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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Apple Music	Paid	No	iOS, macOS, Android +2	5 of 5	66.5
2	Deezer	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +2	5 of 5	57.2
3	Qobuz	Paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +2	5 of 5	55.3
4	Amazon Music	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +2	2 of 2	53.6
5	SoundCloud	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	52.3
6	YouTube Music	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	0 of 0	52.1
7	TIDAL	Paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +2	0 of 0	49.1

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 Spotify
Lossless and Dolby Atmos at no extra cost, and a natural fit on Apple devices.
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 Compare with Spotify 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 Spotify 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. Deezer
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)
3. Qobuz
Best for: Audiophiles who want hi-res streaming and the option to buy albums to keep
PaidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Spotify
Hi-res streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz plus a download store.
Pros
Hi-res FLAC up to 24-bit/192kHz on every plan
Download store with discounts on Sublime
Rich editorial content and digital booklets
Cons
No free tier
Weaker recommendations and discovery than Spotify
No podcasts
Visit Qobuz Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
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 Qobuz a good Spotify alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Starting price
From $10.83/month (US, annual)
Checked Oct 25, 2026qobuz.com(opens source in a new tab)
Audio quality
FLAC 24-bit up to 192kHz
Checked Oct 25, 2026qobuz.com(opens source in a new tab)
Catalogue
Over 100 million tracks
Checked Oct 25, 2026qobuz.com(opens source in a new tab)
Purchase discounts
Up to 60% (Sublime)
Checked Oct 25, 2026qobuz.com(opens source in a new tab)
Download store
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026qobuz.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. 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)
5. 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)
6. 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 Spotify Details 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.
7. 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 Spotify
Hi-res audio and a stronger focus on paying artists.
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 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.

Best Spotify alternative for most people

Apple Music

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

Best Spotify alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Deezer

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

Best Spotify alternative for Mac

Qobuz

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

Best Spotify alternative for Windows

Amazon Music

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

Best Spotify alternative for iPhone and Android

SoundCloud

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

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.

Quick comparison

1. Apple MusicTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Deezer

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Qobuz

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Amazon Music

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. SoundCloud

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

6. YouTube Music

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

7. TIDAL

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

The best Spotify alternative for…

Best Spotify alternative for most people

Best Spotify alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Best Spotify alternative for Mac

Best Spotify alternative for Windows

Best Spotify alternative for iPhone and Android

Best Spotify alternative for working in the browser

Spotify alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Spotify?

Is there a free alternative to Spotify?

Is there an open-source alternative to Spotify?

Why do people switch from Spotify?

How is this list ranked?