Ali Imran

Tidal has a catalog of more than 110 million tracks, which puts it ahead of Spotify and Apple. However, like Apple Music, Tidal lacks the social features and podcast integration that make Spotify so popular, and there is also no local file playback. This ensures transmissions maintain the highest possible quality without the downgrades caused by Bluetooth or other compression methods. Support for Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio adds a surround sound element by enhancing the spatial depth of tracks. Fear not, non-Apple heathens; there is an option for audiophiles who are not invested in the Apple ecosystem, and that option is Tidal.

Which Music App Pays Artists the Most?

With features like video podcasts, personalized recommendations, and curated podcast playlists, it’s a great platform for discovering new content. The Family plan also offers clean playlists and curated content for kids. Tidal is perfect for fans of Pop, Dance, Hip-hop, and R&B or for anyone who wants to level up their listening experience with audiophile quality while staying current with the latest trends in music. This also includes access to over 100 million tracks, their original editorial content, and offline listening modes.

Resso: A Social Music Streaming App

After recognizing a track, it links users to platforms like Apple Music or Spotify to stream the full song. With a massive library of Chinese and international songs, it offers features like live karaoke, music videos, and artist interactions. QQ Music, launched by Tencent in 2005, dominates China’s music streaming market. It offers an extensive library, high-quality audio, and personalized recommendations. Launched in 2008, it offers access to thousands of live radio stations alongside curated playlists and podcasts. With high-quality audio streaming and unique lyrics integration, Deezer caters to a global audience.

Can I move my playlists between streaming services?

QQ Music’s integration with Tencent’s ecosystem makes it a preferred choice for users in China. It is celebrated for its Flow feature, which delivers personalized music recommendations. Deezer, launched in 2007, offers a vast library of 90 million songs and supports a variety of devices. Launched in 2000, it uses the Music Genome Project to deliver tailored playlists and stations based on user preferences. It’s renowned for its personalized playlists, curated mixes, and expansive library featuring millions of songs and exclusive podcasts.

Suno – AI Songs & Music Maker

If you need a better free option, TuneMyMusic allows a transfer of up to 500 tracks, while SongShift can be a good shout for Apple users. For most other platform combos, you’ll need a third-party app. However, built-in features are notably absent from major streaming sites. Yes, you absolutely can move playlists between streaming services. But for those who value music videos as central to the streaming experience, YouTube Music stands on its own.

Apple Music has positioned itself as the premium alternative to Spotify, especially for iPhone users. In 2025, Spotify has enhanced its AI capabilities with the introduction of DJ mode, improved podcast integration, and expanded video content.

Apple Music offers the best offline listening experience with lossless audio downloads and no quality compression. Apple Music is better for iPhone users who prioritize audio quality and ecosystem integration. The choice between these music streaming services ranked ultimately depends on your priorities, device ecosystem, and listening preferences. Tidal offers the highest audio quality with HiFi (CD-quality) and Master Quality streams. Tidal offers the highest audio quality with HiFi (CD-quality) and Master Quality streams using MQA technology.

TouchTunes: Control Bar Music

If you’re comfortable committing, you can go with an annual subscription for $10.83/month and save 17% off the normal price. But, if you want to reveal all the details hiding in the music, then a good pair of high-performance speakers or high-end headphones are warranted. For example, cheap earbuds may not reproduce the complete frequency range that a CD-quality file can offer.

What You Need to Consider Before Subscribing to a Music Streaming Service

Qobuz is the service we rely on the most to test high-end audio products and write our reviews. Keep in mind you may have to change the settings in Lunar Capital website each service to access the highest resolution. This goes up to $269.89/year for the Duo plan and $349.99/year for the Family plan.

Anghami, launched in 2012, is the leading music streaming app in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Napster, originally launched in 1999 as a file-sharing service, has evolved into a full-fledged music streaming platform. Its versatility and ease of use make it a standout among the top music streaming apps. IHeartRadio combines live radio, podcasts, and music streaming into a single platform.

The Family Plan aligns with other platforms at $16.99 per month for up to six accounts, while students can enjoy a discounted rate of $5.49 while they study. These ads interrupt the music, but free users still get the benefits of unlimited skips and on-demand playback, while they can also scrub through tracks and replay them whenever desired. Nevertheless, the platform supports lyric-based searches and collaborative playlists, allowing multiple users to contribute, which is perfect if there’s a big road trip or a family get-together coming up. However, like Spotify, YouTube Music isn’t the best for demanding audiophiles due to the sound quality capping out at 256 Kbps AAC. There’s also support for Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio, making this platform particularly appealing to those prioritizing sound quality.

SoundCloud also offers a mix of popular and underground tracks, making it unique among the best music streaming apps. Its seamless integration with Alexa and exclusive features like hands-free listening make it a standout among the best music streaming apps in 2025. This list of the top music streaming apps in 2025 covers the best platforms worldwide. It’s unquestionably the music streaming app with best sound quality for serious audiophiles.

Tidal is the best choice for audiophiles, offering HiFi audio quality up to CD-quality and Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) streams that provide studio-level sound quality. Apple Music’s human-curated approach offers quality but less personalization. The Tidal vs Spotify audio quality debate is even more clear-cut, with Tidal offering significantly superior sound fidelity. In 2025, Apple has doubled down on high-fidelity audio experiences and expanded its classical music offerings with Apple Music Classical as a separate app. Spotify remains the most popular streaming platform globally, offering both free and premium subscription plans. Recent industry reports show Spotify maintaining approximately 31% market share, followed by Apple Music at 15%, and Tidal capturing a growing segment of audiophile users.

Spotify streams at a maximum of 320 Kbps for premium users. Additionally, families and couples also have access to cost-effective subscriptions. The latter of which allows premium users to select and play any song, album, or playlist of their choice without restrictions. Exclusive podcasts and a growing audiobook library

However, Spotify offers the most value with its comprehensive free tier. Spotify wins for personalization, while Apple Music leads in sound quality. Each platform excels in different areas, making them suitable for distinct user types. For users who want to support artists financially, Tidal is the clear winner. Tidal pays approximately $0.0125 per stream, Apple Music around $0.0073, and Spotify roughly $0.0033.

• Audiophiles will also deeply appreciate other features, including Exclusive Mode, which optimizes playback by managing your device’s DAC directly.
• Pricing varies significantly by region, with cheapest music streaming platforms often offering reduced rates in developing markets.
• This list of the top music streaming apps in 2025 covers the best platforms worldwide.
• Choose Apple Music for quality and integration, or Spotify for discovery and free access.
• After recognizing a track, it links users to platforms like Apple Music or Spotify to stream the full song.

When you purchase an eligible Apple device, you can also get 3 months free as well. The free tier is also one of the better options for users who don’t mind ads and want to listen to songs on demand. It’s perfect for fans of Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Dance, with exclusive music videos, documentaries, and live performances. We’ve heard mixed reviews online, so for now, we would recommend you give it a try, but we would definitely not rely on that feature to discover new music.

• Items like wired headphones, high-fidelity speakers, and external DACs can soon add up the costs, but are necessary to fully appreciate these audio formats.
• If you are thinking about becoming a demanding audiophile, you’ll need to add specialized equipment to your birthday wishlist.
• Are you grabbing a solo plan or need family plans or bundle options?
• These platforms have expanded their music library size significantly while improving their recommendation algorithms and cross-platform support.
• Finally, we’ll help you decide which platform best suits your listening habits—whether you’re a hi-fi purist, a playlist power user, or someone who just wants unlimited access to all the music you love.
• But those looking for high-resolution audio should look elsewhere.

Your first and most important consideration is whether the streaming platform you are thinking about offers the music you love. While Spotify offers better social features, Apple Music is the clear winner for sound quality, exclusive releases, and immersive listening experiences. It’s also great for those transitioning from iTunes, as it keeps purchased music accessible alongside streaming content. Fans of FLAC will be happy to access better sound quality in the form of High Definition (HD) music and Ultra HD (Hi-res) music.

You also get other excellent benefits, such as My Discover Mix, which introduces you to new tracks based on your tastes, and My Soundtrack, which plays a mix of familiar and fresh tracks curated for you. For example, you can ask Alexa to “play upbeat music” or “play the song with the lyrics ‘imagine all the people.’” You can also https://lunarcapital.world/ use voice commands such as “Alexa, skip this song” or “Play the next track.” Extensive catalog of over 100 million tracks

Tidal, co-owned by artists, focuses on providing studio-quality audio to its users. YouTube Music, launched in 2018, leverages the power of Google to provide a unique music streaming experience. Each app offers unique features and user experiences, catering to diverse preferences. Music streaming apps have redefined how we experience and interact with music.

Boomplay: Africa’s Leading Music Platform

The standard subscription includes HD (16-bit/44.1 kHz) or Ultra HD audio encoded in FLAC format, delivering lossless audio quality of up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Tidal has a similar pricing structure to other leading music streaming services. Yet it’s not all about the numbers; the platform also delivers exclusive content, such as early access to new releases, live-streamed gigs, and video interviews.

You can also make collaborative playlists with multiple users making contributions, while the “AI DJ” curates playlists based on your listening history. Podcast lovers also get access to Spotify’s exclusive library, which, of course, includes the ever-popular “Joe Rogan Experience.” In addition, the streaming service has now ventured into the world of audiobooks. Spotify is our top choice of streaming platform thanks to its extensive catalog of over 100 million songs ranging from mainstream pop to a comprehensive selection of niche content. Mainstream platforms generally have huge catalogs with something for everyone, from pop music to niche categories. From audiophile-grade quality to endless discovery features, find out which service strikes the right chord with you. Apple Music is the best choice for Apple users and audiophiles who want lossless streaming, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and seamless integration across Apple devices.

If it’s for you, there is the Basic Plan with its one-time payment, or you can opt for Premium or Lifetime plans. Music Premium is included in YouTube Premium subscriptions, plus you get the advantages of ad-free non-music videos, which you can download for offline playback. However, for a few extra bucks per month, you may be better off subscribing to YouTube Premium than YouTube Music Premium.

Additionally, the platform automatically switches to the best available quality, including CD quality, for non-hi-res recordings. This ensures minimal data loss for a listening experience to please even the fussiest music connoisseur. Families of up to six members can enjoy a $16.99 subscription, while students can access a discounted $5.99 plan.