Gone are the days of records, tapes, and CDs, along with the difficulty of accessibility in the world of music. But with all of the streaming services available today, the convenience of digital music has almost become a challenge. How do you know which music streaming service is best for you? We’ve researched the top three services we think you’ll love; all you have to do is read our reviews to see which one knows you best.
Apple Music
Even the most loyal Spotify users have tested the waters of Apple Music, as this latest streaming service is quite in vogue and fashionably compatible with Apple products. A catalog of 30 million songs for a $9.99 per month rate made Apple Music’s offer equivalent to that of Spotify, but the service needed something else in order to rival the proven master of music streaming.
Once again, we find Apple doing what only Apple can do: implementing Siri into its music service. By connecting Siri to your Apple Music library, you can ask your iPhone to play anything, from a certain artist or album to something as specific as “the top songs from 1993.”
With its sleek presentation and Apple-friendly features, it’s no question that Apple Music is made for iPhone users, although it is also offered for Android and Windows devices. For all of the iPhone fans looking for a music streaming service that is fresh, innovative, and easy to use, Apple Music is the perfect choice.
Spotify
If you’re all about connecting with new music and new friends, then Spotify is the service for you. This is perhaps the most well-known streaming service due to its famed over 30-million track catalog, yet what makes it stand out from Apple Music’s catalog of a similar size is its focus on networking—for music curation and social sharing. Each day on Spotify’s homepage, you can find the latest music and newest artists, as well as a variety of playlists for every taste. You can also browse through the top tracks in your location, as well as those in other parts of the world.
Of course, you’ll want to share these new tracks with your friends, which is why Spotify allows listeners to follow their Facebook friends. This is just one of the many social features of Spotify, making it the reigning champion of social music streaming. As for the price, it’s the same as Apple Music: $9.99 per month.
Pandora
While Apple Music and Spotify subscribers range between 20 and 30 million, Pandora has kept its 80 million users even with the latest streaming services entering the race. As the first service to implement personalized recommendations for custom playlists, it remains the cultural go-to for randomized music to set the soundtrack for the day. Since its launch in 2000, Pandora has continued to be one of the best options for free streaming with availability across a wide range of devices.
Although it has far fewer songs than Apple Music and Spotify, its premium rate of $4.99 per month is about half of the competitors pricing. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to provide background music, whether you’re cooking in the kitchen or on a road trip, Pandora is a cheap and carefree way to provide for your streaming needs.
Whether you’re an iPhone idolizer, an on-trend music lover, or just someone in the mood for a custom playlist, one of these three services will be a great option for you. Each streaming service has its unique features that make it stand out from the rest, and with comparable rates and all three providing free offers, there’s no wrong answer. You’ll just want to make your decision based on how you desire to incorporate music into your lifestyle.
