Over 100 million songs on tap would have once sounded like absurdist, niche science fiction. Today, it’s table stakes for any serious music-streaming service. Which means catalog size is no longer enough to set them apart.
This roundup looks at Apple Music and four alternatives for iPhone, with an eye toward what type of listener each one suits best. Before diving in, here are some things worth keeping in mind when choosing a music-streaming service.
What to consider when choosing a music-streaming service for iPhone
Catalog: Libraries across major services are very similar but not identical. If you care deeply about specific labels and artists, check they are present, because every service has gaps.
Audio quality: Most services now offer high-res streaming and automatically adjust quality based on connectivity. But if this is important to you, explore what’s on offer – and what your gear supports.
Ownership: Remember that when you cancel a subscription, you own nothing. Some services will drop you back to a limited free tier. Some will block access entirely.
Discovery: Recommendation algorithms need training. So don’t expect instant perfection when switching to a new service – you will need to actively like, skip, listen, and explore.
Pricing: Many services have cheaper student, duo, and family plans, along with annual billing offers. You may also find it cheaper to subscribe online rather than through the app.
Five great music streaming services for iPhone
Take your pick from these five music-streaming services with five very different philosophies.
Apple Music ($11/£11 per month)
- Best for the Apple faithful
Liquid Glass… doesn’t help Apple Music.
Given Apple’s long pedigree in digital music – most notably with the iPod and iTunes – it’s no surprise Apple Music feels confident. On iPhone, it leans hard into discovery, and I’ve found its recommendations rack up more hits than misses, comparing favorably with anything rival services offer.
Turn every track into karaoke!
For Apple users, ecosystem integration is the real draw, though. If you use a Mac or PC and turn on iCloud Music Library, your owned music will be available alongside the streaming catalog. Then there are added gems like stripping vocals from tracks for impromptu bouts of karaoke – you can even use your iPhone as a mic to sing along with songs playing on an Apple TV.
The main downside is a messy interface (in part due to Liquid Glass), although you can always use Cs Music Pro to access your library instead.
Get Apple Music or view Apple Music plans
Spotify ($13/£13 per month)
- Best for playlists
Discovery is Spotify’s killer feature.
With close to 300 million subscribers, Spotify remains the undisputed market leader. It’s easy to see why. The interface is mature and well-considered, if occasionally veering into visual clutter. Discovery tools – including weekly playlists – are famously strong and effective. And the social tools are first-rate, which combined with the massive user base makes Spotify the best service for creating and sharing playlists with friends.
Free Spotify forces shuffle.
Another plus is the surprisingly good free tier. This grants access to the full library, albeit with ads, forced song shuffle, and limited skips. Spotify Premium removes those restrictions, but the service’s ongoing controversies – low artist payouts, a relaxed stance on AI-generated music, and headline-grabbing deals with divisive figures like Joe Rogan – may give some listeners pause.
Get Spotify or view Spotify Premium plans
Deezer ($12/£12 per month)
- Best for ethical streaming
The best interface on test.
Deezer has been around almost as long as Spotify, but is often passed over. That’s a shame, because it has much to offer. On iPhone, the app is clean and sleek, with useful customization options and features that set it apart.
Flow is an endless music stream you can steer toward different genres and vibes on the fly, rather than having to pick a specific station or playlist. And SongCatcher is Shazam but with the option to sing into it. Amazingly, it had a high success rate with my dulcet tones, especially when it came to songs with a strong melodic hook.
Switching moods in Deezer.
Ethics are another selling point. Deezer is actively trying to improve artist payouts and take a firm stance on AI-generated music. It’s also French, making it appealing for anyone looking to reduce their reliance on US tech and avoid Spotify.
Get Deezer or view Deezer Premium plans
YouTube Music ($11/£11 per month)
- Best for deep cuts
A live video in YouTube Music.
This might seem an odd entry, what with YouTube being famous for video, not audio. But in recent years, YouTube has become increasingly common for music consumption, especially by younger listeners, which likely explains why Google scrapped its previous, forgettable music app in favor of this one instead.
It was the right call. Although the interface resembles Spotify’s, you quickly realize YouTube Music is more expansive than other services, thanks to providing access to demos, bootlegs, live recordings, and obscure uploads you won’t find elsewhere. The TikTok-like Samples feature is great, too, for blazing through snippets to find new favorites.
YouTube Samples.
The free version has ads, low-res audio, and no background playback. Premium fixes those, but you’re better off with YouTube Premium. At $13/£13 per month, that includes YouTube Music and ad-free YouTube proper, making it far better value than YouTube Music alone.
Get YouTube Music or view YouTube Music plans
Bandcamp
- Best for supporting musicians
Streaming in Bandcamp.
Bandcamp is less a typical streaming service than a modern-day digital record store. But it deserves a place in this roundup because it’s increasingly where emerging artists and indie labels choose to be.
You can stream, in full, almost everything that’s available on the site. But you can also buy tracks, thereby directly supporting artists you love. Purchases can be downloaded, so you can keep them forever, but they’re also added to your Bandcamp library, where they can be queued for streaming playback.
Own what you pay for.
Beyond that, the service’s staunchly anti-AI stance doesn’t hurt, and nor does the iPhone app being thoughtfully designed and easy to use. The lack of a deeper catalog means it won’t replace a mainstream music-streaming service for most people. But if you’re a music collector and want your money to actually reach musicians, it’s a must-have companion app.