iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The best music streaming service depends on what you value most: Apple Music is the strongest all-rounder, Spotify Premium has the most complete feature set, and Qobuz remains the better choice for serious hi-res listening. Amazon Music Unlimited is particularly compelling for Prime members, while YouTube Music is the specialist option for remixes, live recordings and hard-to-find uploads.
The ranking below follows Tom’s Guide’s current testing, which compares identical tracks across multiple headphones, wireless headphones and audio resolutions. It does not invent star scores: Tom’s Guide’s visible article does not publish individual numeric ratings. Prices are U.S. figures and should be checked on each provider’s checkout page because promotions and plan terms change.
Best music streaming services compared
| Rank | Service | Best for | Audio ceiling | Current U.S. price to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple Music | Best overall | Hi-Res Lossless, up to 24-bit/192 kHz | Check Apple’s live checkout |
| 2 | Spotify Premium | Features and platform support | Lossless FLAC, up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz | Check Spotify’s live plans page |
| 3 | Qobuz | Audiophiles and music research | Hi-Res FLAC, up to 24-bit/192 kHz | $12.99/month or $129.99 yearly |
| 4 | Amazon Music Unlimited | Prime-member value | Lossless, hi-res and Dolby Atmos | $12.99/month; $11.99 for Prime members shown by Amazon |
| 5 | Deezer | Social listening | CD-quality FLAC, up to 1,411 kbps | From $11.99/month in Tom’s Guide’s comparison |
| 6 | TIDAL | An alternative for hi-res audio | HiRes FLAC, up to 24-bit/192 kHz | $11.99/month Individual |
| 7 | SiriusXM | Internet radio | Plan-dependent | Check SiriusXM’s current offer |
YouTube Music is not part of Tom’s Guide’s seven-service ranking, but it is an important alternative if your library depends on music videos, unofficial remixes, DJ sets, covers or live recordings.
1. Apple Music — best overall
Apple Music is the easiest recommendation for most listeners. It combines a catalog of more than 100 million songs with lossless audio across the catalog, Dolby Atmos tracks, strong device integration and Apple Music Classical at no additional cost.
Popular on Amazon
- JBL Deep Bass Sound: Get the most from your mixes with high-quality audio from secure, reliable earbuds with 8mm drivers featuring JBL Deep Bass Sound.
- Comfortable fit: The ergonomic, stick-closed design of the JBL Vibe Beam fits so comfortably you may forget you're wearing them. The closed design excludes external sounds, enhancing the bass performance.
- Up to 32 (8h + 24h) total hours of battery life with speed charging: With 8 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 24 in the case, the JBL Vibe Beam provide all-day audio. And when you need more power, you can speed charge an extra two hours in just 10 minutes.
- Stay aware of your surrounding: Go anywhere and hear everything with Smart Ambient technology. When you need to pause for a quick chat, TalkThru lets you instantly hear yourself and those around you without taking out your earbuds. Or use Ambient Aware to keep the music playing while remaining aware of your surroundings.
- Hands-free calls with VoiceAware: When you're making hands-free stereo calls on the go, VoiceAware lets you balance how much of your own voice you hear while talking with others.
Its lossless options are unusually clear: Lossless goes up to 48 kHz, while Hi-Res Lossless covers 48–192 kHz. Apple also supports family sharing for up to six people and does not insert advertisements into the music service.
On an iPhone or iPad, enable the higher-quality formats through Settings > Music > Audio Quality, then choose Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless. Hi-Res Lossless generally needs an external USB DAC. Bluetooth headphones do not preserve the original hi-res signal, even when the app is set to the highest quality.
Watch-outs: Apple’s current consumer pages and comparison tables have shown inconsistent Individual-plan pricing. Use the live Apple checkout price instead of relying on an old table.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
2. Spotify Premium — best for features and platform support
Spotify remains the strongest choice if discovery, playlists, sharing and broad device compatibility matter more than maximum resolution. Its library exceeds 100 million tracks, and the service also includes podcasts, audiobooks and music videos.
Spotify Premium lossless is now available in more than 50 markets, including the United States. The maximum documented specification is 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC. Lossless does not apply to music videos, podcasts or audiobooks.
To enable it, open Profile picture > Settings and privacy > Media quality > Lossless. Choose it separately for Wi-Fi streaming, cellular streaming and downloads. On a compatible third-party device, start playback, tap the device icon, select the playing device, choose Change quality settings and select Lossless.
Spotify recommends a stable 1.5–2 Mbps connection for lossless playback. Playback can fall back when the hardware is incompatible, the source file is unavailable, bandwidth is insufficient or the connection type does not support lossless. Bluetooth normally compresses the signal, so use wired headphones or a compatible Spotify Connect device if preserving the lossless stream matters.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →One easily missed detail: loudness normalization still applies to Spotify lossless playback. The web player and some third-party devices do not use Spotify’s normalization system.
Watch-outs: Spotify Family is not a general-purpose sharing plan. Members must live at the same address and confirm the address entered by the plan manager. Spotify Basic is also limited to eligible existing subscribers and cannot be resubscribed to after cancellation.
3. Qobuz — best for audiophiles
Qobuz is the most focused option here for listeners who care about recording formats, album context and buying music. It offers more than 100 million tracks in CD-quality 16-bit/44.1 kHz and Hi-Res FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
Also popular on Amazon
- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
The app puts more emphasis on human editorial recommendations, album reviews, liner notes and credits than most mainstream rivals. Its integrated download store is another advantage: purchased downloads are DRM-free and remain separate from streaming access, so you do not need an active subscription to buy them.
Qobuz’s U.S. pricing is currently shown as $12.99 per month for Solo or $129.99 as a non-refundable 12-month payment, equivalent to $10.83 per month. A free trial requires a payment method and renews into a paid subscription unless canceled.
Qobuz Connect sends music directly from Qobuz’s servers to compatible equipment instead of routing the audio through your phone or computer. To use it, play a track, tap the Audio output selector and choose the compatible device.
Watch-outs: Qobuz does not offer a Dolby Atmos or comparable spatial-audio catalog. It is also less attractive if your priority is social sharing or algorithmic discovery rather than albums and sound quality.
4. Amazon Music Unlimited — best value for Prime members
Amazon Music Unlimited offers more than 100 million songs, lossless FLAC, high-resolution content and Dolby Atmos. Alexa integration is particularly good, making it convenient on Echo speakers and in voice-controlled households.
Do not confuse Unlimited with the smaller music selection included with Amazon Prime. Prime members can access the full Unlimited catalog at no additional charge in shuffle mode, but on-demand playback requires Music Unlimited. Amazon’s current U.S. acquisition page shows auto-renewal at $12.99 per month, or $11.99 per month for Prime members. Offers, trial periods and audiobook benefits can change at checkout.
The main compromise is the app experience. Recommendations and navigation are generally less focused than Spotify’s. There is also a desktop playback edge case: a computer’s operating-system audio output can downsample a high-resolution stream—for example, sending 24-bit/96 kHz audio as 24-bit/48 kHz. The desktop app may not provide an exclusive-mode override to bypass that behavior.
5. Deezer — best for social listening
Deezer is a good fit for people who want to share listening activity rather than chase the highest available resolution. It has more than 100 million tracks, shared playlists, listening activity and music-identification quizzes.
Its commonly cited Premium tier provides CD-quality FLAC streaming up to 1,411 kbps. Tom’s Guide lists U.S. pricing at $11.99 per month for Premium, $15.99 for Duo and $17.99 for Family, although the live offer should be checked before subscribing.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchDeezer does not expose the same detailed bitrate and sample-rate information as Qobuz or TIDAL. Catalog availability and recommendation quality can also vary by country and genre.
Also popular on Amazon
- Powerful Bass: soundcore P20i true wireless earbuds have oversized 10mm drivers that deliver powerful sound with boosted bass so you can lose yourself in your favorite songs.
- Personalized Listening Experience: Use the soundcore app to customize the controls and choose from 22 EQ presets. With "Find My Earbuds", a lost earbud can emit noise to help you locate it.
- Long Playtime, Fast Charging: Get 10 hours of battery life on a single charge with a case that extends it to 30 hours. If P20i true wireless earbuds are low on power, a quick 10-minute charge will give you 2 hours of playtime.
- Portable On-the-Go Design: soundcore P20i true wireless earbuds and the charging case are compact and lightweight with a lanyard attached. It's small enough to slip in your pocket, or clip on your bag or keys–so you never worry about space.
- AI-Enhanced Clear Calls: 2 built-in mics and an AI algorithm work together to pick up your voice so that you never have to shout over the phone.
Important: do not describe Deezer as a hi-res service unless a current plan page for the relevant market explicitly confirms it. The commonly available Deezer tier is CD-quality FLAC rather than 24-bit/192 kHz streaming.
6. TIDAL — best alternative for high-resolution audio
TIDAL remains a serious Qobuz alternative for listeners who want high-resolution audio plus Dolby Atmos. Its current About page claims more than 180 million tracks across lossless, HiRes FLAC and Dolby Atmos formats.
Current U.S. pricing shown by TIDAL is $11.99 per month for Individual, $19.99 for Family and $6.99 for Student. The Max setting chooses the best available version of a track: HiRes FLAC first, then standard FLAC, then AAC. Maximum HiRes FLAC resolution is 24-bit/192 kHz.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →On mobile, configure quality through Settings > Audio & Playback, then set Mobile data streaming or Wi-Fi streaming to Low, High or Max. For downloads, use Settings > Downloads > Audio. On desktop or the web, open Settings > Streaming > Audio Quality.
TIDAL displays a format label such as FLAC, High or Low beside the player’s progress bar. Tap the indicator to see the available technical details. Max quality can use approximately 40 MB per minute, depending on the track’s sample rate.
TIDAL still supports Dolby Atmos, but not everywhere. On supported mobile devices, use Settings > Audio & Playback > Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos is unavailable on desktop clients and Google Pixel devices; those systems fall back to stereo. MQA and 360 Reality Audio have been unavailable in TIDAL apps and integrations since July 24, 2024.
Sonos users should note that Max tracks can automatically fall back to High quality, and the TIDAL Sonos integration does not let you change the streaming quality.
7. SiriusXM — best internet-radio service
SiriusXM is the better choice when you want programmed channels, live radio, talk, sports and personality-led music rather than a conventional on-demand music library. It occupies a different niche from Apple Music, Spotify and Qobuz, so its ranking is based on its internet-radio strength rather than hi-res specifications.
It makes sense for listeners who enjoy a station-like experience and curated programming. It is less suitable if you want to manage a personal library, compare audio formats or play any album instantly on demand. SiriusXM’s current pricing and package contents vary substantially by promotion, so check the subscription page for the exact renewal price and included channels.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.YouTube Music — best for remixes, videos and rare recordings
YouTube Music is the most useful alternative for material that traditional streaming catalogs often miss: official videos, covers, fan uploads, DJ sets, live performances and unofficial remixes. That breadth can outweigh its weaker audio specifications for some listeners.
Also popular on Amazon
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
YouTube Music Premium provides ad-free music, background play, audio-only playback and downloads. Downloads remain available for up to 30 days without an internet connection, and Smart Downloads can automatically save music based on your listening history. Podcast creator promotions and some embedded sponsorships can still appear even with Premium.
Recommended Free Tools
On Android, shuffle downloaded songs through Profile picture > Downloads > Downloaded songs > Shuffle all. To cast, open YouTube Music, tap or click the Cast icon, select a device or group, then start playback.
YouTube Music does not offer a lossless or hi-res tier. Choose it for catalog breadth and video-related features, not for maximum technical audio quality.
How to choose the right service
- Choose Apple Music if you want the best balance of catalog size, lossless audio, Dolby Atmos, family sharing and a classical-music app.
- Choose Spotify if playlists, discovery, sharing and support across phones, computers, cars, speakers and game consoles are your priorities.
- Choose Qobuz if you want 24-bit/192 kHz FLAC, album notes, editorial coverage and a DRM-free download store.
- Choose Amazon Music Unlimited if you already pay for Prime and want the lower member price, Alexa support and high-resolution playback.
- Choose Deezer if collaborative playlists, listening activity and social features matter more than hi-res audio.
- Choose TIDAL if you want a Qobuz-like high-resolution option with Dolby Atmos and a different catalog and interface.
- Choose SiriusXM if you prefer radio-style programming, live channels and talk over on-demand album playback.
- Choose YouTube Music if your listening depends on remixes, live sets, covers and uploads that are not in standard services.
What lossless audio can—and cannot—do
Lossless audio preserves the data in the source file, but it does not guarantee a better-sounding master. A well-mastered CD-quality recording can sound better than a poorly mastered hi-res version. Bluetooth headphones also typically compress the signal, which can remove much of the practical benefit of choosing lossless or hi-res playback.
Hi-res does not mean every song plays at 24-bit/192 kHz. Services select the highest format actually available for each recording, then fall back to a lower-quality version when necessary. You also need suitable hardware: a wired connection, a capable DAC and headphones or speakers that reveal the difference.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteOur verdict
Apple Music is the safest recommendation for most people because it combines a very large catalog, lossless audio, Dolby Atmos, family sharing and Apple Music Classical without advertisements. Spotify is the better pick for feature depth and device support, while Qobuz is the most convincing service for dedicated audiophiles. Prime members should price Amazon Music Unlimited before choosing a rival, and YouTube Music deserves consideration whenever obscure video-based music is central to your listening.
FAQ
Which music streaming service has the best sound quality?
Qobuz and TIDAL offer the strongest maximum specifications, with Hi-Res FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Apple Music also supports Hi-Res Lossless up to 192 kHz. The actual result depends on the recording, hardware and connection.
Is Spotify lossless audio available?
Yes. Spotify Premium lossless is available in more than 50 markets, including the United States, for eligible accounts and compatible hardware. Its maximum documented format is 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC.
Is Apple Music better than Spotify?
Apple Music is better for lossless audio coverage, Dolby Atmos, Apple Music Classical and Apple-device integration. Spotify is better for discovery, playlists, social features and broad platform support. The better choice depends on which group of features you use most.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Can Bluetooth headphones play lossless music?
Bluetooth normally compresses music, so it generally does not preserve the original lossless or hi-res signal from these services. Use wired headphones, a USB DAC or a compatible Wi-Fi/Spotify Connect setup for the best chance of preserving the source quality.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Apple Music is the best overall service, Spotify Premium is the best feature-rich choice, and Qobuz is the best dedicated audiophile option. Amazon Music Unlimited is especially good value for Prime members, while YouTube Music is the standout for remixes, live recordings and unusual uploads.
