Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming services exclusive to Apple users. This streaming service has been around since 2015 and was developed by Apple Inc., one of the largest technology companies worldwide.

With Apple Music, users can select the music they want to stream on their devices based on demand and their music preferences. Users can also get exclusive playlists and live radio, which they can listen to across different devices.

Apple Music currently has about 90 million songs in its catalog, with an estimated 88 million users accessing it. Aside from the large music catalog, Apple Music has high-resolution songs depicting good audio quality. Users can enjoy their streaming experience with 24 bits up to 192kHz on the streaming platform.

What Are the Alternatives to Apple Music?

Replacing your music streaming service might seem difficult, especially if you don’t have any other streaming service in mind. Before canceling your subscription and withdrawing from Apple Music, you should consider different music streaming service options.

You can explore these streaming services to know what they offer by checking their music library, sound quality, and subscription plans. Several Apple Music alternatives offer better music streaming services than Apple Music.

However, Apple Music isn't the best for everyone, especially for non-Apple users. Also, streaming songs and podcasts on Apple Music could be data-consuming. Some people even consider the Apple Music subscription plan too pricey.

This article explores different Apple Music alternatives that might be a good fit for you and everything you need to know about them. We’ll cover their features, sound quality, pricing, and pros and cons.

1. Spotify

Spotify is one of the largest and most popular digital music streaming services, with over 400 million users and more than 180 million premium subscribers worldwide.

Spotify’s library includes over 100 million songs and 4.7 million podcasts. Users can select their preferred albums, genres, and artists or discover new content with curated playlists and recommendations.

Pricing

• Individual: $10.99/month
• Duo: $14.99/month
• Family: $16.99/month
• Student: $5.99/month

New users can enjoy a one-month free trial before billing starts.

Sound Quality

• Web player: Free users stream at AAC 128kbit/s, premium users at 256kbit/s.
• Mobile, desktop, and tablet: Free users stream from 24kbit/s to 160kbit/s, premium users up to 320kbit/s.
• Podcast streaming: 96kbit/s across all devices, 128kbit/s for web players.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Large music library
• Offline listening
• Available on multiple platforms

Cons:

• Free users experience frequent ads
• Data usage is high

Transfer from Apple Music to Spotify

2. SoundCloud

SoundCloud is a free music-sharing and discovery service with an extensive streaming catalog. It’s one of the best platforms for discovering new artists, independent music, and exclusive content.

SoundCloud has about 200 million tracks, making it one of the largest music collections available.

Pricing

• SoundCloud Go: $4.99 per month
• SoundCloud Go+: $9.99 per month

Sound Quality

• Free version: 128kbp/s
• SoundCloud Go: 128kbp/s
• SoundCloud Go+: 256kbp/s

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Large music catalog
• Supports music uploads

Cons:

• The free and SoundCloud Go plans have the same audio quality

Transfer from Apple Music to SoundCloud

3. YouTube Music

YouTube Music combines video and audio streaming with a music catalog of over 100 million songs. It features official albums, live performances, remixes, and user-generated content.

Pricing

• Individual: $9.99 per month
• Family: $14.99 per month
• Student: $4.99 per month

Sound Quality

• Free tier: 128kbp/s AAC
• Premium: 256kbp/s AAC

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Large catalog
• Balanced mix of video and audio content

Cons:

• No high-resolution audio
• No desktop app

Transfer from Apple Music to YouTube Music

4. Amazon Music

Amazon Music offers a massive catalog of over 100 million songs, with high-resolution audio for premium users. It’s a great option for those who are already Amazon Prime members.

Pricing

• Individual: $8.99/month for Prime members, $9.99 for others
• Single Device Plan: $4.99/month
• Student: $4.99/month
• Family: $15.99/month

Sound Quality

• Standard: 320kbp/s
• HD FLAC: 1441kbp/s
• Ultra HD: 9216kbp/s

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High-resolution audio
• Cost-effective

Cons:

• Clunky user interface

Transfer from Apple Music to Amazon Music

5. TIDAL

TIDAL is known for high-quality sound and exclusive releases. It offers lossless FLAC streaming and has a catalog of over 100 million songs.

Pricing

• HiFi: $10.99/month
• HiFi Family: $16.99/month
• HiFi Plus: $19.99/month
• HiFi Plus Family: $29.99/month

Sound Quality

• Normal: 160kbp/s AAC
• HiFi: 1411kbp/s FLAC
• HiFi Plus: 9216kbp/s FLAC

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Lossless and high-res audio options
• Exclusive content

Cons:

• Expensive plans

Transfer from Apple Music to TIDAL

6. Qobuz

Qobuz is a high-resolution music streaming service with a focus on sound quality and in-depth editorial content.

Pricing

• Studio Premier: $12.99/month
• Sublime Family: $29.99/month

Sound Quality

• FLAC format up to 192kHz

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High-resolution audio
• Download store for lossless purchases

Cons:

• No recommendation algorithm

Transfer from Apple Music to Qobuz

Conclusion

Apple Music has strong competition, with several alternatives offering different strengths. Whether you want high-resolution audio, affordability, or unique features, there’s an option that fits your needs.

For the best high-resolution sound, TIDAL and Qobuz are excellent choices. If you want a vast music catalog, Spotify and Amazon Music are strong contenders.

Transfer Songs with Free Your Music

If you’re switching from Apple Music to another service, Free Your Music makes it easy to transfer your playlists and saved tracks.

Download the app and move your music today!