Where to stream music 2023?

The best music streaming services offer slick interfaces, high-quality audio and access to millions of tracks

Streaming services have transformed the way we consume music and even audiophiles with a stubborn fondness for physical formats have to admit that it’s hard to fully resist the allure of online platforms when it comes to getting your music fix – especially now that the quality of streaming is getting better and better.

With the entire history of music collapsed into the modern streaming era and access to tens of millions of tracks at the tap of a touchscreen, it has never been easier to hunt down old favourites or discover brand new bands and artists.

The good news is that most services offer new users free trials – typically a month but sometimes up to three – and some, like Spotify, have a free tier (supported by adverts with limited playback options) so you can try out a services interface and curation before you buy.

Once you decide to pay, it’s usually by way of a set monthly subscription fee, though some services, such as Qobuz, offer a reduction if you sign up for a full year. There are also discounts to be had for students, as well as savings if you share your account with another person or your household.

The audio quality of these streams varies between services. Those concerned less by the outright quality and more with getting bang for your buck can listen to compressed streams at 320kbps from the likes of Spotify. But you don’t have to sacrifice quality; Tidal, Apple, Amazon and Qobuz all have subscription tiers that allow you to access CD-quality and even hi-res streams.

As paid-for access to music takes over from outright ownership, users are likely to be signed up to one service or another for decades to come, so it makes sense to fully investigate what’s out there before blindly committing to a rolling subscription for the rest of your life. After all, when your playlists are set up and your listening habits are learned by a certain service, it’s harder to decide to switch.

So if you’re looking to try something new, which is the best music streaming service for you? Read on to find out.

There are many different platforms and services where you can stream music online. Some popular options include:

–Spotify: A popular streaming service that offers a wide selection of music, podcasts, and other audio content. It has a free tier with ads and a premium tier with additional features.

–Apple Music: A streaming service offered by Apple that provides access to a large library of music, as well as exclusive content and features.

–Amazon Music: A streaming service offered by Amazon that provides access to a large library of music, as well as exclusive content and features.

–Pandora: A streaming service that allows users to create personalized radio stations based on their favorite artists or songs. It has a free tier with ads and a premium tier with additional features.

–Google Play Music: A streaming service offered by Google that provides access to a large library of music, as well as the ability to upload your own music for streaming.

–Tidal: A streaming service that offers high-quality audio and a variety of exclusive content, including live performances and music videos.

Deezer: Deezer became the first music streaming service to celebrate its 10th birthday. As with any significant coming of age, the French company celebrated by making 2017 a year of big change. It rebranded its CD-quality tier, giving it a new name and price, and making it accessible on more apps and platforms. 

There are many other streaming services available as well, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.