription choices
- Free music is widely available.
Cons
- The web interface could be more comfortable.
- Unavailable more frequently than other services
11. Pandora
Pandora has every component a user needs to enjoy a music streaming service. Both a free and a premium plan are offered. The free plan is decent and gives you unlimited skips when playing music and podcasts. With offline listening and ad-free tailored channels, the premium plan ups the ante.
Everyone’s likes and dislikes you leave on the platform are tracked by Pandora, which keeps a record of your behavior there. As a result, it may produce customized playlists that suit your musical preferences. You can make your playlist with the premium plan and share it with your loved ones.
Price:
Available Plans: Free Plan, $4.99/month for Pandora Plus with a 30-day free trial, and $9.99/month for Pandora Premium with a 60-day free trial.
Which is the best music streaming service overall?
Answer: It depends on your needs:
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Best audio quality: Tidal, Qobuz
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Best discovery: Spotify, Deezer
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Best for video content: YouTube Music
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Best value: Amazon Music for Prime members
Which platform has the most users?
Answer:
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Worldwide: Spotify leads with over 500M+ users.
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US: Apple Music slightly edges out with over 50M users as of 2024.
Is free Spotify worth it?
Answer: Yes, for casual listeners. You get access to the full library, but expect ads and no offline listening. For a better experience, Premium is highly recommended.
What’s the most affordable high-quality option?
Answer: Deezer Student Plan ($4.99) or Amazon Music with Prime are cost-effective options that still deliver high-quality audio.
Which service is best for independent artists?
Answer: SoundCloud Go+ is the go-to platform for discovering and supporting up-and-coming artists across all genres.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re searching for lossless audio, exclusive artist content, or just a reliable free music streaming platform, there’s a perfect match for every kind of listener. This guide gives you all the insights you need to make an informed decision and start streaming music in a way that suits your lifestyle and sound preferences.
