7 Top Spotify Alternatives for 2026

Spotify has been the largest and most popular music streaming service for years. Founded in Sweden in 2006, the company now counts over 750 million monthly users and around 290 million Premium subscribers worldwide.

However, Spotify isn't the best recommendation for everyone. Other services, with different focuses such as true Hi-Res streaming (Spotify added lossless in 2025, but still tops out at CD quality), have established themselves and are showing strong growth in user numbers. In this article, we explore 7 alternatives to Spotify and why they might be worth considering. Ready? Let's dive in!

What Is the Best Alternative to Spotify?

Before canceling premium and deleting Spotify, you should consider what you want from an alternative music streaming service.

Are you looking for the widest possible selection of music, including obscure genres? Do you want the best sound quality for your premium speakers? Or would you rather pay as little as possible for streaming? Below are some Spotify alternatives you should consider:

1. Tidal - High-End Streaming for Music Enthusiasts

Tidal is an exciting option for audiophiles who value excellent sound quality. Since 2024, Tidal has offered a single subscription that includes everything: lossless FLAC in CD quality, hi-res FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, all for one price. (Tidal retired the MQA format and its old two-tier HiFi/HiFi Plus structure, so high-resolution tracks now stream in open FLAC with no special decoder needed.)

At $10.99 per month, Tidal is now cheaper than Spotify Premium while offering strictly better audio. Additionally, Tidal offers a unique music experience with videos, exclusive content, and interviews from many artists. Tidal has always been committed to fairer payment models for artists as well, paying above-average per-stream rates.

Pricing:

• Individual: $10.99/month
• Family: $16.99/month
• Student: $5.49/month
• DJ Extension add-on: $9/month
  Sound quality:
• Lossless FLAC (CD quality) up to hi-res 24-bit/192 kHz, all included
  Hi-Res Offer: Yes
  Songs in Music Catalog: Over 110 million
  Trial Period: 30 days
  Pros:
• Complete library in CD quality, hi-res included at no extra cost
• Tidal Connect for easy connection
• Gapless playback
• Great recommendation algorithm
• Lots of background information about the music
  Cons:
• No free tier
• Smaller podcast offering than Spotify
  Find out how to transfer from Spotify to Tidal.

2. Apple Music - Great Option For True Apple Fans

In 2015, Apple launched its streaming offering, Apple Music, and has since risen to become the second-largest streaming provider after Spotify. Devices such as receivers or active speaker systems that support Apple's AirPlay 2 function are now widely available.

As far as the size of the music library is concerned, Apple Music matches Spotify with over 100 million available tracks and can boast many curated playlists. The streaming service from Cupertino is, of course, worth considering, especially for Apple users.

While Spotify and Apple Music are on par in most respects, your decision could depend heavily on whether you own many Apple devices and how much connectivity to other devices is your focus.

In terms of price, Apple Music now undercuts Spotify: it costs $10.99 per month versus Spotify's $12.99, though unlike Spotify, it does not offer a free version. Apple offers the entire content of Apple Music in CD quality in addition to the lossy AAC format.

Moreover, Apple relies on its lossless codec, ALAC, with a large part of the library available in hi-res quality up to 24-bit/192 kHz at no extra cost. As another audiophile treat, Apple introduced Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in 2021. Devices that support this format enable you to perceive your music in three dimensions around you.

As commendable as Apple's approach to offering better music quality is, Apple loses out to Tidal or Qobuz regarding Hi-Res connectivity with external DACs and audiophile hardware.

Pricing:

• Student: $5.99/month
• Individual: $10.99/month
• Family: $16.99/month
  Sound quality:
• AAC format up to 256 kbps
• ALAC lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz
  Hi-Res Offer: Yes
  Songs in Music Catalog: Over 100 million
  Trial Period: 1 month
  Pros:
• Exclusive content
• Extensive radio range
• Several curated playlists
• Hi-res lossless included at no extra cost
  Cons:
• The recommendation algorithm leaves room for improvement
• No free tier
  Learn how to transfer from Spotify to Apple Music.

3. Deezer - The Little All-Rounder

The French streaming service Deezer has been involved in music streaming since 2007. Compared to the big streaming providers like Spotify, Apple Music, and Co., Deezer is relatively small. But that doesn't mean that the French provider isn't worth a look for everyone. Deezer combines many offers that are often spread across the other services.

Deezer is one of the streaming providers that offer hi-fi streaming. At $11.99, Deezer costs a dollar more than Tidal while stopping at CD quality, with no Hi-Res tier.

In addition to lossless music, you can listen to numerous podcasts, audiobooks, and radio plays via Deezer. Many radio stations are also available to you. Moreover, there is a great algorithm, lyrics, the Flow personalized mix, and the SongCatcher song-identification tool.

Pricing:

• Deezer Premium: $11.99/month
• Deezer Family: $19.99/month
• Deezer Student: $5.99/month
• Deezer Premium Annual Plan: $107.91 (about $8.99/month when paid annually)
  Sound quality:
• Free: 128 kbps MP3
• Premium: 1411 kbps FLAC
  Hi-Res Offer: No
  Songs in Music Catalog: 120 million
  Trial Period: 1 month
  Pros:
• Good recommendation algorithm
• Connectivity and app availability
• Numerous extras and functions
  Cons:
• Few exclusive contents
  See how to transfer from Spotify to Deezer.

4. Amazon Music - Hi-Res Included, Best With Prime

The streaming service from the giant online retailer offers you a vast selection of lossless music in FLAC format.

Alongside its competitors Tidal, Deezer, and Qobuz, Amazon stands out for its sizeable Hi-Res range included in the standard subscription at no extra cost. Since Amazon matched Spotify's pricing in February 2026, it's no longer the budget pick it once was, but Prime members still get a discount, and the Prime membership itself now includes the full 100-million-song catalog in shuffle mode.

You don't have to do without podcasts or synced song lyrics with the streaming service of the giant online retailer. Amazon Music is a good option if you own Echo devices or already pay for Prime and want a substantial high-resolution music catalog.

Pricing:

• Amazon Music with Prime: included with Prime (full catalog, shuffle mode)
• Amazon Music Free: ad-supported stations
• Amazon Music Unlimited Individual: $12.99/month, or $11.99/month for Prime members
• Amazon Music Unlimited Student: $5.99/month
• Amazon Music Unlimited Family: $21.99/month (Prime members only)
  Sound quality:
• HD: FLAC format up to 1411 kbps (CD quality)
• Ultra HD: FLAC format up to 24-bit/192 kHz
  Hi-Res Offer: Yes
  Songs in Music Catalog: Over 100 million
  Trial Period: 1 month
  Pros:
• Hi-Res and Dolby Atmos included at no extra cost
• Good recommendation algorithm
• Seamless Alexa and Echo integration
  Cons:
• No longer cheaper than the competition
• Exclusive content has left much to be desired
  Discover how to transfer from Spotify to Amazon Music.

5. YouTube Music - The Music Streaming Offshoot of the Video Portal

YouTube Music combines a well-functioning and well-stocked music streaming service with its massive video platform benefits.

The streaming service is exciting for fans of the big YouTube world. But YouTube Music also does a solid job for users who are only interested in music and can live without Hi-Res streaming.

The streaming service is not ahead of its competitors like Spotify and Apple Music. Still, it reliably delivers your music, including new inspirations, thanks to a good recommendation algorithm, a large number of community playlists, and unique content like live performances, covers, and remixes you won't find anywhere else.

Pricing:

• Premium: $11.99/month
• Family: $18.99/month
• Student: $5.49/month
  Sound quality:
• Standard/Free: 128 kbps, AAC format
• Premium: 256 kbps, AAC format
  Hi-Res Offer: No
  Songs in Music Catalog: Over 100 million
  Trial Period: 1 month (frequent longer promos)
  Pros:
• Great connection between audio and video
• Large niche offering
• Good value bundled with YouTube Premium
  Cons:
• No desktop app
• No HiFi offer
  Explore how to transfer from Spotify to YouTube Music.

6. Qobuz - The Premium Hi-Res Catalogue

Qobuz is the last streaming service on the list to offer Hi-Res streaming. Qobuz even specializes in Hi-Res and only offers subscriptions for lossless music.

Accordingly, the entire catalog is available on the platform, at least in CD quality. The selection of Hi-Res content is pretty significant. However, since Qobuz is tied to music that is available in high resolution, the catalog is a bit narrower in some places than, for example, with the big providers such as Spotify and Apple Music.

In addition, fans of algorithm-driven discovery have to be prepared because dynamically created playlists and recommendations are more limited here. The French streaming service scores with extensive editorial content about the artists it contains.

Pricing:

• Studio: $12.99/month (about $10.83/month billed annually)
• Sublime: from $14.99/month, billed annually, includes Hi-Res download discounts
• Duo and Family plans also available
  Sound quality:
• FLAC 24-bit up to 192 kHz
  Hi-Res Offer: Yes
  Songs in Music Catalog: Over 100 million
  Trial Period: 1 month
  Pros:
• Own music magazine
• Associated download shop
• Lots of information about the music
  Cons:
• Few extras
• Limited recommendation features
  Here's how to transfer from Spotify to Qobuz.

What Is the Best Free Spotify Alternative?

Have you gone through the list above and are still not satisfied? You're probably looking for a free Spotify alternative. If this is true, then you're in luck! Below is a Spotify alternative free of charge.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is something of a special case within this list. It's not quite the classic streaming provider but more of a fundamentally free platform for music sharing and discovery.

If you're looking for a streaming service with a wide range of music, SoundCloud is the place for you. As one of the few Spotify alternatives, SoundCloud offers even more music than the big top dog, with over 200 million tracks. There are also audiobooks, radio plays, and podcasts.

And of course, you can also upload and share your songs or podcasts. This free Spotify alternative is a real treasure trove, especially for people looking for music outside the mainstream.

In the free version, you can listen to music with ads, even if only online. You can skip as many titles as you like, but you have to put up with commercial breaks. SoundCloud Go costs $4.99/month (via the web; app-store signups cost more) and lets you listen offline and ad-free, though without access to the full catalog of major-label tracks.

It becomes more convenient only with SoundCloud Go+ ($10.99/month, and SoundCloud has announced another price increase for 2026). Here you get full access to the library, and the audio quality increases to 256 kbps. Students get Go+ for $5.49/month, and there's a 30-day free trial for both tiers.
Check out how to transfer from Spotify to SoundCloud.

Beyond Streaming: Own Your Music Instead

If your reason for leaving Spotify is less about features and more about how artists get paid, there's a different path entirely: buying music directly.

Bandcamp remains the established marketplace for this, with a deep independent catalog and a direct-to-artist payment model. And as of May 2026 it has a notable challenger: Subvert, a cooperatively owned marketplace where artists, labels, and fans collectively own the platform itself. Subvert launched with over 1,000 labels on board (including Warp, Polyvinyl, and Thrill Jockey), charges 0% platform fees, and bans AI-generated music. It's early and its catalog is still small, but it's the most serious attempt yet at music infrastructure that can't be sold out from under its community.

Neither replaces a streaming subscription, but paired with a free tier from the list above, buying the music you love most is the single best way to support the artists making it.

Conclusion – Which Spotify Alternative Is Right for Me?

Especially in music streaming, slight differences make certain providers more suitable for some users than others.

If you're looking for a practical and clear Spotify alternative that provides you with music at little or no cost, SoundCloud is probably a good choice.

As an Apple user, you might also consider the Apple Music offer, which now undercuts Spotify on price. Also, with the smaller provider Deezer, you have a complete package that offers you hi-fi sound, podcasts, radio, and much more! Furthermore, Tidal could be a good option if you want to hear Hi-Res music at a lower price than Spotify itself.

With a very successful app and a well-functioning algorithm, you can enjoy high-resolution music with constantly new recommended content. The best music stream cannot be determined across the board. Ultimately, which Spotify alternative is suitable depends on what you need from a music streaming service.