Apple Music Alternatives: 4 Best Music Streaming in 2025
Exploring alternatives to Apple Music? Compare pricing, features, and benefits of the top 4 music streaming to find your perfect match.
Quick Comparison
| Service | Starting Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Music(Current) | $10.99/mo | Apple device users | 9/10 |
| Spotify | $10.99/mo | Music discovery enthusiasts | 8/10 |
| Tidal | $10.99/mo | Audiophiles with quality audio equipment | 6/10 |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | $10.99/mo | Amazon Prime members | 9/10 |
| YouTube Premium | $13.99/mo | Heavy YouTube users | 7/10 |
About Apple Music
Apple Music offers 100 million songs with lossless audio, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and seamless integration with Apple devices.
Why People Look for Apple Music Alternatives
While Apple Music is popular, many users seek alternatives due to:
- No free tier available
- Best experience requires Apple devices
- Discovery features weaker than Spotify
- Some find interface less intuitive
Best Apple Music Alternatives
1. Spotify
Spotify is the world's most popular music streaming service with over 100 million songs, podcasts, and personalized playlists.
Pricing
Pros
- •Largest music library (100M+ songs)
- •Excellent personalized playlists and discovery
- •Strong podcast library
Cons
- •Audio quality lower than some competitors
- •No lossless audio option
- •Ads on free tier can be disruptive
Best For
2. Tidal
Tidal is a high-fidelity music streaming service offering lossless audio, Master Quality recordings, and better artist compensation.
Pricing
Pros
- •Best-in-class audio quality (HiFi Plus with MQA)
- •Lossless FLAC streaming on standard tier
- •Higher artist payouts than competitors
Cons
- •HiFi Plus tier expensive ($19.99/month)
- •Smaller music library than Spotify
- •Limited free tier
Best For
3. Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music Unlimited offers 100 million songs with HD and Ultra HD streaming, spatial audio, and deep Alexa integration.
Pricing
Pros
- •HD and Ultra HD audio at no extra cost
- •Spatial audio included
- •Discount for Prime members ($10.99 vs $11.99)
Cons
- •Interface less polished than competitors
- •Music discovery weaker than Spotify
- •Requires Prime for best pricing
Best For
4. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium offers ad-free YouTube videos, YouTube Music access, background play, and offline downloads across all your devices.
Pricing
Pros
- •Ad-free YouTube experience
- •Includes YouTube Music Premium
- •Background play on mobile
Cons
- •More expensive than music-only services
- •Lower audio quality than competitors (256kbps)
- •No lossless audio option
Best For
How to Choose the Best Apple Music Alternative
When evaluating Apple Music alternatives, consider:
- Budget: Compare monthly and annual pricing across services
- Features: Ensure the alternative meets your needs
- Compatibility: Check device and platform support
- Trial Period: Test before committing to a subscription
- Cancellation Policy: Understand how easy it is to cancel
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