Podcasts have begun to overshadow music in importanceīest for: People who want a solid all-around service, and especially for people who love to make, browse and share playlists for any scenario.ĭespite a small price increase in 2022, Apple Music is still able to offer a lot for the money, including 100 million tracks and boasting both iOS and Android compatibility.

You can't listen to specific songs in the free tier, just a mix based on the requested music.

Advertisements in the free service can be intrusive.

Allows you to follow artists and be alerted when they release new music or announce an upcoming show.

Easy to build your own playlists and sync them for offline listening.

Spotify Connect simplifies connecting to wireless speakers and AV receivers.

In addition, the company hiked prices on a number of plans in 2021, even though the base price remains $10 a month in the US.

Meanwhile, Spotify's planned HiFi (lossless) tier is still MIA and the company can't say when it will be coming. Unlike Spotify, competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal are now offering lossless or even Dolby Atmos music at no extra charge. Spotify also offers the best free tier: Without paying a dime or providing a credit card number, you can listen to millions of tunes and even stream Spotify Connect to numerous Wi-Fi devices. This is thanks to a fun, easy-to-use interface, an extensive catalog and the best device compatibility.

When it comes to choosing a service, it's a close race between Spotify Premium and Apple Music, but Spotify still wins as the best music streaming service overall. The service has also ramped up its nonmusic content with a push toward podcasts, which indirectly led to folk-rock icon Neil Young removing his music from the service. It offers a number of curated music discovery services, including its Discover Weekly playlist, and is constantly implementing new ones, such as Stations and an AI DJ. Spotify is a pioneer in music streaming and is arguably the best-known service.

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