14 Spotify Alternatives for Listening to Fabulous Music

My 250 CD collection was stolen shortly after college. That was quite some time ago.

Now losing a music collection isn’t a concern since music is all streamed any time and anywhere and anything.

I think Spotify and its alternatives are amazing. We have a premium Spotify account as well as Apple Music. I love them both. I’ve yet to look for a song that’s not on either.

However, Spotify and Apple Music aren’t the only options. There are several other options. As a big music listener, I’m always trying out new music sources. Here are 14 to check out.

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1. Pandora

Pandora may be the best among the Spotify alternatives, particularly because of its unique method for recommending songs. The application analyzes over 2,000 traits in your musical choices to choose songs to add to your playlists, while also providing information that tells you why each song was chosen. Over time, this system helps Pandora create the ideal station for each user.

Pros

Uses a “thumbs up” or “Thumbs down” system to identify your musical tastes
Over 800,000 tracks ensures anyone will find a station to their liking
Features a free or premium service

Cons

The free version features frequent advertisements
The free version plays songs at a 128 kpbs bitrate, while the premium service provides a 192 kbps bitrate
Artists are paid less, so some artists may not be available

2. SoundCloud

SoundCloud is another service that tries to cater to your tastes by analyzing your preferences. It offers recommendations for new songs, which are based on whatever song you’re currently listening to in the app. Additionally, listeners can subscribe to their favorite artists, so they’ll be informed of news and upcoming releases.

Pros

Lets you follow other listeners with similar tastes
Explore tab shows trending new music by genre
Newer labels release music here first

Cons

User interface needs improving
Trouble receiving notifications
Only the premium version is ad-free

3. Deezer Music

Deezer Music is also a streaming app that’s growing in popularity with access in more than 182 countries. The service is also growing in terms of content, boasting over 40 million songs in its vast library.

Pros

Displays the lyrics for any song in play
Available in a variety of modes, including Windows, Mac, and most mobile devices
The premium service, aka Elite Service, offers CD quality sounds

Cons

Tends to skip songs occasionally
Free version plays music at a lower quality
Cuts songs early instead of playing through the final chords

4. Last.fm

Last.fm wants to be your last choice in streaming service, so they go a step further by analyzing the songs you listen to most often. Based on that information, they select similar songs that may appeal to you. It works as an app on a variety of mobile devices and can also be accessed with a computer and internet connection.

Pros

Keeps track of your music preferences (Scrobbles) for better selections
Accesses multiple platforms and third-party apps to provide better service
Free

Cons

Low audio quality
Lacks some basic features
No live content

5. 8 Tracks

8 Tracks provides a more personalized experience, which it does through lists curated by users. Instead of an automated algorithm, 8 Tracks relies on other users to provide a personal feel.

Pros

Easily find users who share your interests
Discover new artists within your preferred genres
Create your own playlists

Cons

Service outside North America is limited
Unable to skip songs in playlists
Users aren’t able to search for specific songs

6. Tidal

Featuring a 1,411Kbps bit rate, Tidal offers one of the highest quality sounds of all streaming services. This is a premium service that pays artists more for each play, so users can find almost any song they want and listen to it at CD quality.

Pros

Built-in audio search feature
University students can receive a 50% discount
High quality sounds that make the premium-only service worthwhile

Cons

No free version
Buffering can take up to 10 seconds, before a song plays
Smaller music library limits what can be played

7. Slacker Radio

Slacker Radio is another service curated by real people, instead of relying solely on computer algorithms. The difference here is that the people curating playlists aren’t just users. Professional DJs help determine which songs should be included in the stations available on Slacker Radio.

Pros

Professionally curated stations makes music flow more organic
Large library to appeal to any taste
A three tier subscription service, including a free version

Cons

Frequent ads on the free version
Embedded social media posts distract from the user experience
Lower sound quality in free version

8. Groove Music

Among the most expansive Spotify alternatives, Groove Music offers more than 40 million songs in its library. Additionally, it can be accessed via a desktop or mobile device, allowing users to sign into the service from anyplace.

Pros

Integrates with OneDrive, so users can upload their own music
An updated interface creates a better user experience
If the service is missing a song, users can file a request to have it added

Cons

Does not provide song lyrics
The apps aren’t integrated with social media platforms
Sound is delivered at a slightly lower bitrate

9. Clementine

Clementine makes use of data analytics to create smart playlists for each user. By identifying the genres, artists, and songs you listen to most frequently, the service tailors music selection to fit your tastes. Additionally, search features are enhanced, allowing users to locate specific songs and add them to their playlists.

Pros

Supports multiple services, including Spotify
Offers an easy to use interface
An equalizer and format conversion tool make it easier for users to improve sound quality

Cons

Default settings are very basic, so users may need to tweak the app’s features
Takes time to learn the system, due to a lack of support documentation
Can draw too much power, which can cause mobile devices to run slowly

10. Resonic

The Resonic player is a newer service, which is still in beta and may need additional updates in the future. It relies on low memory usage to provide a faster and more efficient experience, while providing a one-click feature that makes it easy to add songs to a playlist.

Pros

The user interface is simple and easy to figure out for new users
Features a waveform seekbar and enhanced visualizations
Supports all file formats for easier integration

Cons

No method of recommending new music
No user curated playlists
Its limited features may not appeal to advanced users

11. YouTube Music

While it was limited in earlier incarnations, the latest version of YouTube Music offers much more for users. It’s currently available in more than 1q7 countries, making it a more versatile version of the app. Additionally, it utilizes Google AI technology to help build customized playlists for each user.

Pros

Accesses the main YouTube site for more content
Available in both free and premium services
Accessible via multiple devices

Cons

Free version features frequent advertisements
The app stops working once the screen turns off
Browser version may not be available in all countries

12. MusicUp

MusicUp is an entirely free to use application that boasts all of the same content as Spotify. You can either create your own private playlists, or you can collaborate with other users on building public playlists.

Pros

It is completely free to use
You can download playlists from YouTube
Album art is automatically downloaded

Cons

Lacks its own library, relying on other services for content
No premium version
Users can’t download music

13. Musique

Musique relies on a simplified user interface to maximize the experience, which may be its greatest feature. By eliminating the clutter found on similar user interfaces, the Musique app lets users find the information they need more quickly. A player queue shows the songs in the current playlist, while also making it easy to add, remove, or reorder songs.

Pros

Free to use
Easy to switch between playlists, even in different genres
Can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems

Cons

Meta data doesn’t distinguish between album artist and track artist
Music queues can’t be saved for future use
Controls in Linux apps are buggy

14. iTunes / Apple Music

Finally, there’s the iTunes app/Apple Music, which provides services based on user tastes and experiences. Users can select a number of different criteria for building their own customized playlists, while the Genius algorithm can be used to build a playlist around a single song.

Pros