Alternatives to Spotify
The streaming default with unmatched playlists
Spotify ranks #2 of 10 in Music streaming, with an Alt Score of 78. It is proprietary, freemium from $12.99/month and available on Web, iOS and Android. 9 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Anyone who wants on-demand access to music, podcasts, and audiobooks — from casual listeners on the free ad-supported tier to those who want offline, ad-free listening on Premium.
A catalog of tens of millions of songs plus podcasts and audiobooks, streamable on demand or through algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix. The free tier is ad-supported with some playback limits (e.g., shuffle-only on mobile for some content); Premium adds ad-free listening, offline downloads, and unlimited skips. Users can create and share their own playlists or follow ones made by Spotify and other users.
Sign up with an email, Google, Facebook, or Apple account, then search or browse for artists, tracks, podcasts, or audiobooks to play instantly. The app builds recommendations from listening history and lets users save tracks, build playlists, and sync playback across phone, desktop, web, and connected devices like speakers or game consoles.
Why people leave Spotify
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Spotify compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Music streaming checklist | Spotify | Deezer | YouTube Music | Amazon Music | Apple Music | Pandora |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Lossless / hi-res tier | ||||||
| Free tier with ads | ||||||
| Offline downloads | ||||||
| Family plan | ||||||
| Artist payout reputation | ||||||
| Podcasts included | ||||||
| Music videos | ||||||
| Lyrics | ||||||
| Import playlists from competitors | ||||||
| Web player |
Every fact and feature listed for Spotify is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
Play millions of songs and podcasts for free
https://www.spotify.com/us/free/ -
Starts at $12.99/month verified 2026-07-11
$12.99 / month after
https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/ -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
The Spotify software applications and the Content are licensed, not sold or transferred to you, and Spotify and its licensors retain ownership of all copies of the Spotify software applications and Co
https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/end-user-agreement/ -
Platforms Web, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
Spotify is available on desktop, mobile, tablet, TVs, cars, watches and more!
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/download-the-spotify-player/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Now, music videos in beta are rolling out to Premium users in the U.S. and Canada, bringing fans even closer to the music they love.
https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-12-09/music-videos-beta-premium-us-canada/ -
Lossless / hi-res tier Partial verified 2026-07-11
stream tracks in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC
https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-09-10/lossless-listening-arrives-on-spotify-premium-with-a-richer-more-detailed-listening-experience/ -
Free tier with ads Yes verified 2026-07-11
Ad-free music listening
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/premium-individual/ -
Offline downloads Yes verified 2026-07-11
On Premium, you can download albums, playlists, and podcasts.
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/listen-offline/ -
Family plan Yes verified 2026-07-11
Premium Family is a discounted plan for up to 6 family members who live together, including the plan manager.
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/family-plan/ -
Podcasts included Yes verified 2026-07-11
Play millions of songs and podcasts for free
https://www.spotify.com/us/free/ -
Music videos Partial verified 2026-07-11
Now, music videos in beta are rolling out to Premium users in the U.S. and Canada, bringing fans even closer to the music they love.
https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-12-09/music-videos-beta-premium-us-canada/ -
Lyrics Yes verified 2026-07-11
See the lyrics of many of your favorite tracks as they're sung.
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/lyrics/ -
Import playlists from competitors Partial verified 2026-07-11
We've partnered with Tune My Music to help you move your music right within the Spotify app.
https://support.spotify.com/pw/article/importing-your-playlists-to-spotify/ -
Web player Yes verified 2026-07-11
Play Spotify from the comfort of your browser on our web player.
https://support.spotify.com/us/article/web-player-help/
FAQ
Yes. Deezer, YouTube Music and Amazon Music have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.