Is NetEase music free?
NetEase Cloud Music is a music streaming service developed by NetEase, a Chinese internet technology company founded in 1997. NetEase launched its music streaming platform in 2013 as a free service with advertisements and premium subscriptions.
NetEase Cloud Music provides streaming access to millions of songs and other audio content. It has become one of the most popular music apps in China with over 800 million registered users as of 2019.
NetEase Cloud Music Overview
NetEase Cloud Music is a music streaming service launched in China in April 2013 by NetEase, Inc [1]. The service quickly gained popularity in China due to its large library of Chinese and international music. As of 2022, NetEase Cloud Music claims to have over 800 million users [2].
NetEase Cloud Music is available on the web as well as iOS and Android mobile apps. This accessibility across platforms has contributed to its widespread adoption in China. The service offers streaming of a catalog of over 30 million tracks, providing both Chinese and international music [1].
Free Service Offerings
NetEase Cloud Music offers a free service that allows users to stream music with ads and limited skips (NetEase Cloud Music – Wikipedia). The free service includes access to NetEase’s full song library of over 50 million tracks, but with interruptions from audio and banner ads (NetEase Cloud Music – Help Articles – Amuse). Users are allowed a certain number of skips per hour depending on their region, beyond which they will encounter additional ads when skipping songs.
The free service also limits the streaming audio quality to 128kbps, which is suitable for regular mobile streaming but lower than paid subscribers who can access 320kbps streaming. Overall, the free service gives users a generous taste of NetEase Cloud Music’s offerings, but incentivizes paying for a subscription to remove ads and unlock additional features.
Paid Subscriptions
NetEase Cloud Music offers premium subscriptions for ad-free listening, downloading songs, and higher audio quality. There are two paid tiers:
The standard tier costs around $1.26 USD per month and provides limited offline song downloads (Source).
The higher tier costs around $3 USD per month and offers unlimited offline downloads and higher quality audio (Source).
By offering these premium features, NetEase Cloud Music caters to users who want an ad-free, high-quality listening experience and the ability to save music offline.
Song Library
As of December 2022, NetEase Cloud Music had a massive song library comprising over 116 million music tracks. This gives users an incredibly diverse catalog to choose from when streaming music on the platform. With over 20 million songs available, NetEase Cloud likely has any track a listener is searching for. The library includes both popular western music as well as Chinese pop music and various Asian genres. Having such an extensive collection is a major draw for users, especially compared to other streaming services available in China.
User Base
NetEase Cloud Music has amassed a massive user base, with over 800 million users as of 2019 according to Musically. This makes it one of the most widely used music streaming platforms in China and globally. The service continues to expand its user base, with around 206 million monthly active users reported as of June 2022.
A key factor driving NetEase’s popularity is its free tier which allows users to access a substantial song library and playlists without a paid subscription. This has enabled the platform to onboard hundreds of millions of users, many of whom eventually convert to paid subscribers.
In addition to its reach within mainland China, NetEase Cloud Music is also available in other Chinese-speaking regions including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. It has found an audience abroad with Chinese-language speakers looking to access Chinese music outside of mainland China.
Streaming Quality
NetEase Cloud Music offers streaming quality up to 192kbps for free users and up to 320kbps for paid subscribers.[1] The free 192kbps bitrate provides decent audio quality that is suitable for casual listening. Paid subscribers can unlock higher quality 320kbps streaming, which offers near CD-quality audio. This enhanced streaming bitrate is ideal for audiophiles who want the highest fidelity listening experience.
Overall, NetEase Cloud Music provides good to excellent streaming audio quality depending on the subscription level. Free users get very listenable 192kbps streams, while paying a subscription fee unlocks the full 320kbps lossless streaming potential. This tiered approach gives all users solid audio quality while offering an upgrade path to premium CD-like fidelity.
Platform Availability
NetEase Cloud Music is available on multiple platforms including iOS, Android, PC, and Mac. The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store and Google Play for iOS and Android devices respectively. For desktop usage, NetEase Cloud Music offers downloadable apps for both Windows and Mac operating systems.
The mobile apps allow users to stream music on the go and have full access to NetEase’s song library. The desktop apps provide a more robust music management experience with additional features like editing song info, organizing playlists, and even transferring music to external devices.
With apps tailored for major platforms, NetEase Cloud Music aims to provide a seamless listening experience across user devices. The multi-platform support has likely contributed to NetEase’s large user base spanning mobile, tablet, and computer users.
Competitors
NetEase Cloud Music faces competition from several major music streaming platforms. Its primary competitors are:
Spotify – Spotify is arguably NetEase Cloud Music’s biggest competitor globally. Founded in 2006, Spotify operates in over 80 markets and has over 406 million monthly active users as of 2022 (Source). Spotify offers a freemium model with premium subscriptions, an extensive music catalog, and integrations across platforms.
Apple Music – Launched in 2015, Apple Music rapidly became a top contender with over 90 million subscribers as of 2022 (Source). Apple Music benefits from deep integration with Apple devices and exclusives like spatial audio.
QQ Music – QQ Music is operated by NetEase competitor Tencent. It dominates the Chinese market with over 800 million users as of 2021 (Source). QQ Music offers free streaming funded by ads, a song library tailored to Chinese users, and strong social features.
While facing stiff competition, NetEase Cloud Music retains a strong user base in China and international markets due to its extensive music library, quality recommendations, and innovations like lyric translations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NetEase Cloud Music does offer a free service with limited features, but also provides paid subscription options with additional benefits. The free service allows users to stream millions of songs and create playlists, but with audio ads and lower quality audio compared to paid tiers. While the free experience covers the basics, premium memberships like NetEase Cloud Music HiFi provide a higher bitrate audio, ad-free listening, offline downloads, and exclusive content. Overall, NetEase Cloud Music caters to both casual listeners and audiophiles with its freemium model. The free service provides a solid music streaming experience, especially for those who don’t mind occasional ads. But hardcore music fans may find the paid memberships worthwhile for the boosted streaming quality and premium perks.