Key Takeaways: What Are the Best Music Services in 2025?

Looking for the best music service in 2025? Here’s a quick breakdown of the top options based on listening style, features, and pricing:

• Spotify – Best overall music streaming service for discovery, playlists, and social features
• Apple Music – Best for iPhone users, premium sound quality, and spatial audio
• Tidal – Best on demand music service for audiophiles and artist-first listeners
• Amazon Music Unlimited – Best value for Prime members and Alexa integration
• YouTube Music – Best for music video fans, remixes, and user-generated content
• Deezer – Best for smart recommendations and personalized playlists
• Pandora – Best streaming music service for hands-free, radio-style listening
• SoundCloud Go+ – Best for indie music, emerging artists, and underground tracks

Can you name a single moment that wouldn’t benefit from the right soundtrack? Didn’t think so. Wherever we go, technology follows—and thankfully, that means we’ve got access to music streaming services everywhere.

But with so many music services out there in 2025, which one is actually worth your time?

We’ve put together a list of 8 good music streaming services that bring millions of tracks to your ears. We’re breaking it down by catalog size, price, and what makes each one a contender for the best on demand music service this year.

Spoiler: for us, the real debate is still between Spotify and Apple Music. Apple Music is the natural pick for iPhone users, but Spotify continues to dominate the streaming music landscape (although some of the team are TIDAL fans).

And remember, switching between music services is easier than ever. You can move all your playlists from Apple Music to Spotify or from Amazon Music to Spotify (or any other platform) using Free Your Music. But before you make the move, here’s how the top platforms stack up.

Comparison Table: Best Streaming Music Services in 2025

Spotify — The Most Popular Music Streaming Service

Spotify remains the most popular streaming music service, and for good reason. With over 100 million tracks and 20,000 new songs added daily, it’s a music lover’s dream. Its discovery features are unmatched, with curated playlists like Discover Weekly, Daily Mixes, and seasonal roundups.

Pricing

• Premium: $11.99/month
• Student Plan: $5.99/month
• Family Plan (up to 6 people): $17.99/month
• Free Tier: Available (with ads)

Why People Love It:

• Personalized Discovery
• Collaborative playlists & Spotify Wrapped
• Podcasts, video content, and genre hubs

Best For: Listeners who love discovering new music and sharing it with friends.

Apple Music — Best Music Service for Apple Users

Apple Music is deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem, making it the best music service for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. You get Dolby Atmos spatial audio, exclusive content, and a sleek interface.

Pricing

• Premium: $11.99/month
• Student Plan: $5.99/month
• Free Trial: 1 month

Why People Love It:

• Immersive spatial audio
• Apple Music 1 live radio
• Perfect sync across Apple devices

Best For: Apple users who want high-quality sound and deep ecosystem integration.

Tidal — Best On Demand Music Service for Audiophiles

Tidal offers CD-quality lossless sound and pays artists more than most platforms. With exclusive drops and high-fidelity streams, it's the go-to music service for purists and creators.

Pricing

• HiFi Plan: $10.99/month
• HiFi Plus Plan: $19.99/month
• Free Tier: Limited access

Why People Love It:

• Uncompressed, high-res audio
• Artist-first platform
• Exclusive releases & editorial content

Best For: Audiophiles and fans who want to support artists directly.

#4 Amazon Music Unlimited — Best Value for Prime Members

Amazon Music Unlimited is an underrated pick if you’re already a Prime subscriber. With deep Alexa integration and Dolby Atmos support, it’s a smart pick for smart homes.

Pricing

• Standard Plan: $10.99/month
• Prime Members: $9.99/month
• Echo-Only Plan: $5.99/month

Why People Love It:

• Alexa voice control
• Bundled with Prime perks
• Good for multi-device households

Best For: Prime members and Alexa users looking for a solid deal.

YouTube Music — Best for Music Videos & Remixes

If you love music videos, live performances, and obscure remixes, YouTube Music delivers. It’s tied into the broader YouTube ecosystem, making it incredibly versatile.

Pricing

• Premium: $11.99/month
• Free Tier: Available (with ads)

Why People Love It:

• Switch between audio and video
• Tons of user-generated content
• Rare tracks you can’t find elsewhere

Best For: Visual-first music lovers and remix diggers.

Deezer — Best for Smart Playlists & Global Reach

Deezer’s Flow feature is an underrated gem. It adapts to your taste and builds endless playlists that evolve with you. If you’re into international tracks, Deezer’s global catalog is strong.

Pricing

• Premium: $10.99/month
• Free Tier: Available (with ads)

Why People Love It:

• Smart, adaptive playlists
• HiFi option available
• Massive international selection

Best For: Globally minded listeners who want personalized streams.

Pandora — Best for Radio-Like Listening

Pandora brings back the joy of radio, powered by algorithms. It’s ideal for hands-free listening and discovering new music by feel rather than search.

Pricing

• Premium: $9.99/month
• Free Tier: Available (with ads)

Why People Love It:

• Music Genome Project recommends by song DNA
• Easy to use in the car
• Set it and forget it listening

Best For: Passive listeners who like to hit play and vibe.

SoundCloud Go+ — Best for Indie Artists and Deep Cuts

SoundCloud is where music gets discovered before it hits the mainstream. It’s full of indie drops, DJ sets, and unreleased experiments from artists around the world.

Pricing

• Premium: $9.99/month
• Free Tier: Available

Why People Love It:

• Largest track count (200M+)
• Direct support for creators
• Raw, underground music scenes

Best For: Fans of independent music and emerging talent.

What’s the Best Music Streaming Service in 2025?

The best music service is the one that fits your listening habits. Whether it’s Spotify’s discovery tools, Tidal’s audio quality, or SoundCloud’s indie gems, there’s a platform for every taste.

And if you ever want to switch, Free Your Music lets you transfer all your playlists in minutes.