Many people are discovering the benefits of online music streaming subscription services. These services offer a vast catalogue of music from which you can stream any song on demand, when you want it. Rather than pay for each song, a user pays a monthly subscription fee.
Streaming music may be a better alternative to buying and downloading each song you want to hear. Streaming music subscriptions are particularly well-suited for people who buy one or more albums per month; for those who like a large variety of music; or for people who like to keep up on the most recent music.
Instead of downloading and buying albums at $7.99 to $9.99 each, millions of songs are available to be added to a personal online library or to playlists. Some music streaming services even allow you to sync music from your computer's music library with your online virtual library. With all of your music available in your virtual library, you can play all of the music that you like in one place, including creating playlists
While the music subscription services stream music from online, some offer offline listening. Songs and playlists can be downloaded to devices for listening when you don't have a wifi connection. These downloaded songs are available as long as your music streaming subscription is current.
The Top Music Streaming Services
While there are a number of music streaming services, Rhapsody, Qriocity, MOG and Spotify are arguably among the most popular. Each of these services offers music-on-demand and some sort of library or playlists to save the songs you like to listen to most. While they have the similarities mentioned previously, each has its own specialties that may make one service stand out for you among the rest.
Music streaming radio services — Last.fm, Rdio, Slacker Radio, and more — focus more on the radio play aspect than on the individual song playlist. These services are not included in the comparisons here.
How to Choose a Streaming Music Service
It is unlikely that you'll want to subscribe to more than one online streaming music service. Take a moment to answer the following questions, then match your answers with the section on pricing plans and on the strengths of each online music streaming service. These questions will also give you a good idea of what is possible
Imagine how you might use a music-on-demand service:
- Would you like to find the songs you like and put them into a library to play again in the future?
- Would you take the time to create playlists for different occasions — dancing, sing-along, quiet dinners, or workouts?
- Would you rather just find playlists created by the the service?
- Would you search for songs or artists you like and listen to a playlist that other users have created?
- Would you like to share your playlists and song discoveries and see your friends' top songs and playlists? Your first reaction may be that you don't want to share playlists. However, you may know someone who always has the best music mix at their parties, at the gym, etc. Wouldn't it be great to easily access and play their mix (playlist)? Do you like to see what music is on the playlists of celebrities and/or musicians?
- Or do you say, "Forget it, I don't have time and don't want to put together or search for playlists. Just give me some lists to pick from!" Are you happy with general lists — genres of music, eras, moods? Do you enjoy eclectic music such as French love ballads or early electronica?
- Would you create a radio station with music from a variety of artists based on an artist or favorite song? Would you want to easily customize the station?
- Do you want to be able to listen to music from your library on your computer along with the songs in the catalog?
- Do you like to read about music trends, listen to interviews with musicians, and learn more about the music you choose?
Subscription Pricing Plans — Where Do You Want to Listen to Music?
The top online music streaming services have similar monthly subscription fees but the features offered at each tier may vary.
Spotify offers a free service that is ad-supported and initially allows for unlimited play in the United States. However, it is expected that in the near future, Spotify's free service will limit the number of hours that you can listen and the number of times you can play a song. The free service does not offer you a library to save the Spotify music. While you can play your local files using your Spotify free player, you cannot sync those files with your Spotify library.
The $4.99 per month plan:
MOG Basic: Unlimited access to MOG online and from CE devices such as Roku and LG network TV's, media player and Blu-ray players.
Spotify Unlimited: Unlimited play, removes ads, only on web browser
Qriocity ($3.99): Can play on multiple devices including Android phones, but playback is limited and you don't get a library or the ability to create playlists to easily access your favorite songs.
Rhapsody: No option at this price.
The $9.99 per month plan:
MOG Primo: Adds mobile phones to the devices that can play unlimited music.
Spotify Premium: Can play on network media players, media streamers and mobile devices
Qriocity: The premium plan includes all premium channels, unlimited playback and ability to create and edit playlists.
Rhapsody: Can play on any device, but only one Rhapsody app can be open at the same time. This means that one person cannot listen on an iPhone at the same time that another person listens on the Sonos system.
$14.99 per month plan:
Rhapsody: Plan is well-suited for multiple users, running up to three devices at the same time. This is a good choice for a family sharing an account. Other family members may want to stream music to their device while you are listening on another device.
No other service has a plan at this price.
Proceed to Page 2: Choosing the Best Subscription Music Streaming Service - Service Features Comparison