Person walking down the street listening to music on their phone | Image: Supplied
1. Spotify: The OG Streaming Giant
Spotify needs no introduction. It's the undisputed king of music streaming. Millions use it daily—and for good reason! The massive library is amazing, the personalized playlists are spot on (sometimes a little too spot on…anyone else get the 'I'm obsessed with 90s pop' playlist? Guilty!), and the podcasts? Don't even get me started. Seriously, its a go-to for most.
Pros: Huge library, great playlists, podcasts, free (with ads) and premium options.
Cons: Can be pricey for the premium version, and some obscure artists might be missing. Plus, the ads on the free version can get annoying.
Spotify app interface on a smartphone | Image: Supplied
2. Apple Music: A Seamless Apple Ecosystem Experience
If you're all in on Apple products, Apple Music is a no-brainer. It integrates flawlessly with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The sound quality is usually a topic of debate, but personally, I find it superior for the quality of the songs. They often have exclusives and lossless audio, and the interface is super intuitive. I know a few friends who absolutely swear by it, they say the overall experience is just smoother.
Pros: Excellent sound quality, seamless integration with Apple devices, often has exclusive content.
Cons: Limited to Apple devices (duh!), can be a little pricey, and the library, while large, isn't quite as massive as Spotify's.
Apple Music app interface on an iPhone | Image: Supplied
3. YouTube Music: The Video-First Music App
YouTube Music isn't just for watching music videos anymore! It's grown into a pretty solid music streaming service. If you're into discovering new artists and live performances, this app is a gem. Plus, it’s free! The ads are pretty tame compared to other platforms.
Pros: Massive library (since it's YouTube!), great for discovering new artists and live videos, free option.
Cons: The interface can feel a bit cluttered at times. Can be annoying to sort through videos for a specific song when you're just looking for an audio-only experience.
YouTube Music app interface on an Android phone | Image: Supplied
4. Amazon Music: A Prime Benefit or a Standalone Service?
If you're an Amazon Prime member, Amazon Music is a sweet perk. It's a pretty good deal, offering a decent music catalog. The app itself is user-friendly and easy to navigate. I found that the features are similar to Spotify with some unique playlists.
Amazon Music app interface on a tablet | Image: Supplied
5. Pandora: For the Radio Lovers
Pandora is the ultimate throwback to the good old days of radio. It creates personalized radio stations based on your musical preferences, which is great for discovering similar artists if you enjoy something. It's a simpler experience than other apps, but sometimes, simple is good. It's also got a free version, which is always a plus!
Pros: Simple to use, great for discovering similar artists, free version available.
Cons: The library is smaller than other services, you're at the mercy of the algorithm, and you can't pick and choose which songs you want to listen to.
Pandora app interface on a smartphone | Image: Supplied
