Streaming music is a great way to discover new artists, create a personal music library, and share your favorite tunes with friends and family. But with so many different apps and websites, it can be daunting to pick a streaming app and get started.
Here, we offer some helpful information about five different music streaming apps – most are free and some come with a premium option if you want to enjoy ad-free listening and other benefits.
Spotify
There are many perks to using Spotify, which provides access to all types of music. You can make an unlimited number of playlists by searching for albums, artists and songs based on genre or viewing top lists from all over the world. Plus, you can share your playlists with friends and listen to theirs, too.
With the Spotify Premium plan, you can avoid advertisements and skip through as many songs as you need to in order to find the right jam.
Pandora
Many people love Pandora because of its ability to recommend new music. Search for your favorite artist, and Pandora will create a “radio station” of music that you might enjoy. It’s a great way to discover artists and songs you might really like.
Pandora’s basic streaming service is free and the app can be downloaded to your phone, laptop or tablet. If you’re looking for ad-free stations personalized to your taste, you can upgrade to the Pandora Plus or Pandora Premium plan, which allow you to search for songs, listen offline and skip through songs as many times as you want.
SoundCloud
Feeling creative? SoundCloud is a platform that allows you to record, upload and instantly share the music you make.
You can follow your friends to see what they upload and constantly discover new songs, popular mashups and lesser-known artists who are not available on the larger streaming platforms. The best part? With SoundCloud, you can stream for free!
Apple Music
Apple Music has over 75 million songs available to stream, thousands of hand-curated playlists created by Apple Music editors, and even offers access to over 100,000 live radio stations from around the world. Apple Music’s personalized “For You” playlists recommend songs and artists that complement your music taste.
While Apple Music doesn’t come for free, a 3-month free trial is available to make sure you really love the service before committing to a subscription.
iHeart Radio
If Apple Music’s radio stations sound appealing, you may want to check out the iHeartRadio app to stream all of your favorite music, radio, and podcasts.
iHeartRadio’s free service allows you to stream live radio at any time, provides personalized artist radio stations and even comes with full access to a podcast library. If you’re looking for unlimited song skips and offline listening, iHeartRadio also offers Plus and All Access plan options.
No matter which streaming service you try, the perfect playlist can be right at your fingertips and easily shared with friends and family. Whether you’re into niche artists, top hits, local radio, or podcasts, these five streaming services – and many more – offer something for every listener.
