Why Consider a Spotify Alternative in 2024?
Spotify is one of the leading music streaming platforms in the world with millions of active users globally. It gives with a vast selection of songs, podcasts and personalized playlists that have made it an automatic choice for many music lovers. Despite all of these amazing features that Spotify has nailed, it may not be for everyone. Skip ahead to 2024 and you might find other the best Spotify alternatives that offer more features, exclusive content, or cheaper pricing.
Exclusive Content and Unique Features
Spotify competitors, like Apple Music And Tidal, offer exclusive content such as early access to albums and tracks that you can’t find on Spotify. Other platforms further stress quality of audio, an important difference to audiophiles. Tidal, for example, offers HiFi and Master quality tracks that are higher-quality than Spotify.
Pricing and Playlist Variety
Besides differentiated features, a few other alternatives bring cost-effective solutions at ease. Amazon Music is a loss-leader option aimed at Prime subscribers like its Fire TV or Echo devices, while Deezer offers varying levels of free access to its library. Plus, some services are better at keeping fresh tunes in rotation — whether it be Deezer’s ‘Flow’ or the assorted playlists curated by Apple Music — thereby catering to listeners not 100 percent satisfied with Spotify’s recommendations.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Spotify Alternative
While searching for Spotify’s best alternative in 2024 — it depends upon a few aspects. All have their own features, and which one is right for you will largely depend on your needs.
Sound Quality
Tidal and Apple Music are a couple of the best websites for great sounding music. As for the audio quality, Tidal’s HiFi and Master quality tracks sound better than if you streamed compressed tunes, though Apple Music does offer lossless audio so it is a valid option for audiophiles who want better-sounding music.
Pricing (Free vs. Paid)
Another Important consideration is Pricing. Deezer and SoundCloud serve ad-supported free tiers, while Apple Music and Tidal require subscription, but gives quality of life benefits. Those on a budget will enjoy Amazon Music, which offers discount rates for Prime members and serves as an affordable option.
Device Compatibility
Make sure the one you pick is compatible with your devices. For the most part, all of the big platforms support iOS and Android, as well as desktop apps — but a few go further with better cross-device compatibility elsewhere such as smart TVs and gaming consoles (YouTube Music is excellent here).
Music Discovery and Playlists
Music labels do great with music discovery, thanks to Deezer, Apple’s music recommendation and playlists algorithms…but Spotify is just more of playxplay… If you love discovering new music, this is quite interesting.
Offline Listening & Additional Features
Offline listening is important if one wants to listen to music without having an active internet connection. All of the paid versions, even Spotify competitors such as Tidal and Amazon Music, also let you download tracks. Depending on your preferences, the experience can be even further improved with other features, like personalized radio stations as well as exclusive podcasts from top creators and established companies.
Top 10 Spotify Alternatives for 2024 (Free & Paid)
As more people around the world start requiring ever more personalized and feature-packed listening experiences, 2024 will see even greater influxes of Spotify alternatives which are free as well as paid. These configurations come with their own unique sets of benefits which may appeal to varied listening preferences and other budget and equipment factors. These are the following.
- Apple Music
- Tidal
- Deezer
- Amazon Music
- YouTube Music
- SoundCloud
- Pandora
- Qobuz
- Bandcamp
- JioSaavn
1. Apple Music
Features
A number of quality features like Hi-Res Audio, Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio deliver a supreme listening experience when using Apple Music. Apple Music is built into Apple products, and has custom-curated playlists for you, original content with first access to new music, the ability to sync music across all your Apple devices. Users can easily control their music using Siri voice commands.
Pros
However the beauty of Apple Music earning such a high-grade comparison can be that it works so incredibly will using any of your Apple products, including iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. Featuring a huge catalog of over 100 million songs, Apple Music gives music lovers all the recommendations and exclusive artist releases they could hope for.
Cons
However, Apple Music costs more than many of the others at $10.99/month on the downside. It doesn’t include a free tier either (a limitation that might push away users who are used to ad-supported music streaming).
Pricing
Individual subscriptions can be purchased from Apple Music for $10.99 per month. If you have more users in your household, Family plans which offer up to six users are priced at $16.99 per month and student plans start from $5.99 offering a good amount of flexibility in terms of pricing based on the scale you need it to be at.
2. Tidal
Features
Tidal is known for its high-quality sound HiFi and Master quality audio, so for those of you who pay a lot of attention to the mini details in music, it’s one less headache.smile Tidal offers exclusive content like early releases, behind-the-scenes footage, as well artist-curated playlists. It also enables lossless streaming, thereby providing the most superior audio quality to your beloved tracks.
Pros
Perhaps one of Tidal’s biggest selling points is its emphasis on high fidelity, lossless audio. A no-brainer for audiophiles looking for top-quality sound with perfect detailing. Another huge advantage is Tidal’s artist-centric approach, and the service will offer musicians a better royalty cut than other services. So it is great for people who want to support their favorite artist.
Cons
Drawback: In general, Tidal is on the pricier side — especially for the HiFi tier which can set you back more than some subscribers would like to pay. Of course, it’s $9.99 for the standard subscription and $19.99 for HiFi quality, saving make-or-break music lovers some cash.
Pricing
Typical Tidal subscription runs $9.99 a month There’s an even higher “HiFi” plan for $19.99 per month that provides improved audio for those that care about sound quality.
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3. Amazon Music
Features
With Amazon Music, subscribers get access to a library of over 60m songs and thousands of playlists and stationsHD + Ultra HD streaming support for superior audio quality. Best Assistant Compatibility: Ultimate Ears MEGABLASTUltimate Ears MEGABLASTBuy on AmazonOne of the best features of this speaker is just how closely it integrates with Alexa devices, allowing you to control your music entirely hands-free via voice commands. Amazon Music offers a comprehensive library of podcasts and thousands of songs to choose from as well as customized recommendations.
Pros
Amazon Music is a great option for Amazon Prime members who want affordable pricing and additional features. While still cheap, Amazon Music Unlimited is more of a bargain for Prime members that have reduced access to just about every other streaming service. For those who are in the Amazon ecosystem, the integration makes listening across Echo devices and other Alexa-enabled products an even better experience.
Cons
But, Amazon Music must offer more playlist curation than this. Other than some suggestions uniquely tailored for users, they have a less widely curated array of playlists compared with this platform’s peers Spotify and Apple Music. Some users will find this disappointing — they rely on expertly curated content to stumble into new things.
Pricing
But at $8.99 per month for Prime members, Amazon Music Unlimited is a reasonable option given the competition in streaming these days. Non-Prime members can join for $10.99 a month.
4. Deezer
In a music streaming industry dominated by key players, Deezer still sets itself apart with innovative services and impressive international reach. For me one of the highlights is the Flow personalized playlist that learns your listening habits and serves up never-heard-it-before favorites. Users also have the option to upload their own MP3 files for a bit of a DIY experience.
Pros
Well, the biggest advantage of you having Deezer is its presence in over 180 countries which means it serves a large audience. It provides an extensive array of playlists for each type and mood, that ensures everybody gets what they are looking for. This range enriches the listening experience by expanding to other styles of music typical of various cultures and contexts.
Cons
But Deezer also has some hurdles to overcome. Predictably, the community features — shared playlists; social tools and such — are far less prevalent on it than Spotify. On top of this, a small number of users will then find themselves meeting certain content limitations due to geolocation restrictions.
Pricing
They can go for the free version of Deezer, but it is with restrictions. At only $9.99 per month for the premium plan, which includes ad free + extras like (see menu below), BritBox is a good value in today’s streaming market.
5. YouTube Music
The service has garnered a lot of popularity among music enthusiasts that has widely established YouTube Music as one of the most celebrated music streamers due to its notable features and an extensive library. One of its greatest features is the simple transition from video to audio mode that lets you move between music videos or audio tracks seamlessly. For music enthusiasts, it is a treasure trove with a rich Content Library that includes Official Songs,Covers and Live Performances.
Pros
One of the key appeals of YouTube Music, naturally, is that it allows you to track down music based on videos which can be very useful for discovering what’s out there. The algorithm of the platform recommends videos and songs that suit your tastes, so you will quickly find new artists, as well as hits. The visual element adds an exciting dimension to the music experience, enhancing how deeply we can connect with our favorite songs.
Cons
But, there are some cons. It is ad-supported, so adverts can cut into your listening experience. Also, some have observed that the sound quality is typically lower than say Tidal which may be a concern for audiophile users.
Pricing
In case you do not want to face any hassle, YouTube Music has a premium plan of $9.99 per month for an ad-free experience, and to make it even better when you are relaxed and listening to your favorite tunes.
6. SoundCloud
Soundcloud occupies a different space in the music streaming landscape, which is centered around user-created sounds. Artists, both established and emerging, can upload their music on this platform which ensures that listeners now have so much music to taste in emerging artist discovery. It really is a great way to discover new sounds and help the little guy too.
Pros
SoundCloud is unique in this regard as it is still free for most users and gives a wide selection of tracks without needing a subscription. This freedom results in having a diverse musical range which you will not find on the majority of other platforms and causes people looking for new innovative sounds to opt for it over others.
Cons
But SoundCloud also has other disadvantages. One disadvantage with the platform is the artists that appear generally are at mainstream status and could be a double-age sword as that’s really good for discovering new artists but some users might end up missing out on very popular tracks. The rest of uploads are less strictly curated — so quality varies, there’s a lot of tracks that come across as unpolished and amateur in production.
Pricing
SoundCloud also has a premium service to offer — SoundCloud Go+ at $9.99 per month for those who want an ad-free experience. Users with this subscription enjoy ad-free listening and can download tracks or albums for offline use, which is an excellent deal for anyone who listens to a lot of music.
7. Pandora
Pandora has been the go-to service for music lovers who prefer more of a radio-like experience. VentureBeat reports that the service has personalized radio stations which can change as they learn more about what you like (hate? so many words meanings). Plus, there are about 1,000 podcasts available on Pandora for users to explore topics that go beyond music.
Pros
Pandora stands out here for its radio angle. It may be best for its intuitive discovery, through which listeners can enjoy new songs from bands they like. Which means as you listen to more and more tracks, you will come across the type of music that exists on Spotify that you are highly unlikely to have listened to before. Which results in a discovery process where if it suits your preference, then this is where the value slowly creeps in.
Cons
But Spotify does have a few downsides over Pandora. If you are not based outside the USA & a few other countries, availability will be limited. One limitation is the smaller number of playlists than competitors; overall, you may not feel as coddled here as you do with other music services.
Pricing
Pandora costs money, unless you go with the free version, which is supported by ads. Those looking for a more streamlined experience can also subscribe to the premium plan, which costs $4.99/month and grants access to ad-free listening and additional station customization features.
8. Qobuz
Qobuz is a subtler approach at a music streaming service offering higher quality in the record label studio masterings without excluding the mainstream audience. Top features: Hi-Res Audio better than your usual Spotify et al Qobuz also provides extensive and varied music editorial content, such as reviews & recommendations of expert opinions on user experience.
Pros
This focus on high-quality audio makes Qobuz the choice for audiophiles, and a major difference from other platforms. Best-known for sheer quantity of classical music on offer with a massive library of recordings chronicling the inexhaustibility genre. So it is a good option for the group of audiophiles who desire exceptional development while exploring classical composition more overall.
Cons
Still, Qobuz has some disadvantages to consider. It is generally considered to be more of a niche genre than typical pop music, which might not attract the casual listener who only wants to hear top 40 hits and forgoes deep cuts or classical selections. Its narrow scope may render it less accessible to those in search of a greater diversity of music.
Pricing
Price is $12.99 per month and worth the cost for a high-fidelity listening experience, try free playlist.
9. Bandcamp
Bandcamp is a really cool place where you can actually buy music and merchandise directly from artists, so go there! It’s best known for indie music discovery and a place where up-and-coming talents can share their work free from major label constraints.
Pros
Bandcamp is a goldmine for indie music lovers. Arguably it is a best music streaming service for indie folk, and there are sprawling genres and styles of music here which have been largely left to the periphery. This is done through an ingenious business model that lets artists name their price and get a substantial cut of the music sales revenues. Reducing barriers with a community-based approach that builds artist-fan relationships.
Cons
Still, there are limits to what can be done via Bandcamp. Most of the time, the platform only displays a few mainstream songs that seem not interesting to those who only love famous music. And for some that focus on indie bands can come at the cost of missing those favorite staples.
Pricing
Bandcamp has a pay what you like model for a lot of its albums, which is possibly one of our favorite aspects of this platform – it lets fans support artists as much or as little as they’re able to. This way, you can discover new music for yourself and help out the artists at the same time.
10. JioSaavn
JioSaavn is an energetic music streaming website, particularly Bollywood and Indian music. Boasting of a thick library, Jio Saavn has thousands of songs belonging to the various regional languages in India. This made it an instant favorite among lovers of Indian cinema and culture. The offerings on the platform are targeted towards people looking to listen to first day Hindi movie songs and old hits from India.
Pros
JioSaavn: And well, the other major thing about JioSaavn is that it is great for Indian music lovers as it has a curated collection of songs and albums which you are probably not going to find anywhere else. Plus, it’s very wallet-friendly: the actual subscription is priced well under that of many competitors, meaning that you can cater to an even bigger audience. In addition, the listener-friendly interface improves the listening experience by enabling seamless genre and playlist surfing.
Cons
What are JioSaavn missing out on? Outside of India, users in other countries will discover fewer options when compared to the more worldwide titles available on longer established platforms. This can appeal to less people tho, for the ones looking for international music, or global hits
Pricing
JioSaavn is free with ads for anyone willing to give its offerings a look. And all of this is also alongside a premium plan that runs just $3.99/month, which provides users with ad-free listening and more features.
How to Choose the Best Free Alternative for Spotify
In discovering the most fitting free alternative for Spotify, you can start by searching for features that are more significant to your entire experience. The platform has abundant user-generated content, making it a spot to dig deep and find new emerging artists and unique tracks, which is definitely something SoundCloud does very well. If you prefer something more radio-like, Pandora provides personalized radio stations based on your music taste (however the free version includes commercials).
And one of the best of the lot is undoubtedly Deezer, which — along with offering you more tracks than a whole busload of DJs – features a neat feature called Flow. You can also upload your own MP3 files on Deezer free plan, another benefit if you value customization. Conversely, if you fancy Arijit Singh or anything from the Indian category, then JioSaavn is a good choice and houses all Bollywood and Regional songs perfectly for any Indian music lover.
Keep in mind, when making a choice between these different types of headphones, what kind of listener you are. Whether it be the indie stylings of SoundCloud, or the personalized radio of Pandora, each service gives back in truly different ways. Give a few of them a shot to see which one you feel clicks the best with you!
Best Spotify Alternatives for Curated Playlists: music discovery
Here is a look at some of the best curated playlist and discovery services that offer an even better alternative to Spotify. Apple Music has no shortage of awards-show boondoggles, but one thing the service does do right is its curated playlists. The app also has a For You section, where it suggests playlists based on the user’s music taste and interests, as well as giving users personalized recommendations for new artists or genres they may like. Apple Music — Best for Those who love discovering new mainstream & underground music (offers some of the most extensive libraries).
If you’re looking for Deezer is definitely a viable alternative, with its unique Flow feature that builds playlists based on what you like listening to. Their great playlists not only help you discover new favorites but also make it easy for lovers of different music genres to listen together with playlists curated for various moods, moments and occasions.
YouTube Music, meanwhile, sticks out because of its unique claim to fame: the integration of video with listening. It has a wide range of tracks which also include official music videos, cover songs as well as live performances, thus broadening the land for finding new music. The recommended view, music and playlist suggestions based on your history of use provide a better discovery experience.
Conclusion:
Exploring the top 10 Spotify alternatives reveals a diverse array of music streaming options, each with its unique features and strengths. Whether you’re seeking high-quality audio, extensive catalogs, or exclusive content, these alternatives offer viable choices to enhance your music listening experience beyond Spotify.
FAQs (Frequently asked Questions)
Are these Spotify alternatives not free to use?
Most of the choices in the Top 10 The Best Spotify Alternatives 2024 have free versions and, though they cannot be considered as free music streaming service per se, you can still play your favorite music without paying a dime (although with some restrictions e.g. ads).
Which Platform Has The Best Quality Audio?
Qobuz is well-known for their high-fidelity audio, which many audiophiles will prefer over standard-resolution streams or the lower quality of music streaming services.
Which platform offers the best sound quality?
Many of the Top 10 The Best Spotify Alternatives for 2019 platforms offer some form of offline downloads, including Apple Music and Deezer as long as you’re on their premium plans.
Which service offers the best curated playlists?
Another one in the Top 10 The Best Spotify Alternatives for 2024 is Apple Music that has gained particular attention for its expanded variety of playlists, which are selected by the company’s team and collecting lists from popular user play tracks.
Do these alternatives have global availability?
The available The Best Spotify Alternatives for 2024 are mainly the Top 10, but there are numerous other services that provide mixes, live radio, and exclusive features for subscribers with broad international reach (although many have no presence in all regions).
