Best Music Streaming App for Android 2022

Music Streaming App has become the main medium through which many of us listen to music nowadays. A lot of Music Streaming Apps mushrooming up now. So, it is difficult and confusing to choose the best. In this post, we at Daily Weblife is going to dive deep to find the Best Music Streaming App for Android for the Year 2022 for you.

We are going to make an in-depth analysis of features, subscription cost and much more on the best music streaming app for android. Further, we are going to discuss some unique features provided by these music streaming apps. Finally, we are going to list some other mentionable music streaming app. And then we will end up our discussion on our final verdict.

And we at Daily Weblife know some of you want a comprehensive article on this topic. So, we have made the statistics and comparison of the best music streaming app for android at the very beginning of this post.

Best Music Streaming App for Android Statistics

Best Music Streaming App for Android Comparison

Common Audio File Formats

At first, let us know some basics regarding audio files used in these best music streaming app for android.

Audio file format is the digital file of any analog audio to be stored in digital device. Basically, audio files are categorized of three types

Uncompressed Audio Formats

Basically, Uncompressed audio is the digital format of real analog audio. It consists of real sound waves captured without any processing. It’s the most accurate to the analog signal but the files take a lot of disk space.

Some common files are:-

• WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
• AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)

Lossless Compression Audio Formats

This audio format takes up less space than the uncompressed audio file format. And that too without any loss of any information from real sound waves.

Some common files are:-

• FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
• ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)
• WMA Lossless (Windows Media Audio)

Lossy Compression Audio Formats.

This is the most common audio file format in the world. In this audio file format some data is lost but takes much less disk space.

Some common files are:-

• MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3)
• AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
• OGG Vorbis
• WMA Lossy (Windows Media Audio)
• Opus

Now let us list the Top 5 Best Music Streaming Apps for Android for the year 2020.

1. Spotify

Spotify Info

Users: 130M	No of Tracks: 50M
Audio Quality: 24-320 kbps	Platform: Android, iOS, Web, PS etc
Since:2008	Subscription model: Free | Premium

Spotify is one of the best music streaming app for android as of now. It claims to have 130 millions subscribers across 79 countries of the world. This app lets you access a giant library of music, podcasts and radio station. In addition to this, you can share your favorite song with friends. Further, you can even see what your friend is listening to.

This music streaming app has a free version with ads as well as a premium version. Spotify Premium allows you to save up to 10,000 songs each on five different devices. Especially, Spotify comes with an improved streaming quality of 320kpbs without any ads.

Spotify pays singers and songwriters an amount of  $0.006/stream. But if the user listens to at least 30 seconds of the song.

Types of Content available in Spotify

• Music
• Podcasts
• Radio
• Concerts
• Artist Profiles

Music

Undoubtedly, Spotify is considered the best music streaming app for android because it has 50 million tracks and episodes. Moreover, you can use Spotify to play local music files in MP3 and MP4 format.

Podcast

Spotify podcast audience has nearly doubled since the start of 2019. Particularly, there is a lot of podcasts on Spotify ranging from educational to Lifestyle & Health.

Radio

Spotify Radio creates a collection of songs based on any artist or an album. The playlist, even more, might be any song of your choice. You can save the radio station in your library under playlist. The Radio gets updated now and then to provide fresh content.

Concert and Artist Profile

With Concerts feature, you can find out when and where your favorite artist is performing live.

In particular, the Artist Profile in Spotify is worth mentioning. In here you will find all releases by a particular artist and everything you need to know about them. Further, you can know your favorite artist biography, concerts they are performing live, their playlist and picks.

Spotify Technical Information

Spotify uses its own proprietary software for encoding audio. It uses Digital Rights Management Controls (DRM).

Spotify Audio Quality

Spotify Subscription Cost

Spotify Premium Student plan offers bundle 3 services. Spotify Premium, subscription of two major OTT Platform Hulu ad-supported plans and Showtime.

Platforms Supported by Spotify

With one single account of Spotify, you can listen in almost all the devices available on this planet.

• OS
  • Android
  • iOS
  • Mac
  • Windows
• Web Player
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Opera
  • Safari
• App Integration (Google Assistant, Siri, Google Maps, Tinder, Shazam and more)
• Smart Speakers (Google, Amazon, Bose, Sony, LG and more)
• Smart Watches (Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung and more)
• Gaming Consoles (Sony PlayStation, Xbox, Nvidia)
• Car Audio (Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, BMW, Tesla and more)
• Smart TV and Streamers (Android TV, Sony, Samsung, LG, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and much more)
• Smart Displays (Google Nest, Amazon Echo, Facebook Portal, Amazon Echo Sport and more)

Features of Spotify

Discover Weekly and Daily Mix

Spotify recommends music to you that you have never heard before. It is based on the interest of the current music the user listens. For example, if you are listening to Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift. Then Spotify will give you a recommendation of an artist whose voice sounds like Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift. So, these recommendations are put up on a playlist created by Spotify called Your Discover Weekly on your profile.

Further, Spotify provided personalized playlists daily called Daily Mix. It provides 6 Daily Mix based on your favorite songs and related music you might enjoy. And not to mention that it is available for free as well as premium users.

Collaborative Playlists

Spotify is more sociable than other best music streaming app for android. Because you can see what your friend is listening in real-time. Particularly, Spotify has a unique type of playlist called Collaborative Playlists. Basically, in it, multiple users can create a common playlist and can add user songs to that playlist.

Crossfade

Crossfade is a unique feature in Spotify. This feature blends one song into another seamlessly without creating a pause between two songs.

Spotify Community

Spotify is considered the best music streaming app for android because it has the Spotify Community. In Spotify Community millions of users can help each other and acquire new ideas.

Firstly, in the Spotify community, the users can post any question and answer any old question in existing threads. Secondly, they can suggest new ideas or support new ideas to improve Spotify. Thirdly, the users can chat about music and share their playlists. Finally, you can become a Rockstar within the Spotify Community. Rockstars are experienced users hired by Spotify to help Community Forums, or on Twitter within the Spotify Community.

Spotify Group Sessions

It is one of the best features in Spotify. In Spotify Group Sessions, a group of users or friends can listen to the same track at the same time anywhere they are and in any device. Basically, a user can start a group session. And then the user can send the sharing code for the sessions to friends. Accordingly, the users who want to join the session scans the code.

Spotify Group Sessions is only available to premium users on mobile and tablets.

Pros

• Spotify supports almost all the platforms available in the world.
• Great User-Friendly Interface for its App as well as Web Player.
• Spotify Free Version has all the songs as its premium users.
• Spotify has the Best AI and Machine Learning Recommendation Features

Cons

• The first con is that Spotify is yet to come up with HD Audio for its tracks.
• Further, You need to go online at least once in 30 days to keep your podcast download.
• Furthermore, Spotify charges artists to upload their songs on Spotify at the rate of $9.99 for a single track and $29.99 to upload an album or an EP.
• Lastly, Spotify has DRM Protection for downloaded tracks. So, the downloaded tracks can’t be shared with other users.

2. SoundCloud

SoundCloud Info

Users:76M	No of Tracks: 200M+
Audio Quality:64-256 kbps ACC	Platform:Android, iOS,Web, etc
Since:2008	Subscription model: Free | Paid

SoundCloud is one of the world’s largest open music and audio platform. It is also the best music streaming app for android devices. SoundCloud lets the user discover and enjoy the greatest selection of music from the most diverse community of music creators on earth especially independent music creators (indie music).

 In this best music streaming app for android because it lets you be a creator, listener as well as curator.

SoundCloud for Music Creator

SoundCloud is the best music streaming app for android for music creators. Especially, song creator can upload audio and music and share privately or publicly to a friend, blogs, sites, and all your social networks.  Because it doesn’t charge a penny to upload music, unlike Spotify and Apple Music. These apps charge a hefty amount to the artists. You can engage with your fans with comments and promote your music.

SoundCloud for Music Listener

As a listener and if you love music from independent artists then Soundcloud is the best music streaming app for android devices. Soundcloud is basically the music streaming platform for indie musicians. You can save your favorite tracks and playlists in your Likes and you get related tracks recommendations.

Specifically, SoundCloud has unique content and features. At first, we can share music to our friends. Secondly, we can connect directly with the artist. Thirdly, we can listen to breakthrough tracks, raw demos, podcast and much more. Basically, it is like the YouTube of Audio.

SoundCloud for Music Curator

You can gather your own following and be a Curator in SoundCloud. Firstly, you can listen, save and follow up and coming creators. Secondly, you can build hit playlist. And finally, share your passion for music with your followers.

Types of Content available in SoundCloud

• Music
• Podcast
• Audio Project and Experiment
• SoundCloud Radio

SoundCloud Technical Information

Most important is that this music streaming app supports Creative Commons licenses or CC license. Basically, CC license is a public copyright license that enables one to freely distribute copyright content with certain restrictions or no restrictions at all.

SoundCloud Audio File Format

SoundCloud streams audio in MP3, AAC and Opus formats only.

For uploading SoundCloud recommends uploading audio files in a lossless format like FLAC, WAV, AIFF or ALAC. The maximum limit is 4GB and if more than 4GB, the track should be splited and uploaded as separate files. The bit depth should be 16 bit and the sample rate should be 48 kHz.

SoundCloud also supports other popular file format for uploading. For example, MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, MP4, M4A,WMA, AMR,3GP,3G2, etc.

SoundCloud Audio Quality

Quality	Bitrate
Medium Quality	Opus 48 kbps | MP3 96 kbps | ACC 64 kbps
High Quality	Opus 64 kbps | MP3 128 kbps | ACC 96 kbps
Very High Quality	Opus 128 kbps | MP3 320 kbps | ACC 256 kbps

SoundCloud Subscription Cost

For Music Listeners

Plans	Subscription Price (if billed yearly)
SoundCloud Free	Free with Ads
SoundCloud Go	$ 4.99/month € 4.99/month
SoundCloud Go+	$ 9.99/month € 9.99/month
SoundCloud Go+ Student	$ 4.99/month € 4.99/month

For Creators (Music Artist and Podcaster)

Plans	Subscription Price (if billed yearly)	Upload Limit
SoundCloud Basic	Free	3 hours
SoundCloud Pro	$5.25/month €5.25/month	6 Hours
SoundCloud Pro Unlimited	$8.25/month €8.25/month	Unlimited

Platform supported by SoundCloud

• Android
• iOS
• Web
• Xbox One
• Google Home
• Sonos
• Chromecast

Features of SoundCloud

SoundCloud Repost

Reposts are the quickest way to share your favorite music tracks, podcast, etc with your friend and followers for the creators.

Repost is a great way for creators in SoundCloud. Firstly, they can send your music to major best music streaming app for android like Spotify, Apple Music, Tik Tok, Instagram etc. They can keep 80% of the revenue earned.

Secondly, the creators can get paid for their tracks played. Further, they can claim their content on YouTube and pay collaborators by splitting the pay. Finally, they can advertise and do marketing on their new release.

Repost is available for creators in Pro Unlimited Plan or by paying $30 / €30 per year.

SoundCloud Embedded Player

SoundCloud is considered as one of the best music streaming app for android because it has the feature of an embedded player. This is not available in other music app.

SoundCloud’s track can be played via a unique URL of a track without the need for additional music player or plugin. This feature enables us to directly embed SoundCloud tracks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Post directly.

Further, you can embed SoundCloud on WordPress also as shown below.

SounCloud Open Creators Platform

SoundCloud is the best music streaming app for android for its open creators platform. It ‘s main aim is to make music and audio sharing open, easy, free and transparent.

Firstly, music creators can upload their track for immediate discovery by SoundCloud listener and beyond. Secondly, they can connect fellow creators, promoters, press and music managers. Finally, they can reach their future fans and build their fan base.

Commenting Feature on tracks and album

SoundCloud lets you express how you feel about it a track or artist. Firstly, it lets you manage your own comments and comments by the community. Secondly, it provides you the ability to easily delete and leave comments on tracks. Thirdly, it lets social connections between artists and fans around the world. Lastly, SoundCloud creates an open, authentic and dynamic community where everyone can share and connect.

Pros

• Anyone can upload content and when the content is made public it can be discoverable by anyone. SoundCloud is same as YouTube, without video.
• Every user in SoundCloud can be an artist. They can upload up to 180 minutes of audio at no cost.
• Most of the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc are integrated in this best music streaming app for android.
• Every user in SoundCloud can comment, like and share any track or podcast. This feature especially provides instant feedback to the creators.

Cons

• SoundCloud may be the best music streaming app for android for audio platform but it isn’t primarly for podcasters.
• Especially, for new creators the upload limit is a hindrance to showcase their talent. If they want unlimited upload time they to spend a lot in the beginning.
• Most of the tracks are not acceptable to Free and Go subscription. All the tracks are accessible only by SounCloud Go+ Subscription.

3. Amazon Music

Amazon Music Info

Users: 55M	No of Tracks: 60M
Audio Quality:96-3730 kbps	Platform: Android, iOS,Web, etc
Since: 2007	Subscription model: Free | Paid

Amazon Music has been in the music streaming industry since 2007. It was previously known as Amazon MP3. Coupled with 70% subscriber growth and the launch of lossless high-quality HD audio streaming had made it one of the best music streaming app for android in recent times.

Amazon Music comes as a part of Amazon Prime Subscription. But if you hooked to music then you can go for Amazon Music Unlimited that offers you to play tracks from a huge catalog of 60M songs. Further, if you want an immersive version of audio you can go for Amazon Music HD. It offers HD and Ultra HD quality audio tracks. Moreover, you can enjoy 3D audio if you have Amazon Echo devices.

Types of Content avaialble in Amazon Music

• Digital Music Tracks
• HD and Ultra HD Music Tracks
• 3D Audio Tracks

Basically, Amazon pays the music artist through their respective Performing Rights Organization (PRO) quarterly. It pays an artist at a rate of $00.00402 per stream or $1 for nearly 249 streams.

Amazon Music Technical Information

Amazon Music Audio Quality

Quality	Bitrate
Low	96 kbps
Medium	128 kbps
High	320 kbps
HD	850 kbps
Ultra HD	3730 kbps
3D Audio	850 kbps & 3730 kbps

Amazon Music Subscription Cost

Amazon Music has a long list of subscription plans ranging from everything free to HD Audio subscription. Specifically, it has four tiers of subscription and 2 to 3 variants in some tiers.

Amazon Music Free

This is the free plan of Amazon Music but it is ad-supported.

Amazon Prime Music (bundles with Amazon Prime Subscription)

Plans	Cost
Prime Music	$12.99/month
Prime Music Student	$6.49/month
EBT/Medicaid Card Holder	$5.99/month

Amazon Music Unlimited

Plans	Cost
Individual	$7.99/month
Family	$14.99/month
Single Device	$3.99/month
Student	$0.99/month

Amazon Music HD

Individual	$14.99/month
Amazon Prime Individual*	$12.99/month
Family	$19.99/month

*Add-on for Amazon Prime customer only.

Platforms supported by Amazon Music

• Android
• iOS
• macOS
• Windows
• Fire OS
• Amazon Alexa
• Web

Features of Amazon Music

Amazon Discovery Mix

Amazon Music Discovery Mix is a unique playlist created by Amazon Music for each user. Basically, the Discovery Mix playlist is created based on the user’s listening habits, preference and feedback. It updated once a week, most probably on Mondays.

Amazon Music Unlimited

Amazon Music Unlimited is the premium version of Amazon Music with over 60 million songs. Along with the songs, it has thousands of expertly crafted playlist and stations too. To avail Amazon Music Unlimited you do not need to be a Prime Member of Amazon Prime.

Amazon Music HD

Amazon Music HD is the high-quality lossless music streaming of the tracks available on Amazon Music Unlimited. It is available as an add-on to Amazon Music Unlimited Individual and Family Plan subscription.

Basically, High Quality Music is avaialbe in three varients:-

• Lossless HD Quality
• Ultra HD Quality
• 3D Audio (only on Amazon Echo)

Quality	Bit Rate	No of Tracks Available
Lossless HD Quality	850 kbps	60M
Ultra HD Quality	3730 kbps	2M
3D Audio	850 kbps 3730 kbps	1K

3D Audio

Basically, Amazon Music HD has 3D Audio feature for playback in Amazon Echo devices. 3D Audio turns stereo tracks into 3D audio experience. The 3D songs are mastered in Dolby Atmos and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio codecs. At present there are 1000 3D tracks available in Amazon Music from some of the world’s biggest artists.

Pros

• Cheaper Subscription cost as compared to other best music streaming app for Android.
• Easy and User-Friendly interface for mobile app. In the mobile app (both Android and iOS) you only find 3 tabs at the bottom of the app. Basically, it has made the app super easy to navigate.
  At first, you have a Home tab. Then you have the Find tab to search for any music. It even shows the recent searches you have done. Finally, you have My Music tab. Particularly, in this tab the recently played content, be it a song, artist, playlist or stations is shown. Apart from this, you have a playlist, albums, songs, genres tab.

Cons

Without doubt, Amazon is the best streaming app for android but mainly it has three pitfalls.

• At first, Amazon Music lacks social sharing. Spotify outranks it for sharing music with the public and friends. In contrast to other best music streaming app for android, Amazon Music has only one sharing option. You can share tracks and playlist on your social media channels.
• Secondly, Amazon Music lacks well-developed AI and Machine Learning models like other best music streaming app for android. Spotify Daily Mix and Apple Music’s New Music Mix is far better than Amazon Music’s weekly My Discovery Mix.
• Finally, the last cons of Amazon Music is its confusing subscription structure. We at Daily Weblife have simplified the Amazon Music Subscription Cost as simpler as possible.

4. Apple Music

Apple Music Info

Users: 68M	No of Tracks: 60M
Audio Quality:128-256 kbps AAC	Platform: Android, iOS, Web,etc
Since:2015	Subscription model: Paid

Apple Music is popular and best music streaming service for android as well for all Apple devices. It is a paid music streaming service developed by Apple which is linked to iTunes. However, you get the first 3 months of free trial.

Apple Music is a combination Apple Music, Apple Music Radio and Apple Music Connect.You need iTunes and an Apple ID to use Apple Music.

Apple Music pays singers and songwriters an amount of  $0.012/stream if user lister to at least  30s of the song.

Types of Content available in Apple Music

• Music
• Music Video
• Podacst
• Radio
• TV Shows like Carpool Karaoke, Planet of Apps,etc

Apple Music Technical Information

Apple Music Toolbox

This Music Toolbox is a type of marketing tool for Apple Music and its content. You can find the embeddable widget, badges for albums, songs and playlist links to be used in websites, apps or other platforms.

To embed a song or playlist in your app or website, you just have to go to Apple Music Toolbox Website. Then click the songs or playlist in Apple Music to get the embed code or direct link. You can also specify the height and width along with your affiliate code. Not to mention, the embed preview is shown below.

Apple MusicKit

Apple MusiKit is a software framework for developers to integrate Apple Music in their app(both Android and iOS) or website. Thus, it lets the user of the app or website play Apple Music and music from their local music library.

Apple Music Audio Quality

Quality	Bitrate
Normal	128 kbps AAC*
High Quality	256 kbps AAC*

*AAC (Adavanced Audio Coding) used Apple Music is Apple’s proprietary AAC codec.

Apple Music Subscription Cost

Apple Music gives you free trial for first 3 months on any of the plan you choose. You can cancel the trail anytime you want.

Plans	Cost
Student	$4.99/month
Individual	$9.99/month
Family	$14.99/month

Platforms

• Android
• Apple Device (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
• Amazon Echo
• Apple Watch
• Apple CarPlay
• Sonos
• Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV
• Web

Features of Apple Music

3D Touch User Interface

User Interface of Apple Music is appealing especially its 3D touch where songs can be added to a queue by long pressing on the songs and a host of other 3D features. Apple Music EQ(Equalizer) feature for each song is unique where you can change the levels of lows, mids and highs of each track according to your wish.

Sing Along

The lyrics User Interface in Apple Music makes it the best music streaming app for android in terms of karaoke. Apple Music got lyrics of almost all the songs available in its ecosystem. Other best music streaming app for android doesn’t have this feature to a great extent. Especially, the design and the way lyrics are displayed are awesome.

Live Local radio Stations

In Apple Music, you can listen to Beats 1 radio station and many other local radio stations. Beats 1 is a famous internet radio station that offers 24/7 round the clock playlist and live DJs. The best part is that you can listen to this radio station for free without any subscription plan. This makes Apple Music the best music streaming app for android.

Apple Music Connect

Through Apple Music Connect, Musicians and Fan can connect with each other in a more intimate fashion. It offers fans to access new singles, videos and even message their favorite artist.

Apple Ecosystem Integration

You can download and stream music to your Apple Watch. Siri is integrated into Apple Music. Siri can be used as a voice assistant to control music play and search for music content. You also can stream Apple Music to AirPlay enabled speaker or Apple TV and Samsung Smart TV.

You can also access all the music files in iTunes in Apple Music. Even you can access your offline songs or songs in your computer hard disk in Apple Music. But at first you have to upload the songs to iTunes iCloud Music Library.

Apple’s For You

Apple’s For You is an AI based music recommendation system. It recommends music and playlist based on our musical taste. At first, you get Daily Music Mix unique for each user based on the song they are listening. Secondly, you can check out what your friends are listening to. Finally, you can check out Apple Music Replay where the history of songs played by you over a year is played.

Apple Music for Artists.

Music Artists can Sign Up in Apple Music as am Artist to use a host of features. The artist can understand his or her music impact across Apple Music as well as iTunes and connect with their fans. Firstly, the artist can view the tracks overall performance. It displays the number of times that track is played, Average Daily Listeners, Number of times the track is download and even how many times it is Shazamed.

Secondly, the artist can get at a glance at the track milestones. Thirdly, the artist gets a visualization graph on the trend of the track overtime period. Further, he can see a global map of where your listeners are based. Finally, the artist can do some other stuff like upload their own custom artist image, the playlists of the artist track being added. Furthermore, the demographic of the tracks top listener can be seen.

Download Songs

You can download your favorite song, playlist and albums from Apple’s 60 million track catalogs. Apple Music lets you download content on up to 10 devices for offline listening.

Pros

Cleaner User Interface of Apple Music

Apple Music has a clean white interface with four tabs at the bottom and searches at the top along with setting dots. Starting with the Library tab which contains the music you liked, saved playlist and music from iCloud. If you go further you will find For You tab that contains Apple’s recommendation for you, Find & Follow Friends, Recently Played, a different playlist for a different day and other curated content.

Furthermore, you will find the General tab which allows you to browse all the music available in the Apple Music database. The last tab is the Radio tab which not only contains one station but many other stations based on an artist, genre, year, etc.

3 months Free trial

Apple Music provides 3 months free trial period to deep test Apple Music App and services before going for to their subscription plan. During the free trial, you can enjoy all the songs available in it, podcasts, radio, etc. Along with the songs you get entire music library on all your device.

Available to other device outside Apple Ecosystem

This time Apple has not made the mistake of releasing its service and product restricted to Apple Ecosystem. Apple Music was launched for almost all the devices and popular OS including Android. So, it became one of the best music streaming app for android in a span 6-7 years since its launch.

Apple Music Playlist

Apple has ranked to be the best music streaming app for android because of its playlist. Unlike other best music streaming app for android which are machine curated, Apple Music’s playlists are human-curated.

Moreover, you get Mood based playlist in Apple Music. These playlist are inspired by the songs you listen moist. For example Chill songs, Party Songs, Friday Felling Songs , etc . You can ask Siri to play songs based on mood.

Cons

• No Free Version
• Country and Region restrictions
• Lack of User-Friendly Interface
• All the content in Apple Music is DRM Protected Content. SO, you can’t freely distribute the tracks.
• Providing HD Music tracks like other best music streaming platform for android.

5. YouTube Music

YouTube Music Info

Users: 20M	No of Tracks: 50M
Audio Quality: 48-256 kbps AAC	Platform: Android, iOS, Web, etc
Since: 2015	Subscription cost: Free | Paid

YouTube Music is the first full-fledged music streaming service and app developed my video streaming gain YouTube. YouTube has become one of the best music streaming app for android due to two factors. Firstly, due to the popularity of YouTube. And secondly, all music-related content of YouTube available on YouTube Music.

YouTube Music is a mashed-up version of the original YouTube and Google Play Music. But YouTube Music is mainly focused on songs and also music videos Google is slowing migrating Play Music to YouTube Music. YouTube Music will finally supplant Google Play Music.

Types of Content available in YouTube Music

• Music Tracks
• Music Videos
• Live Performances & Videos from Concerts
• Radio Stations

YouTube Music Technical Information

YouTube Music Audio Quality

Quality	Bitrate
Low	48 kbps AAC
Medium (Normal)	128 kbps AAC
High	256 kbps AAC

YouTube Music Subscription Cost

Plans	Cost
YouTube Music Basic	Free with ads
YouTube Music Premium Individual	$9.99/month
YouTube Music Premium Family	$14.99/month
YouTube Music Premium Student	$4.99/month
YouTube Premium Bundled	$11.99/month

Platforms supported by YouTube Music

• Android
• iOS
• Web
• Android Auto
• Android Wear (Smart Watches)

Features of YouTube Music

User Interface

YouTube Music has a darker User Interface just like Spotify. The landing page of the app has four main tabs-Home, Explorer, Library and Search tabs. Basically, in the Home tab, you get an endless stream of personalized music recommendation. In the second tab, you can explore trending songs, favorite albums, listening history, etc. In the last tab Library which is tree-based navigation that contains your playlist, Albums, Liked Songs, etc.

AI based recommendation

Google Music provides you track and playlist based on location, time of the day, weather condition of your location, etc. This recommendation is provided basically from the huge mountains of data Google has collected from you.

For example, if you in airport Google Music will serve you relaxing music for stressful flight experience. Further, in the early morning it suggests energy-boosting playlist. Furthermore, if the sky is clear in your location, it will provide you a playlist like “Fell Good Favorites“.

Huge Catalog

YouTube offers over 50 million music tracks. It also includes albums, high-quality audio as well as deep cuts, B-sides and remixes. Further, you get to see and hear Live Performances & Videos from concerts.

Listen Everywhere

You can listen to YouTube’s music in music app, desktop, web as well as smart speakers. It also allows you to keep listening to audio while you are using other apps or your phone’s screen is switched off. Basically, it allows us to run its service in the background.

Especially, YouTube music has a cool feature called Travel with YouTube Music. It lets you access and plays songs from your music library in a country or region where YouTube Music isn’t available. The music content that is available to your home location will travel with for a maximum of 6 months. So, you can keep enjoying your listening experience without any hindrance.

YouTube Playlist

Especially, YouTube Music lets you do host of function with playlist. At first, you can listen to thousands of official playlist form it as well as Google Play Music. Secondly, you can add up to 5000 songs in a single playlist. Thirdly, you can listen to your uploaded and purchased songs.

Pros

• Google integrated YouTube recommendation engine is par with Spotify
• Good User Interface with excellent Home screen and ease of use.
• It has YouTube music video integrated into it.

Cons

• Doesn’t provide HD Audio
• Lack of power-user features.

Final Verdict

We have discussed almost all the important aspects related to the 5 Best Music Streaming App for Android. We have listed Spotify as the best overall in all respect. If you are a music creator and listens to indie artists go for Sound Cloud. For the best value for money and listening HD music go for Amazon Music (Prime & Unlimited). Apple Music is best for Apple Ecosystem Users. If you want to listen to free music and hooked with Google, then go for YouTube Music.

Some Other Mentionable Music Streaming App for Android

• Tidal
• Pandora
• Deezer
• iHeart Radio
• LiveXLive
• SiriusXM
• Qobuz