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YouTube Music alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave YouTube Music: no lossless or hi-res audio, and free tier restricts background playback on mobile. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces YouTube Music, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Spotify currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Spotify logoSpotifyFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 566.5
2Amazon Music logoAmazon MusicFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +22 of 257.2
3Deezer logoDeezerFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +25 of 555.3
  1. Spotify logo

    1. SpotifyTop pick

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

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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube Music

    Stronger personalised playlists and a proper desktop app.

    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 Compare with YouTube MusicDetails 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 Spotify a good YouTube Music 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)
  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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube Music

    Lossless with Unlimited, and some access already included with Prime.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Amazon Music a good YouTube Music 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. Deezer logo

    3. 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

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from YouTube Music

    Free tier plus lossless on paid plans and easy playlist transfer.

    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 ×0.363
    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 Deezer a good YouTube Music 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)

The best YouTube Music alternative for…

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

Spotify logo

Best YouTube Music alternative for most people

Spotify

Stronger personalised playlists and a proper desktop app.

SoundCloud logo

Best YouTube Music alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

SoundCloud

Another home for remixes, DJ edits and independent uploads.

Apple Music logo

Best YouTube Music alternative for Mac

Apple Music

Lossless and Dolby Atmos included in the subscription.

Amazon Music logo

Best YouTube Music alternative for Windows

Amazon Music

Lossless with Unlimited, and some access already included with Prime.

Deezer logo

Best YouTube Music alternative for iPhone and Android

Deezer

Free tier plus lossless on paid plans and easy playlist transfer.

Spotify logo

Best YouTube Music alternative for working in the browser

Spotify

Stronger personalised playlists and a proper desktop app.

YouTube Music alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to YouTube Music?

Spotify ranks first right now. Stronger personalised playlists and a proper desktop app. Apple Music and SoundCloud follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to YouTube Music?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to YouTube Music?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from YouTube Music?

The complaints we hear most: no lossless or hi-res audio; free tier restricts background playback on mobile; no official desktop app.

How is this list ranked?

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