Review: Spotify vs Apple Music vs Deezer vs Youtube Music vs Qobuz vs Amazon Music vs Tidal

In this article, we compare 7 popular music streaming services: Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and Tidal. We evaluate each of them through a list of pros and cons, as well as a review of the user experience they provide. You will find out the winner of the comparison at the end of the article.

Apple Music

Pros :

• Large music library with a focus on classical music via the Apple Classic app.

• Smooth integration with Apple devices.

• Good sound quality.

Cons :

• Fewer social features compared to some competitors.

User Experience : Apple Music offers a refined user experience, especially for Apple device users. The navigation is intuitive, and the selection of classical, jazz and alternative music is particularly impressive.

Deezer

Pros :

• Leader on the French market with a large catalog of songs.

• Unique Flow functionality for music discovery.

• Sound quality options, including Hi-Fi mode.

Cons :

• User interface is less intuitive than some competitors.

• Playlists sometimes less personalized.

• More expensive than other services.

• Aggressive design.

User experience : Deezer stands out with its Flow algorithm, which offers personalized music discoveries. The algorithm, however, is not at the level of Youtube Music. The new app design is disappointing, but the overall experience remains pleasant.

Spotify

Pros :

• Very popular with a huge library of songs.

• Excellent discovery features and personalized playlists.

• Friendly user interface and solid social features.

Cons :

• Audio quality is lower than Hi-Fi services.

• Intrusive advertisements in the free version.

User Experience : Spotify shines with its ease of use and discovery features. However, audiophiles might be disappointed by the sound quality.

Qobuz

Pros :

• Superior sound quality with Hi-Res options.

• Detailed and in-depth editorials on music.

• Wide selection of genres, including classical and jazz music.

Cons :

• Fewer titles than some major competitors.

User Experience : Qobuz excels in sound quality and editorial content, providing a rich experience for audiophiles and serious music lovers.

YouTube Music

Pros :

• Integration with YouTube music videos.

• Powerful algorithm for music discovery.

• Efficient and customizable interface.

Cons :

• Random sound quality.

• Frequent ads in the free version.

User Experience : YouTube Music is ideal for those who enjoy music videos and personalized music discovery. The pleasant experience is sometimes balanced by a disappointing sound quality.

Amazon Music

Pros :

• Integration with Amazon Echo and other Amazon services.

• Affordable options with Amazon Prime.

Cons :

• Interface less refined than its competitors.

• Limited discovery features.

• Poor audio quality.

User experience : Amazon Music is suitable for Amazon Echo users, but suffers from a less sophisticated interface and less advanced discovery options.

Tidal

Pros :

• Excellent sound quality.

• Fair remuneration for artists.

Cons :

• Over-simplistic interface.

• Audio quality comes at a high price.

User Experience : Tidal's interface is simple and modern, but lacks features. Audiophiles will love listening to their favorite songs in Hi-Res.

Verdict

After a thorough analysis, Qobuz stands out as the winner thanks to its exceptional sound quality and quality editorials. Apple Music follows closely with its impressive selection of classical music. Tidal takes the advantage in terms of sound quality, but leaves a little to be desired in terms of functionality. Deezer stands out as the French leader with its unique Flow algorithm but its new design makes it unpleasant to use. YouTube Music and Spotify are recommended for their algorithm and popularity respectively. Finally, Amazon Music, although useful for Amazon subscribers, is last on our review due to its limitations in terms of interface and music discovery.