- A guide to the best music streaming services – free, premium, and the cheapest
- Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, YT Music, or Amazon Music Unlimited?
- We’ve compared, ranked, and reviewed the best services to stream music
- Use our chart, buying advice, and FAQ to pick the best fit for your needs
There are nearly a dozen music streaming platforms with varying features, sound quality, content catalogs, and pricing.
Big or small, old or new, and ad-free or ad-supported, every service competes for your subscription, and they are neither panoptic nor equal.
Sadly, trialing the top 10 music streaming platforms equals cycling through ad-infested streams, spells of buyer’s regret, and sometimes, seething rants on audio forums.
A cost-value analysis is nothing to whistle at or music to a prospective subscriber’s ear.
Here at Producer Hive, we’ve tested and cross-examined the popular and niche players in the music streaming scene to create FAQs and shootouts for our readers.
So, we pooled our nerd-copy skillset to create a guide to the best music streaming services. For most people, the best streaming service is a tossup between Spotify and Apple Music.
But if you’ve never used a service before, our buyer guide explains what to look for, and it explains streaming jargon like lossless vs. lossy, FLAC, digital lockers, and hi-res audio quality.
Most importantly, all our top picks have unique selling points that make them the ‘best’ at something. The reviews clearly state their pros, cons, and standout features that’ll shape your user experience.
Plus, we’ve thrown in a few comparison tables and charts for good measure.
The Best Music Streaming Services
Based on the reliable functionality and superior curation, we’ll concede to Spotify’s pervasive popularity, declaring it the best music streaming service for most people.
Its success is rooted in a robust catalog of music and podcasts, discovery features, and social components.
Apple Music is the best alternative to Spotify for CD-quality audio, spatial audio albums, and a digital locker at no extra cost.
The service lacks podcasts, collaborative playlists, and social features but boasts top-notch sound quality, voice control, and smart speaker integration.
Despite mad respect for TIDAL, Qobuz is the best music streaming service for audiophiles.
But the service isn’t available everywhere, so DAC-owning music lovers can default to TIDAL HiFi Plus and report for duty on the “Is MQA snake oil?” forum threads.
Here are the best music streaming services for all types of listeners:
- Spotify Premium (Best Overall)
- Apple Music (Best Audio Quality)
- Qobuz (Best for Audiophiles)
- Amazon Music Unlimited (Best Value)
- TIDAL (Best for Hi-Res)
- YouTube Music Premium (Best for Music Videos)
- Idagio Premium+ (Best for Classical Music)
1. Spotify Premium (Best Overall & Our Pick)
“The best music streaming service for everyone except Apple users and audiophiles.”
Spotify is the best all-around music streaming service for individuals, students, and families. It’s available in 184 countries, has 489 million active listeners, and claims roughly 30% of the market share.
But statistics notwithstanding, the service is famed for its user experience, robust catalog of music and podcasts, playlist features, and discovery algorithm.
Pros
- Widely used and available everywhere
- Premium plans work great on all platforms
- Robust music and podcast selection
- Class-leading music discovery and playlist features
- One of the best music streaming services for discovering new artists
Cons
- Ads in the free version are somewhat annoying
- The bitrate won’t appease audiophiles
- We’ve been waiting for a hi-res tier since 2021
Review
Spotify is a fool-proof streaming solution for casual listeners, whether or not you pay for the service.
It only takes a few minutes to download the app, sign up, and start streaming on any device/system, and at this point, you can choose between a paid or free version.
But the service taps out at 320kbps streams, so here’s where audiophiles quickly exit.
Everyone else benefits from the intuitive interface, extensive music and podcast selection, and a complete set of features on PC.
Frankly, PC users with a reasonable tolerance for ads don’t need a paid subscription, but the free tier isn’t all that great for mobile users.
A Premium subscription comes with no ads, control over playback, unlimited skips, offline mode, and a host of convenient features.
The Duo and Family plans represent excellent value, and the Student plan is stacked with SHOWTIME and Hulu for $4.99 per month.
Lastly, Spotify’s value comes from search functionality, algorithm-based recommendations, playlist sharing, and social features.
The easy speaker connectivity, collab playlists, and 5m podcasts also work in its favor, but none of it will appease you if you can’t stand Joe Rogan.
Verdict
Spotify is the best music streaming service if you aren’t fixated on bitrates, which is most people.
It’s a top choice for general music listening, listening to podcasts, making/sharing playlists, discovering new artists, and streaming music through numerous devices.
However, the free tier sucks on mobile, and look elsewhere for classical music, hi-res audio, or visual content.
Related: The 5 Best VPNs for Spotify & Music Streaming
2. Apple Music (Best Audio Quality)
“Apple Music trumps Spotify if you want an audiophile-grade music streaming experience.”
Like Spotify, Apple Music is one of the best music streaming services, with an extensive music library and multiple subscription options.
It’s as good as Qobuz, Amazon Music Unlimited, and TIDAL HiFi in terms of audio quality and a country mile ahead of Spotify.
There’s added value if you’re in the Apple fold, and you can use it alongside Apple Music Classical, a free standalone app with the world’s largest classical music catalog.
Pros
- Massive library of music + free internet radio
- No additional cost for high-quality streaming
- Full-screen lyrics + search by lyrics feature
- Free access to 24-hour live radio stations
- Save money with the Apple One subscription bundle
Cons
- One-month free trial is limited
- No collaborative playlist features
- Separate apps for audiobooks and podcasts
- Up to 5 users on the family-sharing plan
Review
With iOS and Android compatibility, Apple Music is available in 160 countries and is second to Spotify’s market share.
It’s a ticket to 100 million+ titles, exclusive content, internet radio stations, and live performances, with features like local file support and offline listening.
Most of the features align with other top-rated music streaming platforms, and we love the search functionality, playlist features, and karaoke-style lyrics.
The music discovery and UI are ostensibly inferior to Spotify, but the difference isn’t stark as far as we’re concerned.
Unlike Spotify, Apple Music supports CD-quality audio (on most devices), spatial audio, and Dolby Atmos content.
But subscribers must opt-in and need compatible hardware to enjoy the highest quality streaming (24-bit/192kHz). Your AirPods Max won’t cut it.
However, a Home Pod, Apple TV 4K, AirPods, and Beats Fit Pro automatically play spatial audio and Dolby Atmos content.
Plus, if you’re deep in the fold, you can use the service to store purchased music, combine everything with iTunes, and control it via Siri on Apple devices.
Verdict
Apple Music has no free tier, so Spotify (free) retains its status as the best and cheapest music streaming service.
From a subscription standpoint, the lossless audio, internet radio, and spatial audio albums give Apple a leg up.
But prospective subscribers may take issue with the lack of collab playlists, dismal EQ presets, and 256kbps max streaming quality on desktop.
Related: Best Apple Music EQ Settings (For Each Style of Music)
3. Qobuz (Best for Audiophiles)
“The best streaming service for music lovers and existing or hopeful audiophiles.”
Qobuz, Deezer, and Tidal frequently pop up when audiophiles discuss music streaming services.
We prefer Qobuz for its well-designed interface, robust catalog of lossless music, shop to purchase FLAC files, and tight Sonos integration.
Sadly, the service has no free tier, and as for availability, even the Canadians are lamenting being left out.
Pros
- Intuitive interface and smooth mobile app
- Bit-perfect output and better-than-CD audio quality
- Enjoy 24-bit music without specialized hardware
- Download music at discounted rates with the Sublime Plus plan
- The best music streaming service for Sonos integration
Cons
- No free tier or social components
- Lacks podcasts and spatial audio support
- Only available in 24 countries
Review
For those who haven’t heard about Qobuz, it’s a French music streaming and download platform with 100 million songs plus articles, interviews, and expertly curated playlists.
It also boasts Roon Labs integration, and tracks have liner notes with artist/album information.
Qobuz has a well-designed app for all platforms and sounds great on all devices.
Generally, audiophiles prefer Qobuz over Tidal because a) it is cheaper, b) you can stream hi-res tracks without using MQA, and c) the highest streaming quality is more lifelike and natural.
The service scores a solid A on suggestive guidance, collaborative playlists, and tight integration with high-end devices, including Sonos and Chromecast.
You can also purchase FLAC files from the online store, and Sublime subscribers are eligible for discounts.
However, there’s no free tier, and the music streaming app lacks scrolling lyrics, local file support, and live programming components.
Plus, Qobuz is not available everywhere, and the platform does not support spatial audio, which could be potential deal-breakers for some.
Verdict
Qobuz is a value proposition for streaming full-fidelity recordings and purchasing music in a few clicks.
It also has collab playlists, which Apple Music lacks, but the service doesn’t offer anything other than music tracks, i.e., podcasts and videos.
Still, if the music streaming service is available where you live, it’s one of the best deals for music lovers and audiophiles.
Related: 5 Best DACS (Pro Quality Audio, All Budgets)
4. Amazon Music Unlimited (Best Value)
“The best music streaming if you’re already embedded with the Amazon ecosystem.”
Amazon’s streaming service has three avatars – Amazon Music Free, Amazon Music Prime, and Amazon Music Unlimited.
We think the latter poses a credible threat to titans like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. The cost is even-steven, the music catalog is souped-up with hi-res audio, and it’s a stellar bargain if you already have a Prime subscription.
Pros
- Standard, CD-quality, hi-res, and spatial audio
- Good collection of all genres, including classical music
- One of the best catalogs of hi-res music
- Sounds great on all listening devices
- Reduced subscription cost for Amazon Prime subscribers
Cons
- No live radio stations and limited podcasts
- App and music discovery could be better
Review
To clear things up, Amazon Music Free is a no-frills version that doesn’t cost a dime for ad-free access to playlists, stations, and podcasts in SD quality.
Likewise, Music Prime is the de facto free streaming service for users who’ve paid $14.99 for a Prime membership.
Our boy is Amazon Music Unlimited, a separate open-to-all service for $9.99/month, with a small discount for existing Prime members.
It boasts a 100 million+ song catalog, a decent library of music videos, discovery features, and a homegrown digital store to buy titles.
Amazon Music has gone all-in on HD (read: CD-quality), Ultra-HD (hi-res), and spatial audio (music mixed in Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos).
Unlike its rivals, there’s no additional cost for the hi-res tier, but you’ll need a good DAC/headphone combo to enjoy it.
The music streaming app plays ball with Macs, PCs, tablets, and Android and iOS pedigree smartphones.
The streaming service is also compatible with a list of authorized devices like Sonos, Fire TV, and Bluesound, and the voice-control assistant integration is superb, too.
Critically speaking, we’re impressed by the interface, search function, suggestive guidance, clear labeling of HD/Ultra HD content, and the rate at which Amazon is growing its spatial audio catalog.
On the flip side, the mobile app can bug out sometimes, and the music discovery algorithm still needs some refinements to square up to Spotify’s accomplishments.
Verdict
Amazon Music Unlimited is a no-brainer if you are in the Amazon fold or own a Fire TV, Echo, or other Amazon device. It’s worth adding to the shortlist if you aren’t invested in a service.
Apple Music also offers CD-quality and his-res streams, and Spotify, despite the inferior audio quality, has a better interface and superior curation, so existing users are unlikely to jump ship.
Related: How to Connect Amazon Fire Stick to Wi-Fi (Quick Guide)
5. TIDAL (Best for Hi-Res)
“The best service for if you want to pay more for fair artist payouts (and hi-res audio)”
TIDAL is a premium music streaming service with a stellar user experience, top-notch discovery features, and one of the best artist payout initiatives.
As of 2023, you can choose a 30-day free trial, a Hi-Fi tier for CD-quality audio, or a Hi-Fi Plus subscription for hi-res audio.
However, lossless FLAC streaming also makes it one of the costliest services in this roundup.
Pros
- Stellar UI and music catalog for FLAC streaming
- You can download content and buy concert tickets
- Discounted rates for first responders, military, and students
- TIDAL Masters and Sonly 360 Reality Audio
- Better artist remuneration model for those who care
Cons
- Pricey + no annual subscription plan
- MQA format is somewhat gimmicky
- Social features could be better
- No local music file support
Review
TIDAL has a robust catalog of 80 million tracks, music videos, editorial pieces, and music-related podcasts.
Likewise, there’s a free tier with 160kbps streams and ads, but we’ll concern ourselves with the hi-res audio tier plans that have the defining perks of the service.
You have two options: a HiFi plan with 1411kbps streams (aka CD-quality) and a HiFi Plus subscription with true high-resolution ‘TIDAL Masters’ that stream at 9216kbps.
You can also access 360 Reality Audio mastered using Sony’s spatial audio technology.
The FLAC format delivers all the quality you need, but music lovers can also enjoy the giddying bitrates of the MQA format with a compatible DAC/amp to decode it.
If you think MQA is a bit of a ruse, TIDAL plans to add a hi-res lossless format to HiFi Plus later this year.
TIDAL’s music catalog can square up to Spotify, save for podcasts.
We love the app design, exclusive content, the ability to buy pre-sale tickets, and TIDAL Credits – a feature that points to all the people involved in creating the music and projects they’ve worked on in the past.
Conversely, TIDAL is relatively expensive and doesn’t support local file playback or purchasing music.
The streaming service also has limited social features like story integration, which stems from their intent to maintain the sanctity of the ‘artist-listener relationship.’
Verdict
TIDAL champions superior audio quality and fair compensation for artists, but that comes at the cost of social features.
It’s a great platform for audiophiles, and the military discounts and TIDAL Rising (a superb feature to discover international artists) are compelling reasons to switch.
But skip it if you listen to podcasts or like snooping on what your friends are listening to.
Related: Tidal vs. Spotify (3 Reasons to Switch Over)
6. YouTube Music (Best for Music Videos)
“The best music streaming service to sail live streams and deep dive into video vaults.”
YouTube Music is a freemium service that integrates the YouTube platform with a music streaming service.
It’s a rousing deal for visual options, but the 256kbps streams sound duff compared to Apple Music, Tidal, and even Spotify.
Still, YT Music has something other platforms don’t – a vast library of music videos, off-beat covers, and live performances.
Pros
- Easy to install and navigate
- The free tier is better than other platforms
- Top-notch search functionality and social components
- Premium subscribers can access YT music videos
- The best streaming service to catch live recordings
Cons
- No podcasts and limited local file support
- Sound quality taps out at 256kbps AAC
- Music discovery algorithm is not up to scratch
- Not the best streaming platform for audiophiles
Review
With cross-platform availability, YouTube Music has an ad-supported free tier and a Premium tier for ad-free music streaming and additional features like searching songs via lyrics, downloading tracks for offline listening, and switching between song & video modes.
The music streaming platform boasts 100m tracks with expert-curated playlists and individualized suggestions to discover new music.
Users can create and share playlists (collaboratively, too), and subscribers get access to music videos on the YT platform.
A premium subscription is perfect for listeners who hanker after covers and music video content.
Subscribers can search archived live recordings and view lyrics videos and unofficial remixes, which you can’t do with other streaming apps.
Conversely, the audio quality only works for casual listeners and is far from the higher bitrate supported by other platforms.
The dubious EQ and lack of HD or spatial audio won’t slake any audiophiles, and there’s arguably more value in a YT Premium subscription.
Verdict
YouTube Music Premium is the best streaming service for watching music videos, covers, and live performances.
The song recommendations and audio quality are lackluster, but the service has a vast library of remixes and covers you won’t find elsewhere. It’s also great for YouTube addicts who want to stream music and videos with a locked phone screen.
7. Idagio Premium+ (Best for Classical Music)
“This music streaming platform should be on every classical aficionado’s Liszt.”
Classical music lovers get their fixes from broad-catalog services like Tidal or Qobuz.
However, Idagio, Presto Music, and the recently launched Apple Music Classical are three music streaming services tailor-made for classical music enthusiasts.
After briefly testing all three, Idagio earned our top spot based on its audio quality, browse function, and meta-driven search.
Pros
- Smooth interface and dedicated player
- Lossless audio quality, Album booklets, Live Compare
- Direct integrations and gapless playback
- Exclusive concerts and performances
- One of the best artist payout models around
Cons
- Lacks non-music content and podcasts
- Presto Music has better liner notes
- Apple Music Classical has dedicated metadata
Review
Idagio’s ad-free plan grants access to 2 million+ tracks, artist talks, and support for BT, Airplay, and Chromecast.
Upgrading to a Premium+ plan unlocks additional features like lossless audio quality, ad-free listening, offline mode, direct integration with Sonos, and more.
The free tier has 320kpbs streams, and the Premium+ plan has 16-bit/44.1kHz audio quality.
Users can also subscribe to the Premium+ Concerts plan, which includes all Premium+ features plus unlimited access to concerts, educational content, artist talks, and an exclusive newsletter.
The metadata-driven search function is Idagio’s selling point, followed by gapless playback and a ‘Live Compare’ feature to switch between different interpretations of the same work.
Plus, you can save your favorites to personal playlists regardless of the album it appears on.
Top-tier subscribers can stream unlimited audio and video content, including curated concerts, exclusive performances, international music competitions, workshops, and celebrity interviews.
Premium+ users can also buy tickets or sign up for courses at discounted rates.
Verdict
Idagio Premium+ is the best music streaming service for enjoying high-quality classical music. Again, the free tier is serviceable if you have a tolerance for ads, but the Premium+ Concerts offers the best value.
Apple Music Classical and Presto Music are viable alternatives, but we prefer the latter for its vast catalog, magazine-like interface, and detailed liner notes.
Related: The Seven Best Speakers in the World Right Now (Ranked!)
Top Music Streaming Services Compared
|
Music Streaming Service |
Free
Tier |
Catalog | Highest Desktop Quality (kbps) | Highest Streaming Quality | Supported Formats | Individual Plan – price per month | Family Plan – price per month |
|
Spotify Premium |
Yes |
100m tracks, 5m podcasts |
320 |
320kbps |
Ogg Vorbis, AAC | $9.99 |
$14.99 |
|
Apple Music |
Trial | 100m+ tracks | 256 | 24-bit/192kHz | AAC | $10.99 |
$14.99 |
|
Qobuz |
No | 100m+ | 1411 | 24-bit/192kHz | FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, WAV, WMA Lossless | $10.83 |
$17.99 |
|
Amazon Music Unlimited |
Trial | 100m+ | 3730 | 24-bit/192kHz | FLAC | $10.99 |
$14.99 |
|
TIDAL HiFi |
Trial | 100m+ | 4608 | 24-bit/192kHz | ALAC, FLAC, AAC, MQA |
$9.99 |
$14.99 |
|
YouTube Music Premium |
Yes | 100m+ | 256 | 256kbps | AAC | $9.99 |
$14.99 |
| Idagio Premium+ |
Yes |
2 million tracks |
320 |
16-bit/44.1kHz | AAC, MP3, FLAC | $9.99 |
N/A |
How to Pick the Best Online Music Streaming Services
Generally, casual music listeners lean towards the cheapest music streaming service, musos look for a robust catalog and discovery features, and audiophiles prioritize the best audio resolution to put their elite cans and listening rooms to good use.
If you’re not in the know, here’s some intel on how to pick the best music streaming service:
Free Music Streaming Services
Most services offer an ad-supported free tier or a one-time trial period ranging from 14 to 90 days.
Generally speaking, free accounts have limited features and far too many ads to enjoy streaming music truly. They also lack local file support, offline mode, and other features.
Moreover, the free tier of audio streaming platforms offers compressed streams in the 48kbps to 320kbps range.
But 160-320kbps is sufficient for casual music listeners, and you would need high-quality headphones or speakers to appreciate lossless or hi-res audio quality.
Subscriptions generally cost $10/month and allow you to experience the breadth of what a music streaming service offers.
Still, if you want to avoid spending a dime, Spotify is the best free music streaming service, though it’s way better on PC than mobile.
Music Catalog
Music catalogs rarely differentiate the significant players because they have a massive catalog covering a vast chunk of all recorded music.
Currently, YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Qobuz, and Amazon Music Unlimited host 100 million+ tracks.
Deezer comes in second with 90 million+ titles, and other streaming music services are just a little behind.
However, some listeners expect more, hoping to get their podcast and music video fix from an all-purpose audio streaming platform.
Spotify, for instance, offers podcasts, but Qobuz and TIDAL do not, and Apple Music has a separate app. Likewise, YouTube is the best for music videos, and TIDAL has some top-notch exclusive content.
So, to go beyond music listening, check out what’s included before subscribing to a music streaming service.
Audio Quality: Lossy vs. and Lossless
Lossy audio is a compressed digital audio file format, meaning it’s been through an audio encoder that removes irrelevant data points to reduce the file size.
Since it has a smaller file size, it consumes lesser data and is easier to store on smartphones or other devices.
MP3 and AAC are popular lossy audio file formats. They don’t offer the best sound quality, but they aren’t too bad.
The encoding process only removes inaudible or irrelevant data points, and lossy audio is perfectly fine if you listen to playlists on the morning commute.
On the other hand, lossless audio file formats contain all the original data and are bigger in size.
FLAC is the most popular lossless compression format to stream and download music, followed by ALAC – its Apple-supported equivalent.
Lossless audio has more texture and detail, but only if you listen to it on a suitable system. Also, lossless isn’t better than lossy unless it has been re-mastered and tagged appropriately, i.e., Tidal Masters, Studio Mastered, etc.
Related: Audio File Formats Explained (MP3 vs. WAV vs. AIFF vs. FLAC & More)
Hi-Fi (HD) and Hi-Res Music Streaming
‘Hi-Fi’ refers to 16-bit/44.1kHz audio, better known as CD-quality audio. Amazon Music Unlimited labels Hi-Fi as HD to simplify jargon for general music listeners.
Likewise, Hi-Res audio is 24-bit/192kHz, aka better-than-CD quality, studio quality, or Ultra-HD (Amazon).
These audio quality options sound fantastic but consume a LOT of data regarding on-demand music streaming.
Additionally, if you purchase/download FLAC files, they’ll take up a good chunk of storage space on your device.
Related: 16 Bit vs. 24 Bit (Clearing up the Confusion)
Music Discovery Features
Many users strive to expand their listening experience by relying on a music streaming service’s suggestive guidance and discovery algorithm.
Most services also offer expert-curated playlists and editorial features (articles) highlighting new releases and emerging trends.
If that sounds like you, Spotify’s ‘Discovery Mode’ is streets ahead of the competition, providing the best-personalized listening sessions.
It boasts unique social components that allow you to check out what your friends are playing, which could be a great way to discover new music.
Apple Music isn’t far behind, but popular opinion indicates that Spotify is better at recommending music you actually like.
That said, most services have a vast enough catalog to service casual listeners, so it doesn’t matter much if you are not keen on discovering new stuff.
Offline Mode
Music streaming services offer subscribers an offline mode. This feature lets you download tracks or albums via the app and listen to them without an internet connection.
Offline mode is a godsend for saving data and enjoying music without signal coverage. Most notably, you can download tracks in the Wi-Fi range and listen to music on a plane or during commutes.
Digital Music Lockers
Simply put, a music locker means you can store your digital music files on the cloud and stream or download them whenever you like.
YouTube and Apple offer a digital locker feature for subscribers to patch their personal collection (purchased music) with their streaming catalog.
Generally, the ‘digital locker’ feature is irrelevant as both services have 100m+ songs. It’s unlikely that you won’t find a song in their existing catalog.
But it’s a valuable feature if you want to stream rare versions, remixes, or live recordings you’ve collected over the years.
Artist Payout per Stream
To put it bluntly, music streaming platforms are notorious for shortchanging artists.
Many users take issue with this worrisome trend and pick services that offer (relatively) fair compensation in hopes of supporting their favorite band.
Sadly, per-stream payouts are a lost cause, and musicians earn significantly more by selling albums, tickets, and merchandise.
Based on US figures, Amazon Music Unlimited, Tidal, and Apple Music have the highest streaming royalists. Tidal is famous for its ‘artist-focused’ model, and they direct 10% of each HiFi monthly subscription fee to a user’s most streamed artist.
However, Tidal plans to shut down DAP in April 2023 to replace it with an initiative to fund the growth of emerging artists.
Related: Music Streaming Platform Payouts and Royalty Calculator
FAQs
Which Music Streaming Service Has The Most Subscribers?
Spotify is the most popular streaming platform in terms of subscribers, with more free and premium users than any other music streaming service in 2023.
It has retained this distinction for the last nine years, with a 26% increase from last year. Apple Music and Amazon Music rank behind it globally but are ahead in some countries.
Which Streaming Service Has The Best Audio Quality?
Qobuz, TIDAL, Apple Music, and Amazon Music Unlimited have the best music quality. Except for Qobuz, all services support Sony 360 Reality and Dolby Atmos spatial audio.
Likewise, TIDAL HiFi Plus lets you stream music at giddy bitrates with the appropriate hardware.
Is It Worth Paying Extra For High-Res and Lossless Audio?
Paying extra for the hi-res tier of a music streaming service only makes sense if you own a suitable kit, system, or DAC-toting adapters for smartphones.
Basic earphones or a small system won’t do justice to 24-bit audio or the MQA format. So, his-res audio works best if you stream music on Sonos speakers or music streamers like Bluesound Node and Google Chromecast.
What’s The Best Music Streaming Service For Families?
We recommend the Spotify Family Plan for families who want up to six accounts at a discounted rate. Each user has complete privacy with mutually exclusive recommendations, playlists, and saved music.
Moreover, family members can create mixed (collaborative) playlists, and the primary account holder has parental controls to set up suitable content filters for kids.
What’s The Best Music Streaming Service For Sonos?
Qobuz is, without a doubt, the best music streaming service for Sonos speakers. But since it’s only available in 24 countries, Apple Music and TIDAL are top choices to enjoy high-fidelity audio.
Spotify lacks a hi-res tier, but you can still use it with Sonos speakers via Spotify Connect.
If you’re looking to stream music on reliable Bluetooth speakers, check out our guide to The 7 Loudest Bluetooth Speakers Ever Made!