Discover the top 10 best free apps for music streaming in 2021 and find your perfect tune with ease.
Spotify
Spotify is currently the top free music app, offering a comprehensive, easy-to-use, and accessible platform. It provides access to over 100 million songs, offline listening, podcasts, audiobooks, and new features. While the free version includes ads and plays most playlists on shuffle mode, the paid Premium account offers higher sound quality and additional features. The sound quality is decent, but for those who prioritize sound quality, a hi-res service such as Tidal, Apple Music, or Amazon Music may be a better option.
Best free music app for Prime users
If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, the free version of Amazon Music offers over two million ad-free songs to stream on-demand at no additional cost. The selection is mainstream, and the sound quality is satisfactory. Amazon Music Unlimited, which includes a hi-res tier, is available for a monthly fee.
Best free music app for versatility
Deezer offers a vast catalogue of tracks, podcasts, and other non-music content. The free tier includes ads and limited track quality, but the layout is simple to navigate. With a paid Premium plan, users can enjoy FLAC 16-bit CD quality audio.
Best free music app for videos
YouTube Music’s free tier includes a considerable catalogue of music and music videos with fewer ads compared to other platforms. While extras such as offline listening are pay-only, the platform is a great choice for music video enthusiasts.
Best free music app for global radio
TuneIn Radio focuses on radio stations, offering a wide range of stations, news, and podcasts. The paid version includes ad-free audiobooks, comprehensive radio sport coverage, and commercial-free music stations.
Best free music app for podcasts
BBC Sounds offers a vast array of high-quality content, including BBC radio stations, podcasts, music mixes, live sets, and more. Users can search by genre, download content for on-the-go listening, and continue from where they left off on another device.
Best free music app for new music
SoundCloud is known as the home of emerging artists, providing a platform to discover new acts and upcoming bands. The amount of content to discover is vast, making it a great choice for music enthusiasts looking to explore new music.
Apple Music
Apple Music is a music and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. It was launched in 2015 and has since become a popular choice for music enthusiasts. The service offers a vast catalog of over 70 million songs, as well as music videos, curated playlists, and original content.
Features of Apple Music
– Extensive Music Library: Apple Music provides access to a wide range of songs across various genres, allowing users to explore new music and rediscover old favorites.
– Curated Playlists: The service offers expertly curated playlists based on different moods, activities, and genres, making it easy for users to discover new music.
– Original Content: Apple Music features exclusive original content, including radio shows, documentaries, and interviews with artists.
– Integration with Apple Devices: Apple Music seamlessly integrates with Apple devices, allowing users to access their music across multiple platforms.
Subscription Plans
Apple Music offers a range of subscription plans, including individual, family, and student options. Subscribers can enjoy ad-free listening, offline downloads, and high-quality audio streaming. The service also offers a free trial period for new users, allowing them to experience the full range of features before committing to a subscription.
User Experience
The Apple Music app provides a user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate through the extensive music library and discover new content. The service also offers personalized recommendations based on users’ listening habits, enhancing the overall music discovery experience.
Overall, Apple Music is a comprehensive music streaming service that caters to a wide range of music preferences. With its extensive catalog, original content, and seamless integration with Apple devices, it has established itself as a leading platform in the music streaming industry.
YouTube Music
YouTube Music is a music streaming service developed by YouTube, a subsidiary of Google. Launched in 2015, it offers a vast catalog of music tracks, albums, and music videos for users to stream. The service also provides access to a wide range of playlists and personalized recommendations based on the user’s listening history and preferences.
The platform offers a free tier, which allows users to listen to music with occasional advertisements. Users can also upgrade to a premium subscription to enjoy ad-free listening, offline downloads, and background playback. YouTube Music’s interface is user-friendly, with easy navigation and access to a diverse range of music content.
YouTube Music’s video content is a standout feature, as it provides access to music videos, live performances, and exclusive content from artists. The service also offers a feature called “YouTube Mix” which creates a playlist of music videos based on a user’s favorite artists or genres.
Overall, YouTube Music is a versatile platform that caters to music enthusiasts who enjoy both audio and video content. With its extensive library and personalized recommendations, it’s a great option for discovering new music and enjoying favorite tracks.
Key Features of YouTube Music:
– Extensive catalog of music tracks, albums, and music videos
– Personalized playlists and recommendations
– Free tier with occasional advertisements
– Premium subscription for ad-free listening and offline downloads
– Access to music videos, live performances, and exclusive content
– User-friendly interface with easy navigation
Pros of YouTube Music:
– Diverse range of music content, including video
– Personalized recommendations based on user preferences
– Free tier available with ads
– Seamless integration with YouTube platform
Cons of YouTube Music:
– Advertisements in the free tier
– Limited offline playback options for free users
Overall, YouTube Music is a top choice for music enthusiasts who enjoy a mix of audio and video content. With its extensive library, personalized recommendations, and user-friendly interface, it’s a great platform for discovering new music and enjoying favorite tracks.
Pandora
Pandora is a popular music streaming service that offers both free and paid options for users. The free version of Pandora is ad-supported, but it still provides access to a wide range of music, including personalized radio stations based on your favorite artists and songs. The platform also offers a premium subscription service called Pandora Plus, which provides ad-free listening, unlimited skips, and offline listening for a monthly fee.
Features of Pandora:
– Personalized radio stations based on user preferences
– Free version with ads
– Premium subscription option for ad-free listening and additional features
– Access to a wide range of music genres and artists
Pandora is a well-established music streaming platform with a large library of songs and a user-friendly interface. It is a great option for users who want to discover new music and enjoy personalized radio stations based on their music preferences.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is known as the home of emerging artists, so if you want to check out new acts and predict which bands are going to make it big, this is the place to be. With a vast library of music from up-and-coming musicians, SoundCloud offers a unique platform for music discovery. The amount of content to discover is vast, and you’re never too far away from a great unsigned gem. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or an artist looking to share your work, SoundCloud provides a diverse and vibrant community for music lovers.
If you’re looking for an online music store with a great user interface that supports independent artists, Bandcamp is the place to be. In addition to offering a wide variety of music from independent musicians, Bandcamp gives a big chunk of its profits to artists, making it a platform that supports the music community. With the ability to stream downloaded music and trial tracks, Bandcamp provides a unique and user-friendly experience for music enthusiasts.
As a senior staff writer who has extensive experience with various streaming platforms, I have personally tested and reviewed the best free music apps available. Each platform has been carefully evaluated to ensure it delivers high-quality content and a user-friendly experience. Whether you’re interested in music streaming, radio, podcasts, or new music discovery, our expert recommendations can help you find the best free streaming service to suit your specific needs.
SoundCloud is known as the home of emerging artists, so if you want to check out new acts and predict which bands are going to make it big, this is the place to be. With a vast library of music from up-and-coming musicians, SoundCloud offers a unique platform for music discovery. The amount of content to discover is vast, and you’re never too far away from a great unsigned gem. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or an artist looking to share your work, SoundCloud provides a diverse and vibrant community for music lovers.
If you’re looking for an online music store with a great user interface that supports independent artists, Bandcamp is the place to be. In addition to offering a wide variety of music from independent musicians, Bandcamp gives a big chunk of its profits to artists, making it a platform that supports the music community. With the ability to stream downloaded music and trial tracks, Bandcamp provides a unique and user-friendly experience for music enthusiasts.
As a senior staff writer who has extensive experience with various streaming platforms, I have personally tested and reviewed the best free music apps available. Each platform has been carefully evaluated to ensure it delivers high-quality content and a user-friendly experience. Whether you’re interested in music streaming, radio, podcasts, or new music discovery, our expert recommendations can help you find the best free streaming service to suit your specific needs.
Amazon Music
Amazon Music is a music streaming service included with a Prime membership. It offers over two million songs, ad-free, on-demand, and at no additional cost to Prime members. The service provides a wide selection of mainstream music and is compatible with various devices. For those who want to upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited, which includes a hi-res tier, it costs £10/$10 (or £9/$9 with Prime) a month. The quality of the free tier is fine, but users wanting decent hi-res support should consider the HD tier to get the most out of their music. There is also a tier titled Amazon Music Free, which doesn’t require a Prime Membership but does give you access to music, podcasts, curated playlists, and stations, although you’ll have to contend with ads and a lack of offline playback.
Features:
– Over two million songs available to Prime members
– Ad-free, on-demand streaming
– Compatibility with various devices
– Option to upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for hi-res support
Deezer is a music streaming service that offers a free tier with ads. It has an impressive 90 million-strong catalogue of songs and provides a layout that is pleasingly simple to navigate. The service also offers podcasts and other non-music content, making it a strong choice for anyone looking beyond just music. For those who want to upgrade to the paid Deezer Premium service, they can enjoy FLAC 16-bit CD quality audio at a cost of £12/month ($12) for a Premium plan account. If you’re using the unpaid version, you can subscribe to Deezer Free to listen with ads and a slightly more restricted service.
Features:
– 90 million-strong catalogue of songs
– Simple and easy-to-navigate layout
– Podcasts and non-music content available
– Option to upgrade to Deezer Premium for FLAC 16-bit CD quality audio
YouTube Music is a music streaming service that offers a free tier with ads. It provides a considerable catalogue of music to choose from, along with a clean layout and a selection of music videos. While there are ads as expected, the service also offers extras such as downloading for offline listening through a paid subscription. The sound quality of YouTube Music has been described as hit-and-miss, but for those who love music videos, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Features:
– Considerable catalogue of music to choose from
– Clean layout and selection of music videos
– Option for offline listening through paid subscription
– Hit-and-miss sound quality
TuneIn Radio is a service that focuses on radio stations, offering a range of stations including BBC Radio, NPR, All India Radio, and C-SPAN, as well as news from CNN and Fox News and a variety of podcasts. The service also provides local and genre-specific radio stations, making it suitable for a wide range of listeners. For those who want to access additional content, TuneIn offers access to more than 100K ad-free audiobooks, comprehensive radio sport coverage, and a further 100+ commercial-free music stations through a paid subscription.
Features:
– Range of radio stations including BBC Radio, NPR, and more
– Local and genre-specific radio stations available
– Additional content such as audiobooks and music stations through paid subscription
BBC Sounds is a platform that brings together BBC radio stations, podcasts, music mixes, live sets, and more. It offers hundreds of podcasts, exclusive content, free audiobooks, curated playlists, TV soundtracks, and a vast array of high-quality content. Users can search by genre, download content for on-the-go listening, and continue listening where they left off on another device. The platform has experienced some teething issues but has blossomed into a rich and slick home for the BBC’s excellent audio output.
Features:
– BBC radio stations, podcasts, music mixes, and more
– Hundreds of podcasts and exclusive content
– Curated playlists and TV soundtracks
– On-the-go listening and cross-device continuity
Tidal
Tidal is a music streaming service that is known for its high-quality audio. It offers a variety of subscription options, including a standard Premium account, Family and Student Plans, and a hi-res tier. The platform is popular among audiophiles who are looking for the best sound quality possible. Tidal also offers a 30-day free trial for new members, allowing users to experience the service before committing to a subscription.
Sound Quality
Tidal is renowned for its sound quality, offering FLAC 16-bit CD quality audio for its paid Premium plan accounts. This makes it a top choice for music enthusiasts who prioritize audio fidelity. Tidal also offers a hi-res tier for those who want an even higher quality listening experience.
Exclusive Content
One of the unique features of Tidal is its exclusive content, including music, videos, and live performances from popular artists. Tidal often releases exclusive albums and tracks from well-known musicians, making it a desirable platform for music fans who want access to exclusive content.
Subscription Options
Tidal offers a range of subscription options, including individual, family, and student plans. The platform also caters to audiophiles with its hi-res tier, providing a premium listening experience for those who are willing to pay for higher sound quality.
Overall, Tidal is a top choice for music enthusiasts who prioritize sound quality and enjoy access to exclusive content from their favorite artists. With its range of subscription options and high-quality audio, Tidal continues to be a popular choice in the competitive music streaming market.
Deezer
Deezer is a music streaming service that offers a vast catalogue of tracks, many of which can be accessed for free without too much impediment. The platform has undergone a recent overhaul, with a massive redesign and rebranding. The layout is pleasingly simple to navigate, and there are heaps of podcasts and other non-music content available. Deezer’s free tier means users have to suffer ads, and the track quality is only 128kbps. The mobile app for this tier is also a little limited, though no more so than any of its rivals. For those who opt for the paid Deezer Premium service, they can enjoy FLAC 16-bit CD quality audio, but will have to pay £12/month ($12) for a Premium plan account. If you’re going unpaid, simply subscribe to Deezer Free to listen with ads and a slightly more restricted service.
Key Features of Deezer:
– Vast catalogue of tracks
– Recent overhaul and rebranding
– Simple navigation
– Heaps of podcasts and non-music content
– Free tier with ads and limited track quality
– Paid Deezer Premium service offers FLAC 16-bit CD quality audio
Why Choose Deezer:
Deezer is a strong choice for anyone looking beyond just music, as it offers a variety of content including podcasts and non-music material. The recent redesign and rebranding have improved the platform’s layout and user experience, making it a worthy option for music streaming. Whether opting for the free tier with ads or the paid Deezer Premium service, users have access to a vast catalogue of tracks and the option for high-quality audio with the Premium plan.
In conclusion, the best free apps for music streaming offer a wide variety of music, easy navigation, and high-quality streaming. With options like Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube Music, music lovers can enjoy their favorite songs and discover new ones without breaking the bank.