The best music streaming service in 2021 - Business Insider

Spotify has a ton of music and audio content and it's available on a range of products, making it a great choice for those who listen to music on a variety of devices.

Pros: Offers a ton of content, app support on many devices, audio quality is good enough for most listeners, free version available, collaborative playlists, group listening

Cons: No live content, no lossless audio option

Looking for a music streaming service that has a huge range of songs and is compatible with all your devices? Spotify is the way to go. Spotify is the original big music streaming service, and it has apps for all major platforms — including iOS, Android, and your preferred web browser. 

One of the best things about Spotify is that you can try it out without having to subscribe. There's a free, ad-based version of Spotify that you can use for as long as you like. 

While on a desktop, many streaming services only work through web-based apps, Spotify has native apps for everything. In other words, if you're on a Mac or PC and prefer a dedicated app, then you can get an app for Spotify. The service also has podcasts and video content, plus it streams music in up to a 320Kbps resolution, which should be good enough for the majority of listeners.

Of course, there are a few downsides to consider. For example, there's no live programming or lossless audio plan like there are on some other music streaming services. Apart from that, however, Spotify is a great streaming option that any music-lover will enjoy.  

The ad-free version of Spotify starts at $10 per month for one account. There's also a Duo plan that supports two accounts for $13 per month, and a Family plan that includes support for up to six accounts for $15 per month. Students can sign up for a discounted $5 per month plan as well. The student plan even comes with Hulu and access to Showtime.

New subscribers to the Spotify Individual, Student, Duo, or Family plans can currently receive a one-month free trial period. 

Both the Duo and Family plan also offer specially curated playlists that feature songs meant to appeal to the entire group on the plan. If you pay for a plan, you can also host group listening sessions and ask friends to join you as you pick and choose songs to listen to together.

For a detailed rundown of how Spotify stacks up to one of our other top picks, Amazon Music, check out our full comparison of both services.

$9.99 from Spotify

Apple Music works beautifully on Apple devices, plus there's an app for it across a range of platforms, including Android.

Pros: Huge selection of content, live radio, excellent integration with Apple devices, curated playlists, three-month trial

Cons: No free version, no lossless audio option

If you use an iPhone and other Apple products, then it's worth considering Apple Music. Apple Music integrates well with Apple's hardware and software, plus it's well-designed and works with your existing library of iTunes music. Not only that, but Apple Music has a collection of 70 million songs, which is absolutely massive.

One of the best things about Apple Music is that it integrates with Siri and the Apple Watch perfectly, plus it can be played on a HomePod without issue. In other words, if you have other Apple devices, then Apple Music is probably the service to go for.

Apple Music has a nice selection of content too. Apart from on-demand songs, the service also offers the Apple Music 1 radio station and some exclusive music.

Though Apple Music was initially missing a web browser option, Apple now allows subscribers to use the service through internet browsers on computers and laptops without having to install a separate app. 

If you want to tap into what your friends are listening to, Apple Music also offers curated playlists for that, as well as other playlists for new music, personal favorites, and more.

Apple Music starts at $10 per month for one account. A Family plan with support for six people is available for $15 per month, and a discounted Student plan is available for $5 per month. New members can receive a free three-month trial. That's two months longer than the trial period that Spotify currently offers for its comparable plans.

If you want more Apple services beyond Apple Music, you can sign up for the Apple One bundle featuring Apple Music, Apple TV+, upwards of 50GB of iCloud storage, and Apple Arcade. Apple One's individual plan costs $14.95 per month, roughly $5 more than the cost of Apple Music alone. 

Unlike Spotify, however, Apple Music does not offer a free version with ads, so you will need to subscribe to enjoy the service's selection of songs. 

$9.99 from Apple

Tidal is available on a range of platforms, plus it offers much better audio quality than the majority of other music streaming services out there.

Pros: Excellent audio quality with an option for lossless playback, available on a range of platforms, exclusive content, includes music videos

Cons: No free version, missing some features, HiFi plan is expensive

Tidal is a little different from other music streaming services in that it's targeted toward those who want a higher resolution audio experience — and as such, it provides excellent sound performance. 

While Tidal offers a Premium plan that uses the same 320Kbps bitrate that services like Spotify use, Tidal also has a HiFi plan that steps things up to a whopping 1,411Kbps in the lossless FLAC format. 

This means that you get to listen to music in full CD quality exactly as it was meant to be heard. It should be noted, however, that you will need higher quality audio gear and a Wi-Fi or wired connection to your playback device in order to really enjoy the benefits that lossless audio provides.

The HiFi plan also includes Tidal Masters, a feature with songs at a bitrate between 2304 and 9216Kbps. That's a quality nearly 29 times higher than Spotify. Metallica made its albums available via Tidal Masters in December 2020, meaning fans of the band's "Master of Puppets" record can blast it at the highest quality among streaming services.

Tidal's HiFi plan also includes a selection of 3D audio tracks using the Dolby Atmos or Sony 360 Reality Audio codecs. 3D audio uses spatial technology to create an expanded sense of dimension with more enveloping sound. 

Tidal is also known for streaming some notable exclusive content. Albums like Jay-Z's "4:44" and Kanye West's "The Life of Pablo" were first launched on Tidal, and the service will likely get other exclusive launches in the future. There are also music videos and other behind-the-scenes content, too.

Nothing's perfect, and Tidal is no exception to that rule. The service doesn't have some features that others offer, like Spotify's group listening sessions, and there's no free version. The HiFi plan also costs more than most competing music streaming services — though you do get better sound quality for the higher monthly fee. 

Tidal Premium starts at $10 per month for one account, and there's a Family plan for $15 per month with support for six people. Tidal HiFi steps the price up to $20 per month for one account, or $30 for the Family plan with support for six people. A Student Premium option is also available for $5 per month, along with a Student HiFi plan for $10 per month. 

Military members and first responders can get Tidal Premium for $6 per month or Tidal HiFi for $12 per month, as well. A 30-day trial is available for new members who sign up for a regularly priced plan.

When it comes to other lossless music streaming options, Tidal has some tough competition from Amazon's new Music HD plan. This service offers similar high resolution audio for a more affordable price of $15 per month. If you have Amazon Prime, you can save $2 per month on the service. Unlike Tidal, however, Amazon Music HD doesn't include videos. Music HD is also available on fewer devices and it lacks the exclusive releases that Tidal features.

Check out our full review of Tidal here

$9.99 from Tidal

Amazon Music Unlimited works on a range of platforms, plus it integrates perfectly with Alexa and offers discounts for Prime subscribers or Echo owners.

Pros: Discounts for Amazon Prime and Echo customers, good music library selection, Alexa integration

Cons: No content other than music

If you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you might want to save a few bucks and go for Amazon's music subscription service, Amazon Music Unlimited.

Prime subscribers already get access to Prime Music with their membership, but if you want a more comprehensive streaming service, then it's worth stepping things up to Music Unlimited, which offers a bigger library of songs.

Music Unlimited is available on a range of platforms, including iOS, Android, and the web. The service is tightly integrated with Amazon's Alexa, so if you have an Echo or other Alexa product, it'll work perfectly.

If you use other Amazon products, you might get a bit of a deal, too. Amazon Music Unlimited normally costs $10 per month, but Amazon Prime subscribers can pay a discounted monthly fee of just $8 per month or an annual fee of $79 a year. Prime members can also choose a Family plan with support for six people for $15 per month or an annual plan cost of $149 a year. If you just want to stream music on one Amazon device, like an Echo Dot, you have the option for an even cheaper plan at just $4 per month.

New members can receive a free 30-day trial of Music Unlimited. After the trial, your subscription will automatically continue for the regular monthly price unless you decide to cancel. 

When it comes to audio quality, Music Unlimited streams at 256Kbps. Amazon doesn't detail exactly how many tracks are included on Music Unlimited, but the company boasts a collection of "over 70 million songs." Music Unlimited doesn't offer any non-music content, but apart from that, it's a pretty great service for those plugged into the Amazon ecosystem.

For those who want lossless audio playback, Amazon also offers its Music HD service with support for high resolution audio playback. Amazon Music HD is available for a regular price of $15 per month or a Prime member discounted price of just $13 per month.

In addition to lossless audio, Music HD includes a selection of tracks mastered in Dolby Atmos and Sony's 360 Reality Audio codecs as well. These formats enable 3D audio on supported devices, including the Echo Studio. 

For a detailed rundown of how Amazon Music stacks up to our top pick, Spotify, check out our full comparison of both services.

Check out our full review of Amazon Music Unlimited here

$7.99 from Amazon

YouTube Music has a decent library of songs, plus it integrates very well with Google's other apps and services, including Google Assistant. 

Pros: Interesting playlists, good integration with Google services, free version available

Cons: Doesn't integrate with Alexa, no lossless audio option

YouTube Music is the way to go if you're really plugged into Google's ecosystem of products. In other words, if you have an Android phone and want your music streaming service to integrate well with Google Assistant, then YouTube Music is a convenient option.

YouTube Music isn't only available for Android devices. It's also available on iOS and on the web, so you should be able to access the service wherever you are. The platform is smart, so you'll get interesting location-based playlists and the ability to search for songs based on lyrics.

Of course, YouTube Music isn't perfect, but Google has been working on making it better. The app doesn't really integrate with other voice assistants like Alexa, so if you have an Echo you'll be stuck with playing music through the Bluetooth connection on your phone. With that said, the service does now support Siri. 

Like Spotify, YouTube Music offers a free, ad-supported version that you can try out first. The Premium plan without ads is $10 per month for one account. There's also a discounted Student plan for $5 per month, and a Family plan with support for six people for $15 per month. All of the plans include a one-month free trial.

YouTube Music is also included as part of a YouTube Premium plan for $12 a month. YouTube Premium includes exclusive video content and ad-free video playback. Since this option is only $2 more than YouTube Music Premium is on its own, it's a better value for music fans who also like to watch YouTube videos.

$9.99 from YouTube

Amazon

If you're signing up for a music streaming service, chances are you'll need a reliable media player or smartphone to access the app, along with a nice pair of speakers or headphones to actually listen to your favorite tracks on. With that in mind, we've highlighted some of our other buying guides for streaming players, mobile devices, headphones, and speakers that are sure to come in handy for anyone who wants to stream music.  

The best streaming sticks and boxes

Though media players are primarily used for video services, like Netflix and Disney Plus, many streaming devices also offer access to music services like Spotify. With a dedicated streaming player you can listen to your favorite songs directly through your TV. Through research and testing we've picked the best streaming sticks and boxes you can buy.

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The best smartphones

If you're looking for a reliable device to stream music on throughout the day, few options are as convenient as a smartphone. Android and iOS mobile devices offer access to a large assortment of music streaming services, allowing you to easily stream tracks over your mobile connection or Wi-Fi. These are the best smartphones you can buy. 

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The best noise-cancelling headphones

After finding a device to access your favorite music streaming services on, you'll need something to actually hear your music through, and a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones are an excellent choice. With active noise cancelling tech, these headphones are able to minimize distracting ambient sounds, making it easier to hear your music. These are the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.

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 The best true wireless earbuds

Completely free from wires, true wireless headphones allow you to pair each earbud to your phone without any pesky cables getting in the way. Some true wireless earbuds even include support for noise cancellation technology. After testing out several models, we've selected the best true wireless earbuds you can buy.

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The best speakers

Headphones are great for personal listening, but if you want music to fill your living room or office you'll need a nice pair of speakers. There are many different speaker types to choose from. For the best audio quality you'll likely want to go for a pair of floorstanding speakers or bookshelf speakers. Meanwhile, if mobility or digital assistant functionality are your primary concern, you'll be better off with a Bluetooth speaker or a smart speaker. With different needs and budgets in mind, we've picked the best speakers you can buy.

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The best Bluetooth speakers

Bluetooth speakers allow you to listen to music wirelessly from a connected device. Though Bluetooth speakers typically don't offer the very best audio quality, they often feature other added benefits, like portability and digital assistant integration. These are the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. 

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The best digital-to-analog converters

If you plan on streaming hi-res music services, like Tidal or Amazon Music HD, then a dedicated digital-to-analog converter (DAC) will help unlock the full potential of higher fidelity tracks. A quality DAC can refine the processing of digital to analog audio transformations to optimize the sound produced by smartphones, computers, and other connected devices. These are the best DACs you can buy.