Music streaming services are becoming more popular each year as people succumb to the appeal of having a jukebox of tunes at their fingertips — allowing everyone in the household to set and save their own playlists, listen to music "curated" for a host of different occasions and discover new bands and singers based on your old favorites. Podcasts are a growing segment of these audio streaming platforms with everything from investing tips to health and wellness shows driving listening.
Music streaming services
While the barrier for entry is low — all of these platforms offer a free trial or a free option (with ads) — if you're serious about music and audio streaming, often the best features come with the premium plan.
Moving to a different music subscription platform can seem like hard work, having to start over with your playlists and artist favorites but, depending on the features you're looking for, you could be better off when it comes to price.
Most music subscription sites often run deals and offers throughout the year, especially during Black Friday sales and, for Amazon Music during its Prime Day events. We'll always cover good deals when they pop up so keep an eye out for our coverage.
Spotify
Spotify Spotify Free, $11.99 Individual / $16.99 Duo / $19.99 Family / $5.99 Student, all monthly
Spotify is a music favorite with its easy-to-use app, music discovery and its playlist-building and sharing features. Spotify’s "suggested" feature is popular with users, letting the algorithm do the heavy lifting and serving as a sort of DJ in the palm of your hand. Its price has historically also been part of its appeal. For a long time it was a cheaper option compared to other music streaming options like Apple Music and Tidal. Spotify has raised its prices in recent months though, so it's now the most expensive of the main competitors.
Spotify Free has some of the perks of Spotify Premium, but you can't listen offline, limited to six "skips" an hour and it comes with a side helping of ads.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Amazon Music Unlimited
Amazon Music Unlimited $10.99 / $16.99 Family / $5.99 singe device / $5.99 Student, monthly
Amazon Music Unlimited comes with a great range of music, and you can listen with lossless, high-res, and spatial Audio. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can bag Amazon Music Unlimited for $9.99 per month, saving you $1 per month and $12 over a year. Newer to the service is the addition of Audible, the popular audiobook app. A subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited includes one Audible credit each month you can use on best sellers, new releases or enjoy classics.
Amazon has a free music streaming option that comes with ads, but its free music library is limited.
Apple Music
Apple Music $10.99 Individual / $16.99 Family / $5.99 Student, all monthly
Apple Music has a vast music library, similar to Spotify’s — but it focuses more on trending charts (instead of personal playlists), covering cities from across the globe. Apple Music also acts as a radio player, offering stations from local and national broadcasters as well as a suite of original "Apple Radio" channels. If you have an iPhone or any other iOS product, such as Apple TV, the Apple Music app is pre-installed and simple to use. The streaming giant is known for its great audio quality as it uses Dolby Atmos music.
Apple Music has a free one-month trial for all new customers.
Tidal
Tidal $10.99 Individual / $16.99 Family / $5.49 Student, all monthly
As Tidal was one of the first music streamers to offer high-resolution audio, it is a go-to platform for audiophiles and the music creator community. Its appeal for subscribers is high-quality lossless audio formats (HiRes FLAC and Dolby Atmos) and integration with audio hardware.
In keeping with its focus on audio fans and artists — whether pros, semi-pros or hobbyists — Tidal has an extra subscription package, the $9 a month "DJ Extension" that allows subscribers to remix songs, videos and audio tracks from its music library.
Tidal offers a free 30-day trial for all new customers.
The bottom line
Most music streaming services offer you a free trial to help you become acclimated to their platform. Not only is it a risk-free way to try out something new, you have the flexibility to find the right fit, with no money out of your pocket.
Related Content
-
Higher Summer Costs: Tariffs Fuel Inflation in JuneTariffs Your summer holiday just got more expensive, and tariffs are partially to blame, economists say.
-
Don’t Miss Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Ready to save? Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
The Anti-Prime Day Deals Guide to Everyday Essentials Worth Stocking Up on at Walmart, Target and Sam's ClubSkip Amazon and shop these anti-Prime Day deals at Walmart, Target or Sam's Club to save on all of your household essentials.
-
Last Chance to Shop These Under-$100 Prime Day Deals for a Smarter, Safer Home: Ring Doorbells, Nest Thermostats, Leak Detectors and MoreThese under-$100 Prime Day deals on Ring, Blink, Nest and other top smart home brands are disappearing after today.
-
Forget Prime Day: Top Walmart Anti-Prime Deals You Can't MissWalmart Deals runs through July 13, giving shoppers two extra days compared to Amazon Prime. Here are the best anti-Prime deals to consider.
-
46 Anti-Prime Day Tech Deals You Should Get from Best Buy's Black Friday in July Sale InsteadApple, Blink, Garmin, Samsung and more leading tech brands are on sale at Best Buy's competing Prime Day sale this week.
-
These Prime Day Deals Also Qualify for Disappearing Tax CreditsThere are many items for sale during Amazon Prime Day that help make your home more energy efficient and can apply towards tax credits that will expire soon.
-
Here's Why Walmart Deals is Better Than Amazon Prime DayWith sales for Walmart Deals and Amazon Prime Day running comparable on price, one factor separates them.
-
Walmart Takes on Prime Day with Competing July Deals EventWalmart is launching its own multiday sales event to rival Amazon Prime Day — and it could be a smart time to shop, even if you're not a member.
-
Last-Minute FSA or HSA-Eligible Amazon Prime Day Deals to Get Before They're GoneToday's your last chance to double down on savings by taking advantage of these FSA or HSA-eligible Prime Day deals. Save on the Oura Ring, Shark air purifiers, baby gear and more.
