Migration guide

How to switch streaming services in 2026

Switching music streaming services no longer means rebuilding your library by hand. This guide covers why people move, how to migrate without losing playlists, and the quirks of each major service in 2026.

Why switch?

Why people switch streaming services

  • Price increases

    Streaming services raise prices every 12–24 months. Switching to a competitor at the introductory rate often saves the cost of premium for several months.

  • Audio quality (lossless / hi-fi)

    Lossless and hi-fi audio are now standard on Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Tidal, and Qobuz. If your service still ships compressed-only audio, switching is the simplest upgrade.

  • Catalog and exclusives

    Catalogs differ. Specific artists, indie releases, classical recordings, or DJ mixes may be on one service and not another. SoundCloud and Audiomack carry independent uploads the majors do not.

  • Region and language coverage

    Moving country or wanting better regional music? Deezer, Qobuz, and Boomplay each cover regions and genres the majors under-serve. JioSaavn, Zvuk, and VK Music are dominant in their home markets.

  • Family plan and bundling

    Family plans usually pay for themselves with two or more users. Apple One and YouTube Premium bundle music with other services. Pick the bundle that matches what your household already pays for.

  • Recommendation quality

    Recommendations depend on listening history. Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music each tune their algorithms differently. A switch effectively restarts the recommendation engine — useful if your current Discover Weekly feels stale.

Step by step

Step-by-step: migrating your library

  1. 01

    Step 1: pick your destination service

    Decide based on price, audio quality, catalog, and device support. Most services offer a free trial — test the catalog with a few favorite albums and your usual playlists.

  2. 02

    Step 2: keep your old subscription active

    Do not cancel yet. The transfer tool needs to read your old library while it copies to the new one. Cancel after the migration is verified.

  3. 03

    Step 3: connect both services in FreeYourMusic

    Install FreeYourMusic on desktop or mobile, sign in to your source service, then sign in to the destination. The app uses each service’s official login — your password is never shared with FreeYourMusic.

  4. 04

    Step 4: pick what to transfer

    Playlists, liked songs, saved albums, and followed artists are all separate items. Move them all at once or one at a time. Original playlist names and song order are preserved.

  5. 05

    Step 5: review unmatched tracks

    FreeYourMusic shows every track that did not match — usually region exclusives, removed releases, or remixes with different metadata. Replace these manually on the new service or accept them as missing.

  6. 06

    Step 6: cancel the old subscription

    Once you have verified the destination library, cancel the old subscription. Most services keep your library accessible for the remainder of your paid month — you do not lose anything immediately.

Popular routes

Most popular migrations

SpotifyApple Music
Step-by-step guide
SpotifyYouTube Music
Step-by-step guide
SpotifyTidal
Step-by-step guide
Apple MusicSpotify
Step-by-step guide
Apple MusicYouTube Music
Step-by-step guide
Amazon MusicSpotify
Step-by-step guide
PandoraSpotify
Step-by-step guide
SoundCloudSpotify
Step-by-step guide
DeezerSpotify
Step-by-step guide

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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