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Spotify alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Spotify: low per-stream payouts to artists, and lossless tops out at CD-level 24-bit/44.1kHz. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Spotify, 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
1Deezer logoDeezerFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +25 of 557.2
2Amazon Music logoAmazon MusicFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +22 of 253.6
3SoundCloud logoSoundCloudFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 352.3
4YouTube Music logoYouTube MusicFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android0 of 052.1
  1. Deezer logo

    1. DeezerTop pick

    Best for: Listeners who want a free tier and lossless audio, especially in Europe and Latin America

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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Spotify

    Similar catalogue and free tier, with easy playlist import and its Flow mix.

    Pros

    • Free ad-supported tier
    • Lossless FLAC on paid plans
    • Flow mix and built-in playlist transfer
    • Labels AI-generated music

    Cons

    • Smaller podcast selection than Spotify
    • Fewer integrations with connected devices
    • Less popular in North America, so fewer social features with friends
    Visit Deezer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Deezer a good Spotify alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Catalogue
    Over 120 million songs
    Checked Oct 25, 2026deezer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, with ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026deezer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    1 month of Premium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026deezer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Playlist transfer
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026deezer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI music detector
    Free playlist scan
    Checked Oct 25, 2026deezer.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Amazon Music logo

    2. Amazon Music

    Best for: Amazon Prime members and Alexa users who want music bundled with services they already use

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

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Spotify

    Already included in Amazon Prime, with an Unlimited tier for full access.

    Pros

    • Free tier and some access included with Prime
    • HD and Ultra HD lossless on Unlimited at no extra cost
    • Excellent Alexa and Echo integration

    Cons

    • Confusing mix of Free, Prime and Unlimited tiers
    • Prime tier is largely shuffle-only
    • Recommendations lag behind Spotify
    Visit Amazon Music Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    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 Amazon Music a good Spotify alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 2 verified
    Free tier
    Yes, no credit card required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026music.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Prime benefit
    Amazon Music Prime included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. SoundCloud logo

    3. SoundCloud

    Best for: Fans of underground, independent and DJ music, and artists who want to upload directly

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    52.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Spotify

    Better for underground artists, remixes and music not on major services.

    Pros

    • Anyone can upload, so lots of music found nowhere else
    • Timed comments and a strong artist community
    • Free listening with ads

    Cons

    • Inconsistent audio quality and track metadata
    • Mainstream catalogue needs a Go+ subscription
    • Discovery can be noisy
    Visit SoundCloud Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.353
    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 SoundCloud a good Spotify alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    What it is
    Music streaming and sharing platform
    Checked Oct 25, 2026press.soundcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Artist tools
    Share, grow audience, get paid
    Checked Oct 25, 2026press.soundcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Payout model
    Fan-powered
    Checked Oct 25, 2026press.soundcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. YouTube Music logo

    4. YouTube Music

    Best for: People who already pay for YouTube Premium or want music videos, covers and live versions

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    52.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Spotify

    Includes live versions, covers and remixes from YouTube, bundled with YouTube Premium.

    Pros

    • Access to live versions, covers and remixes from YouTube
    • Included with YouTube Premium
    • You can upload your own music files

    Cons

    • No lossless or hi-res audio
    • Free tier restricts background playback on mobile
    • No official desktop app
    Visit YouTube Music Compare with SpotifyDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 YouTube Music a good Spotify alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Spotify alternative for…

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

Apple Music logo

Best Spotify alternative for most people

Apple Music

Lossless and Dolby Atmos at no extra cost, and a natural fit on Apple devices.

Deezer logo

Best Spotify alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Deezer

Similar catalogue and free tier, with easy playlist import and its Flow mix.

Qobuz logo

Best Spotify alternative for Mac

Qobuz

Hi-res streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz plus a download store.

Amazon Music logo

Best Spotify alternative for Windows

Amazon Music

Already included in Amazon Prime, with an Unlimited tier for full access.

SoundCloud logo

Best Spotify alternative for iPhone and Android

SoundCloud

Better for underground artists, remixes and music not on major services.

YouTube Music logo

Best Spotify alternative for working in the browser

YouTube Music

Includes live versions, covers and remixes from YouTube, bundled with YouTube Premium.

Spotify alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Spotify?

Apple Music ranks first right now. Lossless and Dolby Atmos at no extra cost, and a natural fit on Apple devices. Deezer and Qobuz follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Spotify?

Yes. Deezer (free plan + paid), Amazon Music (free plan + paid), SoundCloud (free plan + paid) and YouTube Music (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Spotify?

None of the 7 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Spotify?

The complaints we hear most: low per-stream payouts to artists; lossless tops out at CD-level 24-bit/44.1kHz; home screen pushes podcasts and audiobooks.

How is this list ranked?

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