Music streaming services - comparative rating of the best (2020)

There is only one artist, and you can listen to it through 100500 services! We tested 9 of them on one track list and rated each one according to 15 parameters! Among them are usability, sound quality and price. Read what happened, and write in the comments what to add to the article!

If you come across unfamiliar terms, see their explanation in our Dictionary of incomprehensible words, which you will find at the end of the article.

In this material

The best chips of different streaming, a comparison of their characteristics and a dictionary of incomprehensible words at the very bottom of the article.

Apple Music, YouTube, VK (Boom), Yandex.Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Deezer, Tidal, Zvooq.

For those in a hurry:

If you do not need details, see a brief “squeeze” from the results of our testing. For those who are interested in understanding the music streaming services and see a detailed comparison of their characteristics, there is a detailed table at the bottom of the article.

Apple Music

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Friendly ecosystem, a popular brand. The service was launched in 2015, but it only took a couple of years to get around the streaming king - Spotify - in terms of the number of users. How? Everything is simple! Spotify does not release “hardware” on which you can listen to music! =)

Register Apple Music

Registration from Apple devices is not required (if you already have an Apple ID), the service is installed on them by default. But with Android, the application clearly does not like to work. You can enter, of course, only through the Apple ID, registration is not always possible the first time, while the service sometimes slows down and crashes. To use the program on a PC, you will need to download and install iTunes . Then you need to create an account or log in with your existing one. The interface is convenient, it is quite easy to understand it.

Free version and subscription Apple Music

The first three months you can use the free trial, then from a bank card (it will have to be tied to the service, this is a prerequisite) they will start to withdraw 169 rubles per month. The family tariff for 6 people is 269 rubles, and if you are a student and are registered in the domain of your university, you can pay only 75 rubles. You can also simply write to tech support by attaching a student photo.

In addition to the welcome three months at Apple Music you will not find a freebie - the ability to listen to music in free mode is not here.

Pros and Cons of Apple Music

➕ 60 million tracks (stated in the catalog);

➕ a lot of songs in English for children is a useful function not only for parents who want to teach their children this language, but also for all learners: children's foreign songs are very easy to hear and remember;

➕ many children's songs in other foreign languages, with lyrics ;

➕ Apple AAC native audio format with a bit rate of 256 kbps. The quality corresponds to 320 kbps MP3 codec;

➕ some compositions of certain artists are available exclusively in Apple Music , as the apple company likes to enter into exclusive contracts with artists;

➕ there is censorship - without special permission in the settings you will not be able to listen to songs in which there are “unprintable” words;

➕ social network function “Connect” - allows you to follow the news of artists and curators, share your favorite music with friends;

➕ the ability to download tracks to the device and listen offline;

➕ automatic selections of promising new artists of your favorite genre;

➕ video clips of hits of different decades and contemporary performers;

➕ playlists based on user preferences;

➕ lack of advertising;

➖ there is no decent web version, you need to install iTunes , which is quite heavy and in some cases can greatly slow down the operation of non-Apple devices;

➖ meager equalizer in the mobile version , few settings;

➖ poor compatibility with Android devices , although this is a minus only for users of this OS.

Who should use Apple Music

For users of devices from Apple Music. This music streaming service blends perfectly and syncs with all apple devices.

If you teach children foreign languages, then Apple Music has a wide selection of children's songs in English, French and other languages.

YouTube Premium

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A universal streaming service from Google , created as a result of the merger of several programs - Google Play Music, YouTube Music and YouTube Red.

YouTube Premium Registration

Android OS users just need to go into the application, which is on the device by default, and subscribe. When entering from the browser, you need to create a Google account, if it is not already there, then select the option “Try for free” on the main page of the service. To complete the registration, you will be prompted to link a bank card, with which the cost of a monthly subscription will begin to be charged off at the end of the trial period.

On iOS, you need to download the YouTube Premium application, create a Google account in it and, as in the web version, add information about your bank card.

Free Version and YouTube Premium Subscription

The user is given 1 month to explore and test all the benefits of the YouTube Premium app. Those who signed up immediately after the launch of the service were lucky to receive three free months. If during the test use you managed to fall in love with the music service from Google, then issue an individual subscription for 199 rubles / month.

At the family rate, you can connect up to six people and pay 299 rubles a month for this - a total of 50 rubles. from each. It turns out quite inexpensive for unlimited listening to music and watching videos without ads.

YouTube Premium Benefits

➕ a large collection of music ;

➕ viewing any videos on the YouTube platform without ads ;

➕ access to exclusive series and feature films ;

➕ the ability to save audio and video through the YouTube app to watch or listen to them offline. Downloaded content will be available within a month;

➕ background playback of music, videos and films ;

➕ easy access from any devices and operating systems;

➕ creation of automatic collections within the framework of the user's favorite genres;

➕ curated playlists (composed by reputable music experts);

➖ the work of algorithms for automatic selection of compositions so far leaves much to be desired;

➖ a short period of a free trial compared, for example, with Apple Music.

Who Should Use YouTube Premium

To all adherents of Google products, as well as to lovers of not only good music, but also movies.

VK Music (Boom)

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This streaming service is based on the music content of the social network VKontakte and repeats a set of options for its audio section.

Register VK Music (Boom)

You can install the application through the virtual stores Google Play or the App Store , and enter through your VKontakte or Odnoklassniki account. If you do not have a personal page on any of these resources, you will be asked to go through a simple registration directly in the application. Or you can first do it on the site of one of the two social networks, then go to VK Music (Boom).

Background playback - play music or video when the streaming application is minimized or the device’s display is turned off.

Free version and subscription VK Music (Boom)

The service can be used without paying anything. But at the same time there are various restrictions that actually deprive the application of any value. For example, you cannot listen to music in the background and download tracks to your device. In addition, you have to constantly listen to ads.

A trial version is offered to the user for 30 days. Paid subscription costs 149 rubles per month. To issue it, go to the application settings and select the option to change the tariff plan. You can cancel your subscription there.

Pros and cons of Vkontakte Music

➕ a huge number of compositions, among which there are rare records and original remakes;

➕ there is a timer for disconnecting music ;

➕ the ability to download tracks to the device and listen to them without an Internet connection;

➕ automatic saving to VK Music (Boom) of songs added to their audio recordings on the pages of VK and Odnoklassniki;

➕ access to music lists of VKontakte friends and communities;

➕ the ability to publish on the wall of a personal page or send collections and albums from your collection in a message, as well as broadcast songs to VK profile status;

➕ function of auto-selection of music according to user preferences;

➕ creating your own playlists;

➖ the difference in sound quality and volume of tracks following one after another;

➖ many repeating songs ;

➖ no preferential rates ;

➖ there is no search function for full albums (you can create a request only for a specific artist or track);

➖ there is no full synchronization of the application with the VK (songs added to Boom are not saved in the social network playlist);

➖ not too friendly interface in comparison with competitors.

Who should use VK Music

Lovers of unique compositions and those who often listen to their own playlists in Odnoklassniki and VKontakte. However, the service will suit only music lovers who do not mind collections with repeating songs and easily get used to the not very convenient interface.

Yandex.Music Service

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This music streaming service boasts a very high-quality music library of Russian artists.

Registration in Yandex.Music

The application can be installed from the web version of Yandex.Music for Windows, Android and iOS. The last two options are also available on Google Play and the App Store. Create an account on the Yandex main page or register using one of the social networks: Twitter, VKontakte, My World, Google, Odnoklassniki, Facebook.

To just listen to music through this service, it is not necessary to create an account (only for the web version). But registration allows you to save your own collections, get recommended ones, share music with friends and have access to their collections.

Free version and subscription to Yandex.Music

The paid version of the application has significant advantages: the user gets access to downloading tracks to a mobile device and can forget about advertising. Music is played in high quality: the subscription bitrate is 320 Kbps, while with free use the transfer speed is only 192 Kbps.

A trial version that fully complies with the paid version is available for three months. Then they will start shooting at 169 rubles a month.

Pros and cons of Yandex.Music

➕ very low traffic consumption ;

➕ There is a family subscription for 299 rubles per month for 4 people.

➕ buns from other Yandex services (discounts on taxis and additional free space on Yandex.Disk) and from partners (films without ads on “KinoPoisk”, free delivery in the “I take” marketplace when ordering from 500 rubles or more);

➕ option to place the player with its audio on other resources ;

➕ the service continues to play music even when the playlist is over - the selection is created automatically from tracks of the same genre based on the user's personal collection;

➕ the largest collection of compositions by domestic artists and an extensive media library as a whole (about 60 million songs);

➕ the function of downloading your tracks that are not in the application library is available;

➕ there is an option to transfer finished playlists via a link from one account [3] to another;

➕ synchronization of the web version with the mobile application;

➕ integration with social networks LastFM, VKontakte, Facebook and connection to Deezer music streaming, if you have an account;

➕ many ways to pay for a subscription and authorization options in the service;

➕ you can create your own playlists, choose from a huge number of existing ones and save songs to your phone;

➕ personal recommendations not only on the genre, but also on the mood;

➕ a large library of texts of Russian songs;

➖ caching at a low level - if there is no connection, only the current composition is saved;

➖ meager media library of foreign performers ;

➖ When using the free version, advertising and subscription offers will lurk you everywhere.

Who should use Yandex.Music

Music lovers who value good sound at an affordable price. To lovers of domestic music. To users of Windows operating systems. In the end, those who just want to have quick access to music without spending time registering or authorizing.

What else is known about Yandex.Music:

12 countries of presence

15 million active listeners

20 million monthly audience on different platforms

60 million tracks

90,000 episodes and 1,400 podcast titles

Spotify music

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The former leader in the music streaming niche is still one of the best services in many respects. True, in Russia it is not available. To register in it, you need to pretend to be a resident of another country using the VPN network. After that, Spotify will be available without using a VPN.

How to register for Spotify music

Instruction Follow the link and download the Opera browser with built-in VPN . Install the program. When the browser opens, go to settings. Go to the bottom of the settings page and click "Advanced". Scroll to the VPN block.

After connecting to the VPN, go to the Spotify web version page and select the “Get Spotify free” option to get a free trial subscription. Then you need to fill out the standard registration form, and you're done!

Installing on smartphones is a little more difficult, since you will not find this application on Google Play and the App Store for Russia. Apple owners will have to register in the US version of the App Store, and Android fans will have to download an APK (Android Package Kit) file, for example, from here .

Free version and subscription Spotify

You can use the service without payment for an indefinite period, but with limitations: a low bitrate of 160 Kbps, advertising, few curated playlists. In a mobile application, you can’t download tracks to a smartphone, select a specific song in the list, and you can only skip after 6 songs in an hour.

A trial version with all the benefits of a paid version is available for 30 days. To connect to it, you need to select the option “Try Premium”. However, after the grace period has elapsed, you will be able to pay for a subscription only from an American PayPal account or gift card service (Gift Card Spotify Premium). A regular fare costs $ 10, a student one costs 5, and a family one costs $ 15. per month for six people.

Pros and Cons of Spotify

➕ media library of more than 30 million songs ;

➕ there is a family rate and student subscription ;

➕ a nice spot for running fans Spotify Running ;

➕ good sound quality : in premium access 320 Kbps in Ogg Vorbis format (higher than MP3);

➕ very accurate algorithms for selecting songs according to user preferences;

➕ integration with PlayStation, Facebook social network, SoundHound and Shazam services;

➕ the service works quickly with any OS and almost all devices;

➕ no ads;

➕ functionality of a full-fledged music social network;

➕ access to listening to music online in free mode;

➕ the ability to save tracks on your phone and listen without an Internet connection;

➕ Thousands of curated playlists that are created every day, and weekly Discover Weekly - a carefully crafted selection of new artists to the user's tastes from music experts;

➕ you can share your collection with friends, see what they are listening to, and create shared sheets;

➖ the application does not officially work in Russia - hence the various difficulties with registration, payment and use in general;

➖ a rather expensive subscription, when compared with competitors officially working in the Russian market.

Who is Spotify for?

Admirers of the Spotify brand, who are ready to overcome any difficulties for the sake of this streaming service.

Soundcloud

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This is not just a streaming service, but a real music social network. SoundCloud is more like a cloud for storing audio recordings and a convenient platform for distributing your own music. Almost every Internet user has ever encountered SoundCloud at least once. This service is like YouTube, but not in the video, but in the audio field.

Register SoundCloud

You can use the service for free by going through a simple registration on the official website . To do this, enter your mailing address or log in through your Facebook or Google account.

After completing registration, you will be able to listen to music without restrictions. Users of the free version do not have access to some functions. For example, in a month you can download only up to three hours of audio. You can not turn off comments, pin audio recordings in your profile and see advanced statistics on personal writings. This is more important for performers than for music lovers.

Free version and subscription SoundCloud

If you want to try the full-featured SoundCloud in action, but without payment, you will be given a month for this. Then you need to choose a tariff. SoundCloud

Pro costs $ 8 per month, SoundCloud Pro Unlimited - $ 16.

The advantages of the most expensive subscription: detailed statistics and analytics, the possibility of unlimited download of audio and graphical releases of selected songs.

In Pro, you will receive more meager statistics and will be able to upload only 6 hours of your music.

You can get a discount on both tariffs if you pay the annual cost immediately. Pro in this case will cost $ 72, and Pro Unlimited - $ 144 for 12 months.

Pros and Cons of SoundCloud

➕ a large collection of not only music, but also various podcasts, radio programs, sounds and all kinds of interesting author’s compositions - the library consists of more than 125 million audio recordings ;

➕ cloud storage for downloading your audio files , which are not in the service library;

➕ one of the most popular platforms for music distribution: you can upload your own compositions and receive comments, reviews and recommendations, as well as record your audio online;

➕ some popular bands publish new tracks on SoundCloud before their official release to the masses;

➕ option to place the player with its audio on other resources ;

➕the possibility of annual subscription payment at a discount ;

➕ well-debugged web version, applications for iOS and Android, integration with the Xbox One game console, Sonos audio system and Chromecast player;

➕ users can create communities, subscribe to other people and selected groups;

➕ a real opportunity to contact your favorite artists and idols;

➕ convenient, intuitive interface;

➖ lack of a Russian-language interface ;

➖ not too rich library of popular music ;

➖ not all copyright tracks are laid out in high-quality performance;

➖ the service was founded as a platform for artists and continues to develop primarily taking into account their interests.

Who should use SoundCloud

Professional musicians promoting their work, or talented amateurs who record their own tracks and wish to receive feedback on them. For the creators of their own compositions, this platform is almost perfect.

Deezer

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Music streaming service originally from Paris. Deezer officially works in the Russian market.

Register Deezer

To start using Deezer, you need to register on the main page of the site . If you have a Facebook profile or Google account, you can log in through them. Next, you will be asked to answer a couple of questions about musical preferences in order to most accurately make a selection for the Flow personal playlist.

Without a subscription, you will have to put up with advertising, a limited bitrate (128 Kbps) and the inability to save tracks on the device. You can switch no more than five songs in an hour.

Free version and subscription Deezer

A trial period to evaluate all the benefits of the paid version will be given to you for a month. Then the cost of the tariff will be:

-individual - 169 rubles per month,

-family (up to 6 people) - 255 rubles / month.

For listening to music in high quality lossless (1411 Kbps) will have to pay 339 rubles. It is possible to issue a regular subscription for a year at a discount. It will cost 1,690 rubles. You can pay for the service through PayPal or by credit card.

Pros and Cons of Deezer

➕ rich music library - more than 53 million songs and podcasts;

➕ officially works in the Russian market ;

➕ high-quality bitrate - 320 Kbps ;

➕ low traffic consumption ;

➕ the choice of sound as lossless - 1411 Kbps in the FLAC codec (only for devices that accept this transfer rate);

➕ annual subscription at a reduced price ;

➕ there is a library of lyrics with an interactive line , as in karaoke;

➕ Top Russia playlist, created specifically for Russian music lovers ;

➕ option Flowfor fans to listen to personal collections of unfamiliar tracks mixed with their own collection. Auto-matching algorithms, by the way, are very pleasing to every new song;

➕ selection of playlists and creating your own music lists;

➕ the application works on all devices and OS;

➕ no ads;

➕ the ability to download music and listen without a network;

➕ very convenient and intuitive interface both in the web version and in the mobile application;

➕ an abundance of curatorial and user playlists that you can save in your profile or share them;

➕ integration with social networks Facebook, Twitter and LastFM;

➖ limiting the number of tracks for one playlist to 2000 , although this seems like a drawback only to hard-pressed music lovers;

➖ downloading your music is limited to 700 songs.

Who will suit Deezer

For those who want a lightning fast streaming service that works on any device and operating system. And also for those who appreciate truly high-quality sounding music, who are not sorry to pay extra for it.

Tidal

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This music streaming service provides a unique opportunity for its subscribers to watch the performances of their favorite artists live and in excellent quality. Only, like Spotify, in Russia it is not yet officially available.

Join Tidal

You can log in to Tidal through your Twitter, Facebook account or register if there is neither one or the other. True, there is a special moment: you can create your profile on the service only through the option “Try free” (Start free trial), and you must pre-select your preferred tariff.

After a month, please be kind enough to pay it and enjoy the quality sound of your favorite music. Or cancel your subscription after the trial version and switch to another streaming service, where you can listen to songs for free.

Free version and Tidal subscription

To start using the resource in test mode, you must first choose which tariff you will be ready to pay later. For a Premium subscription, you will be charged $ 9.99 per month, for Hi-Fi (high-quality lossless sound) - 19.99.

For family users, the first option will cost $ 14.99, the second - $ 29.99. There is a tariff for students - for any chosen type of subscription a 50% discount is provided.

You can pay by credit card or through PayPal.

Pros and Cons of Tidal

➕ large music library - 56 million songs (non-repeating);

➕ video library - 230 thousand videos ;

320 bitrate 320 Kbps AAS with a standard subscription (preferably MP3 with the same transfer rate);

Loss lossless sound quality , FLAC / ALAC codecs;

➕ video streaming of live performances of various artists;

➕ co-owners of the service are popular artists (Beyoncé, Calvin Harris, Chris Martin from Coldplay, JAY Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Madonna, Rihanna and others), who sometimes give access to their not yet released creations;

➕ downloading tracks to listen offline;

➕ a lot of curated playlists;

➕ no ads;

➕ Tidal, like SoundCloud, is “imprisoned” for musicians (although only partially), and communication between artists and fans is also well established here;

➕ access to any OS from all devices;

➖ to subscribe, do not do without a VPN - as is the case with Spotify;

➖ in the free mode you can use the application only a month ;

➖ expensive service in comparison with competitors in the Russian market.

Who will suit Tidal

Lovers of high-quality sound, fans of stellar co-owners. Those who just want to find a good service are willing to pay for it and - if you are from Russia or Ukraine - bother with a VPN (only when registering).

Zvooq

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Domestic music streaming service , which can be used absolutely free of charge without a time limit, but with limited capabilities. True, only through the web version - the mobile application will ask you to pay for a subscription.

Register at Zvooq

You can create a personal profile on the main page of the web version or through the mobile application for iOS and Android. To register an account, there are several options: log in via social networks VKontakte, Facebook, use your mailbox or just specify a phone number.

Free version and Zvooq subscription

When using the service for free, you can only listen to the music that is offered on the main page. You cannot load a song into the device’s memory and switch more than 6 songs in an hour. Also in the “free package” is advertising and the lack of a rewind option.

Signing up for a trial subscription will save you from these difficulties for 30 days. Then the cost of the tariff will be 169 rubles / month. when paying through applications for iOS and Android, and on the site you can buy a subscription for 149 rubles. Mobile operators may have higher prices.

Pros and cons of the Zvooq service

➕ a good assortment of Russian compositions ;

➕ low traffic consumption ;

➕ payment option from a mobile phone account ;

➕ purchase of a separate track or album is available ;

➕ low cost of subscription ;

➕ option “Wave”, which selects music according to user preferences;

➕ subscription to news of groups and individual users (for example, favorite artists);

➕ the ability to bind social networks VKontakte and Facebook;

➕ adding playlists to your own collection;

➕ integration with the Shazam application (for smartphones);

➕ simple interface;

➖ caching at a very low level : after disconnecting the Internet connection, the track will play only 1.5 minutes;

➖ a rather small music library - about 25 million songs (mostly Russian);

➖ there is no equalizer;

➖ weak personal collection algorithms in Wave.

Who will suit Zvooq

Fans of domestic music and those who want to save money - this streaming service has one of the cheapest subscriptions when paying from the site.

The best features of music streaming services

Sound and bitrate: If you want really high-quality sound, use Deezer or Tidal. The bitrate in the FLAC / ALAC format is 1411 Kbps. But for such a pleasure you will have to overpay every month. And do not forget that not every device is suitable for playing audio in such quality and format.

Uniqueness: Boom (VK Music), SoundCloud and Tidal make it possible to listen to very rare and one of a kind compositions. The first two services contain a huge number of copyright remakes, among which are completely original recordings. Tidal boasts a number of “star” owners, whose singles are often available only in this service.

Own collection: Apple Music allows you to upload to the cloud a record number of tracks - as many as 100,000! You can collect all your favorite CDs there to have access to them anywhere. Only some streaming services have such a function, and the volume of songs is limited to a maximum of 50 thousand.

Music for running: Spotify service offers its users the Running option, which is simply designed for joggers with good accompaniment. The application adjusts to the selected running pace and selects the appropriate playlist. A very cool feature for lovers of an active lifestyle.

Online Concerts: Tidal subscribers can enjoy a live broadcast of performances by their favorite musicians when there is no way to get to the concert in person. Moreover, the quality of such video broadcasts is always at the highest level.

Availability: The cheapest options: Zvooq, provided that you pay it directly from the site, or Boom from VKontakte - you can subscribe to one of these services for only 149 rubles / month. But Apple Music has a delicious bun for students, which so far no competitor can boast - the price per month of music for students is only 75 rubles.

Traffic: Yandex.Music showed the best result, spending the least megabytes. Applications were tested on the same playlist with previously cleared cache.

Each music streaming service has both advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one that will be optimal for you! This review is designed to help you make a decision in favor of an application and listen to music with pleasure.

Research results: which music streaming service is better?

According to the results of our testing, gold was divided between Yandex.Music and Deezer. The first service yielded to competitors only in caching, showing rather meager results: when you disconnect the network, you can listen to the current track and that’s it. Only Zvooq is worse than this indicator - the song continues to play for only 90 seconds.

As for Deezer's flaws ... it seems he doesn't have them. It is enough to listen to one auto-selection to fall in love with this service: each new track raises the mood more than the previous one and surprises with the accuracy of the algorithms.

That's all about music in 2020!

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