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Cider alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Cider: requires an Apple Music subscription on top of the app price, and unofficial, so it depends on Apple's services. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Cider, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Apple Music currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Apple Music logoApple MusicPaidNoiOS, macOS, Android +25 of 566.5
2Spotify logoSpotifyFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 562.6
3TIDAL logoTIDALPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android +20 of 049.1
  1. Apple Music logo

    1. Apple MusicTop pick

    Best for: Apple device owners who want lossless and Dolby Atmos without paying extra

    PaidiOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Cider

    The official apps, with the newest features first.

    Pros

    • Lossless and Spatial Audio included at no extra cost
    • Apple Music Classical app included
    • Deep integration with Apple devices and CarPlay

    Cons

    • No free ad-supported tier
    • Android and Windows apps are less polished
    • Recommendations are weaker than Spotify's
    Visit Apple Music Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Apple Music a good Cider alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Individual price
    $11.99/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Catalogue
    Over 100 million songs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    1 month for new subscribers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Classical app
    Included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Spatial Audio
    Dolby Atmos
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Spotify logo

    2. Spotify

    Best for: Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Cider

    Official native desktop apps on Windows, Mac and Linux.

    Pros

    • Excellent personalised playlists and recommendations
    • Free tier with ads
    • Works on nearly every device via Spotify Connect
    • Podcasts and audiobooks in the same app

    Cons

    • Low per-stream payouts to artists
    • Lossless tops out at CD-level 24-bit/44.1kHz
    • Home screen pushes podcasts and audiobooks
    Visit Spotify Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Spotify a good Cider alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Users
    788 million, 306 million subscribers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Markets
    184
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, with ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lossless
    Up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plans
    Individual, Duo, Family, Student
    Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. TIDAL logo

    3. TIDAL

    Best for: Listeners with good headphones or hi-fi gear who want hi-res streaming

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

    49.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Cider

    Hi-res streaming with official desktop apps.

    Pros

    • Hi-res FLAC included in the standard plan
    • TIDAL Connect works with many hi-fi devices
    • Detailed credits for producers and songwriters

    Cons

    • No permanent free tier in most countries
    • Weaker recommendations than Spotify
    • No podcasts or audiobooks
    Visit TIDAL Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is TIDAL a good Cider alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Cider alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Apple Music logo

Best Cider alternative for most people

Apple Music

The official apps, with the newest features first.

Strawberry logo

Best Cider alternative for a free option

Strawberry

Free open-source player if you'd rather play your own files.

Spotify logo

Best Cider alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Spotify

Official native desktop apps on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Strawberry logo

Best Cider alternative for open source

Strawberry

Free open-source player if you'd rather play your own files.

TIDAL logo

Best Cider alternative for Mac

TIDAL

Hi-res streaming with official desktop apps.

Apple Music logo

Best Cider alternative for Windows

Apple Music

The official apps, with the newest features first.

Strawberry logo

Best Cider alternative for Linux

Strawberry

Free open-source player if you'd rather play your own files.

Apple Music logo

Best Cider alternative for iPhone and Android

Apple Music

The official apps, with the newest features first.

Apple Music logo

Best Cider alternative for working in the browser

Apple Music

The official apps, with the newest features first.

Cider alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Cider?

Apple Music ranks first right now. The official apps, with the newest features first. Spotify and Strawberry follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Cider?

Yes. Spotify (free plan + paid) and Strawberry (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Cider?

Yes: Strawberry.

Which Cider alternatives work on Linux?

Strawberry runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Cider?

The complaints we hear most: requires an Apple Music subscription on top of the app price; unofficial, so it depends on Apple's services; some Apple Music features may be missing.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Cider, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.