I have spent many nights searching for the best music streaming apps. Are you also searching for the best music app that provides the best sound for long drives and party nights? Stop your music app hunt here and start reading this blog for an all-in-one solution to your problem.
Here, I have brought some of the best music apps for audiophiles and music lovers. Dive in to find the best one based on your requirements and budget.
What Features are Required in Music Apps?
Some of the features that I examine to choose among the list of the best music apps are their sound quality, library size, features, shuffle, pricing, and more.
- Audio Quality: Hi-res streaming, 320kbps or above, clear music delivery.
- Recommendation: This feature recommends the latest songs based on your liked genre.
- Music Library: A vast music library helps in listening to less popular songs.
- Pricing: Affordable and easy to access.
- Playlist: Option to make playlists of your favorite songs for quick access.
- Shuffling: A feature to shuffle the songs based on your mood and preference.
- Offline Mode: Downloading feature for areas with less network coverage.
Best Music Streaming Apps in North America
Explore the list of best music streaming apps with free trials and affordable pricing. Here, I have mentioned apps for both Android and iOS users. Take a look at the features, pros and cons, and pricing of each music app.
Spotify
Spotify is a Sweden-based music streaming service. It is operational in over 180 regions and has 761 million monthly active users. It is accessible on both desktop and mobile.
Pros
- You can create your own music playlist.
- Playlist sharing is another useful feature to share with your loved ones and friends.
- Supports high music quality.
- 3 months free trial (but doesn’t provide with advance feature).
- Playlist based on your favourite genre and singers.
Cons
- Music quality lags behind some of the best rival companies.
- Ads in the free pack can be irritating.
- Limited shuffling accessibility.
Pricing
It provides 4 plans. You can use it according to your needs and budget. Take a look at its various plans with the help of the table below.
| Plans | Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Individual | Free trial for 3 months Limited shuffling Creating playlists Downloading option | $12.99 per month after 3 months of free trial |
| Premium Duo | Listen together or seListen together or separately Unlimited skips Ad-free experience | $18.99 per month for 2 users |
| Premium Family | Listen together or separately Specific account child Offline music Up to 6 accounts Unlimited skips | $21.99/month for 6 users |
| Premium Student | Millions of songs Ad-free experience Playlist sharing Podcasts Unlimited skips and shuffle | Free for one month, after that $6.99/month |
Amazon Music
Amazon is an American-based company. It provides 100 million songs. You can start a free trial for a month before purchasing. It is accessible on different devices like desktops, computers, and mobile devices.
Pros
- Strong audio quality with 24-bit/192kHz.
- Best for Amazon members.
- Support Alexa and smart home setups.
- Clear interface for selective listening.
- Provide an ad-free experience.
- It provides an HD and ultra-HD music experience.
Cons
- The free plan provides basic listening.
- No downloading option is available.
- Need to sign in on devices to listen to music
Pricing
Here we will take a look at the different pricing options available for you to choose the best according to your needs.
| Plans | Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Music Free | Free music listening Shuffle play Limited song skipping | $0/month |
| Amazon Music Prime | You need to make a Prime You need to make a Prime membership to enjoy music Support every music device No offline music | $11.99 / month |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | Support Alexa interaction Song shuffling on demand Ad-free music experience 6 device support | $12.99/month |
Tidal
It is a Norway-based company that started in 2014. Tidal has a music transfer feature, which helps in switching to a new music app. It has a Dolby Atmos feature that brings music to life.
Pros
- Provides Hi-Res FLAC.
- Dolby Atmos features enhance the music listening experience.
- Best for hip hop music and curated content.
- App music transfer feature.
- You can upload your songs also, good for upcoming singers.
- A DJ extension can add more vibes to your party.
Cons
Less range of songs and podcasts available.
High pricing range compared to other music streaming apps.
Pricing
Here, take a look at the various features provided under each pricing. It has plans for different needs.
| Plans | Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | HiRes FLAC Dolby Atmos Ad-free Offline listening Personalized mixes Editorial playlists | Quotation required |
| Family | Everything in the individual plan Accessible for up to 6 family members Dedicated content for children | Contact Sale |
| Student | 50% off for students Ad-free music listening Offline listening The DJ Extension can be added as an add-on | Quotation required |
Apple Music
Its interface is relatable to YouTube Music. It is best for Apple users. Apple Music has a huge music library of 100 million songs. It is accessible for all Apple devices.
Pros
- Has excellent sound quality.
- You can create your own playlist.
- An artist-specific playlist is useful for listening to songs of a particular genre or artist.
- Easy integration to different Apple ecosystem.
- Provides a one-month free trial.
Cons
- Not accessible for non-Apple users.
- Interface feels clustered.
- Free plans come with ads.
Pricing
It provides three plans for individuals, families, and students. Every plan comes with a free trial for one month.
| Plans | Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Ad-free experience Offline listening Songs downloading Spatial Audio Lossless audio quality Works on every device, iOS, Android, Windows, and Smart TV. | $10.99/month |
| Family | Everything in the Individual plan. Accessible for 5 users Each account with different music library | $16.99/month |
| Student | Everything in the Individual plan Free access to Apple TV Special discount for students | $5.99/month |
YouTube Music
YouTube Music is an American company. It was launched in 2015. It offers songs with videos. Subscribers can turn off the screen and still listen to songs; the free version doesn’t provide this feature.
Pros
- It has a huge library of music.
- Different versions of the songs by different artists are available.
- It claims that it has over 100 million songs in its library.
- Self-generated playlist based on your repetitive songs.
- Abruption-free music experience.
Cons
- Good sound quality, but not for audiophiles.
- The recommendation is not reliable.
- Playlists are not genre-specific.
Pricing
It offers 3 plans, the same as most of the music apps. Pricing may differ from country to country.
| Plans | Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Ad-free music Auto-generated playlist Access to a vast music library Offline listening | $11.99 per month |
| Family | Same as the Individual plan. Up to 5 family members can use Separate account for kids under 13 years | $18.99 per month |
| Student | Same features as the Individual plan Discounted price for students One month free trial | $5.99 per month |
Wrapping Up
Still confused which one you should choose? The above-stated 5 apps are the best music streaming apps in North America. Selecting the one depends on your needs and requirements. If you are looking for an app that can be accessible on every device of your family members, YouTube Music is the best. But if your goal is for the individual user, then other options like Spotify and Tidal are more useful.
Note: Remember, these prices are according to the current details available on their official sites, and they can change based on your location and offers.
