Music streaming subscriptions have become the default way to listen to music, but the options – and pricing structures – can be confusing. Understanding how services compare in both price and offerings helps you choose the platform that fits your listening habits, budget, and devices.

Below is a detailed comparison of the major music streaming subscriptions, focusing on cost, catalog size, audio quality, features, and value for different types of listeners.

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Key factors to compare across music streaming subscriptions

When looking at how music streaming subscriptions compare in price and offerings, pay attention to:

• Monthly price (individual, family, student, annual options)
• Catalog size and exclusives
• Audio quality (bitrate, lossless, hi‑res options)
• Personalization and discovery (playlists, recommendations, radio)
• Device support (phones, smart speakers, cars, TVs, watches, game consoles)
• Offline listening and download limits
• Special features (lyrics, spatial audio, music videos, podcasts, live events)
• Bundle deals and ecosystem perks

These factors vary more than people expect, even when prices look similar at first glance.

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Quick comparison: prices and core offerings

Pricing varies by country and changes frequently; the ranges below reflect typical US/UK/EU pricing at the time of writing, but always check the service’s local site for current rates.

Summary table (typical monthly pricing – individual tier)

Service	Typical Individual Price*	Family Plan	Student Plan	Free Tier	Lossless / Hi‑Res	Notable Strengths
Spotify	~$10.99 / £10.99	Yes	Yes	Yes	No (lossy only)	Best playlists, discovery, social features
Apple Music	~$10.99 / £10.99	Yes	Yes	No	Yes (lossless + hi‑res)	Deep Apple integration, Dolby Atmos
Amazon Music	~$9.99–$10.99	Yes	Yes (Prime Student)	Limited (with Prime)	Yes (on Unlimited)	Value for Prime members
YouTube Music	~$10.99	Yes	Yes	Yes (with ads)	No (lossy only)	Music + YouTube videos, background play
TIDAL	~$10.99–$19.99	Yes	Yes	Limited	Yes (lossless + hi‑res)	Audiophile focus, artist‑centric royalties
Deezer	~$10.99	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (lossless on HiFi)	Strong discovery, global catalog
Qobuz	~$12.99–$14.99	Yes (Duo/Fam)	No traditional	No free streaming	Yes (hi‑res focus)	High‑res catalog, digital purchases

*Prices are approximate and vary by country, promotions, and time.

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Spotify: strong discovery and social features

Spotify remains the most popular streaming service globally and is often the baseline for comparison.

Pricing

• Individual: around $10.99 / £10.99 / €10.99
• Duo (2 users): discounted two‑person plan in many regions
• Family (up to 6): better per‑person value
• Student: reduced price, often bundled with other perks
• Free tier: ad‑supported, with limitations (shuffle‑only on mobile in some regions, lower audio quality, limited skips)

Offerings and features

• Catalog: 80+ million tracks plus a huge podcast library
• Audio quality: up to 320 kbps (Ogg Vorbis); no lossless at the time of writing
• Personalization:
  • Excellent algorithmic playlists (Discover Weekly, Release Radar)
  • Daily Mixes, Blend, and smart mixes for moods/genres
• Social:
  • Collaborative playlists
  • Sharing to social media
  • Friend activity feed on desktop
• Device support:
  • Works on almost everything: phones, desktops, smart speakers, cars, consoles
  • Spotify Connect allows seamless device switching
• Extras:
  • Podcasts and some audiobooks (in certain markets)
  • Lyrics and story‑style “Canvas” visuals

Who it suits best

• Listeners who want the best discovery and playlists
• People who value social sharing and collaborative listening
• Users with multiple devices/speakers who like seamless switching

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Apple Music: lossless, hi‑res, and Apple ecosystem integration

Apple Music emphasizes audio quality and integration into Apple hardware and services.

Pricing

• Individual: around $10.99 / £10.99 / €10.99
• Family (up to 6): share via Family Sharing
• Student: discounted, sometimes with additional Apple services
• Bundles: available via Apple One (Music + TV+ + iCloud, etc.)
• No permanent free tier: occasional extended trials

Offerings and features

• Catalog: 100+ million songs, plus music videos
• Audio quality:
  • Lossless (up to 24‑bit/48 kHz) at no extra cost
  • Hi‑res lossless (up to 24‑bit/192 kHz) with compatible DAC/hardware
  • Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on supported tracks
• Personalization:
  • Curated playlists and personalized mixes (Favorites, New Music Mix)
  • Strong editorial content but discovery feels less “algorithmic” than Spotify
• Device support:
  • Deep integration with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod
  • Works on Android and some non‑Apple devices, but best experience in Apple ecosystem
• Extras:
  • Live radio stations (Apple Music 1, etc.)
  • Time‑synced lyrics
  • Integration with Siri and Apple’s system‑wide music controls

Who it suits best

• Users heavily invested in Apple devices
• Listeners who care about lossless and spatial audio
• Families already using Apple Family Sharing or Apple One bundles

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Amazon Music: best value for Amazon Prime members

Amazon Music offers multiple tiers, and value varies depending on whether you have Prime and which plan you choose.

Pricing

• Amazon Music Free: limited, ad‑supported, small catalog
• Amazon Music Prime:
  • Included with Amazon Prime
  • Access to a large catalog but with some playback limitations (shuffle, etc.)
• Amazon Music Unlimited:
  • Individual: around $9.99–$10.99/month (often cheaper for Prime members)
  • Family: multi‑user plan
  • Student: discounted (usually tied to Prime Student in some regions)

Offerings and features

• Catalog: 100+ million tracks on Unlimited; reduced functionality on Prime tier
• Audio quality (Unlimited):
  • Standard streaming up to 320 kbps
  • HD (lossless, 16‑bit/44.1 kHz)
  • Ultra HD (hi‑res, up to 24‑bit/192 kHz) at no extra charge on Unlimited
• Personalization:
  • Recommended playlists and stations; improving but generally viewed as less advanced than Spotify
• Device support:
  • Strong integration with Echo and Alexa devices
  • Apps for phones, desktops, some smart TVs and car systems
• Extras:
  • Some exclusive content and live sessions
  • Integration with broader Amazon ecosystem

Who it suits best

• Amazon Prime members wanting good enough music streaming without another full‑price subscription
• Users who rely heavily on Alexa/Echo for music
• Budget‑conscious listeners wanting lossless/hi‑res via Unlimited at a competitive price

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YouTube Music: best for video + audio and casual listeners

YouTube Music focuses on combining official tracks with user‑generated and live content from YouTube.

Pricing

• YouTube Music Premium (music only):
  • Individual: around $10.99 / £10.99 / €10.99
  • Family: discounted per person, up to 5 additional members
  • Student: reduced price
• YouTube Premium (music + ad‑free YouTube):
  • Higher cost but includes YouTube Music Premium and ad‑free YouTube video, background play, and downloads
• Free tier:
  • Ad‑supported
  • Limited background play on mobile (screen must be on in many regions unless you pay)

Offerings and features

• Catalog:
  • Official releases plus remixes, live performances, covers, and user uploads on YouTube
  • Great for niche and rare content
• Audio quality:
  • Up to 256 kbps AAC; no lossless or hi‑res at present
• Personalization:
  • Recommendations informed by both YouTube and listening history
• Device support:
  • Widely supported on phones, web, smart TVs, casting devices
• Extras:
  • Music videos integrated with audio tracks
  • Seamless switch between video and audio
  • Background play and offline downloads (paid tiers)

Who it suits best

• Users who consume both YouTube videos and music
• People who want one subscription for video and music (YouTube Premium)
• Listeners who enjoy live versions, remixes, and non‑official uploads

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TIDAL: audiophile and artist‑focused streaming

TIDAL is known for higher‑quality audio options and its emphasis on paying artists more fairly.

Pricing

TIDAL has periodically revised its plans; typical structure includes:

• TIDAL HiFi (or similar standard plan):
  • Around $10.99 / £10.99 / €10.99
  • Lossless CD‑quality
• HiFi Plus / higher tier:
  • Around $19.99 / £19.99 / €19.99
  • Includes hi‑res content and additional features
• Family and student plans:
  • Discounted multi‑user and student pricing where available
• Free tier:
  • Limited and region‑dependent; ad‑supported, lower quality

Offerings and features

• Catalog: 90+ million tracks, with strong focus on hip‑hop, R&B, and global catalog
• Audio quality:
  • Lossless FLAC streaming at CD quality on standard paid tier
  • Hi‑res on higher tier (depending on current offerings and formats)
• Personalization:
  • Curated playlists with editorial focus, especially around hip‑hop, R&B, and emerging artists
• Artist support:
  • Programs designed to direct a larger share of revenue to artists you actually listen to (varies by plan and region)
• Device support:
  • Apps for major platforms, integrations with hi‑fi gear and network streamers

Who it suits best

• Audiophiles with good equipment wanting lossless or hi‑res streaming
• Listeners who want a service with a stronger artist‑centric payment model
• Fans of genres where TIDAL has strong editorial curation (e.g., hip‑hop, R&B)

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Deezer: balanced features and global reach

Deezer isn’t always top of mind but offers a solid balance of features, particularly in Europe and other international markets.

Pricing

• Free tier: ad‑supported, with listening restrictions
• Premium (individual): around $10.99 / £10.99 / €10.99
• Family: multi‑user plan
• Student: discounted
• HiFi:
  • In some regions, lossless CD‑quality included in the standard paid plan
  • In others, offered as a separate or upgraded tier (this changes over time)

Offerings and features

• Catalog: 90+ million tracks, strong in many non‑US markets
• Audio quality:
  • Up to 320 kbps on standard streaming
  • FLAC lossless (CD quality) on HiFi where available
• Personalization:
  • “Flow” personalized radio, daily mixes, strong mood/genre curation
• Device support:
  • Compatible with many smart speakers, TVs, and car systems
• Extras:
  • Lyrics features
  • Podcast and radio integration in certain regions

Who it suits best

• Listeners in regions where Deezer has strong local catalogs
• Users wanting a middle ground between mainstream services and hi‑fi offerings
• Fans of continuous, personalized “Flow” playback

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Qobuz: premium hi‑res streaming and downloads

Qobuz is built for hi‑res music lovers and those who like to own their music library.

Pricing

• Studio (streaming only):
  • Around $12.99–$14.99 per month, depending on country
• Duo / Family:
  • Shared plans that lower the per‑person cost
• Annual plans:
  • Often significantly cheaper than paying monthly
• No traditional free ad‑supported tier:
  • Usually only time‑limited trials

Offerings and features

• Catalog:
  • 100+ million tracks, with particularly strong classical, jazz, and high‑res content
• Audio quality:
  • Lossless CD‑quality (16‑bit/44.1 kHz)
  • Hi‑res up to 24‑bit/192 kHz on supported titles
• Downloads:
  • Ability to purchase and download hi‑res albums and tracks for ownership
• Personalization:
  • More editorial and album‑focused than algorithm‑driven
• Device support:
  • Apps for major platforms; integration with many hi‑fi streamers and audio software

Who it suits best

• Audiophiles and serious music collectors
• Fans of classical, jazz, and high‑res recordings
• People who prefer owning high‑quality downloads, not just streaming

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Comparing free vs paid music streaming tiers

When assessing how music streaming subscriptions compare in price and offerings, free tiers are part of the picture, but they come with trade‑offs:

Free tiers (Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music, limited Amazon)

Pros:

• No monthly cost
• Good for casual listening and testing services

Cons:

• Ads between tracks
• Limited skips or forced shuffle on mobile
• Lower audio quality
• Offline listening often not available
• Some albums or features locked to paid tiers

If you listen daily, the jump to a paid subscription usually brings a significant improvement in experience relative to the cost.

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Individual vs family vs student plans

Pricing differences can be substantial based on your situation:

• Individual plans:

  • Best for single users
  • Most services cluster around similar prices (~$9.99–$10.99 in many regions)

• Family plans:

  • Typically allow up to 6 users
  • Cost often ~1.5–2x the individual price
  • Per person, this is the cheapest option if you share with family or housemates

• Student plans:

  • Often 40–50% off regular price
  • Some bundles add extra services (e.g., Hulu or Showtime in older Spotify deals, or broader student ecosystems)
  • Usually require verification through a student status provider

When comparing, always calculate cost per person rather than just the headline price.

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Audio quality comparison across services

For many listeners, standard compressed streaming sounds fine. For others, lossless and hi‑res matter. Here’s how services compare:

• Standard / compressed only:
  • Spotify (up to 320 kbps)
  • YouTube Music (up to 256 kbps AAC)
• Lossless CD‑quality available:
  • Apple Music (included)
  • Amazon Music Unlimited (HD included)
  • TIDAL (HiFi tier)
  • Deezer (HiFi regions/plans)
  • Qobuz (standard)
• Hi‑res options (above CD‑quality):
  • Apple Music (hi‑res, no extra fee but hardware needed)
  • Amazon Music Unlimited (Ultra HD titles)
  • TIDAL (higher tier)
  • Qobuz (hi‑res focus)

If you listen primarily on Bluetooth earbuds or car speakers, the difference may be subtle. If you use quality wired headphones or hi‑fi speakers, lossless and hi‑res offerings can be a deciding factor.

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Ecosystem and device integration

Price and catalog are only part of how music streaming subscriptions compare in offerings. Ecosystem support can strongly influence the best choice for you:

• Apple ecosystem:
  • Apple Music integrates deeply with iOS, macOS, Apple Watch, HomePod
• Google / Android / YouTube ecosystem:
  • YouTube Music ties neatly into YouTube, Google Assistant, Chromecast
• Amazon ecosystem:
  • Amazon Music works best with Echo speakers and Alexa
• Cross‑platform and device flexibility:
  • Spotify is often the most universal, with Spotify Connect and wide integration
  • Deezer, TIDAL, and Qobuz target hi‑fi gear and audiophile streamers

Choose the service that works naturally with the devices you already rely on daily.

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Which music streaming subscription offers the best value?

Value depends more on how you listen than on headline price, since most individual plans are similarly priced. Consider these common scenarios:

• You love playlists, discovery, and sharing music with friends

  • Spotify is often the best fit

• You own several Apple devices and care about audio quality

  • Apple Music offers great value with built‑in lossless and Atmos

• You already pay for Amazon Prime

  • Try Amazon Music Prime first; if you want full flexibility and hi‑res, consider upgrading to Unlimited

• You want music plus ad‑free YouTube video

  • YouTube Premium (which includes YouTube Music) often provides the best overall bundle

• You’re an audiophile or have high‑end audio gear

  • TIDAL, Qobuz, and (in many regions) Deezer HiFi or Amazon Music Unlimited provide better lossless/hi‑res offerings

• You’re on a tight budget but share with family or housemates

  • A family plan on almost any service gives the lowest cost per person

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How to choose the right service for your needs

To decide how music streaming subscriptions compare for you personally in price and offerings, ask:

1. What devices do I use most?

   • Stick with the service that’s best integrated with your phone, speakers, and TV.

2. How important is audio quality?

   • If “good enough” is fine, any major service will work.
   • If you want lossless/hi‑res, focus on Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, TIDAL, Deezer HiFi, or Qobuz.

3. Do I care more about discovery or library management?

   • Discovery: Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube Music excel.
   • Library/album focus and editorial: Apple Music, Qobuz, TIDAL.

4. Am I eligible for student or family plans?

   • These drastically change the effective monthly cost.

5. Do I want extra perks (video, Prime, bundles)?

   • YouTube Premium and Amazon Prime packages can add big non‑music benefits.

Most services offer free trials, so the best way to gauge how music streaming subscriptions compare in practice is to test two or three for a month each, focusing on how quickly you find music you love and how smoothly it fits into your daily routine.

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By looking at both price and offerings—catalog size, audio quality, discovery features, device support, and bundles—you can choose the music streaming subscription that truly fits your listening habits rather than just picking the default option everyone else uses.