What music app can I use in Mexico?
Music streaming apps have become incredibly popular around the world, allowing users to access vast libraries of songs, playlists, albums, podcasts and more right on their mobile devices. With music streaming now accounting for over 80% of revenue in the global recorded music market, these apps have transformed how we discover and listen to music.
In Mexico specifically, music streaming has seen huge growth in recent years. As smartphone and mobile data access continues to proliferate across the country, streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music and others are providing Mexican users with easy access to endless musical content.
This article will provide an overview of the top music streaming apps available to users in Mexico. It will examine the major global platforms as well as popular regional services, looking at accessibility, internet connectivity requirements, data usage, content libraries, pricing, and other key factors for Mexican users. The goal is to help readers understand the streaming app landscape in Mexico so they can find the music service that best fits their needs and budget.
Popular Music Apps in Mexico
Some of the most popular music apps used in Mexico include Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and Deezer. According to Statista, in 2021 Spotify had the largest market share at 57.5%, followed by YouTube Music at 31.1% and Apple Music at 3.1% (Statista). Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music are the top 3 music apps on both iOS and Android in Mexico based on downloads and usage (SimilarWeb – iOS), (SimilarWeb – Android). Other popular regional music streaming apps include Guvera and Uforia. Overall, streaming apps dominate the music app landscape in Mexico.
Music Streaming Services Available
Mexico has access to many of the major global music streaming platforms. Some of the most popular services available include:
Spotify 1 – Spotify is the market leader in Mexico with over 85% market share. It offers a huge catalog of over 70 million songs and user-curated playlists. Spotify works seamlessly in Mexico and offers plans starting from free ad-supported streaming to premium subscriptions.
YouTube Music 2 – YouTube Music comes pre-installed on many Android devices in Mexico. It provides official songs, albums, thousands of playlists and artist radio plus YouTube’s catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos.
Apple Music 1 – Apple Music is also widely used in Mexico with access to over 90 million songs and 30,000 playlists. It offers on-demand streaming across iOS devices and Android as well as downloads for offline listening.
Amazon Music 3 – Amazon Music provides ad-free access to over 90 million songs and top playlists. The free tier has shuffle-only access while premium unlocks on-demand playback.
Regional Music Streaming Services
Some of the most popular regional music streaming services in Mexico include Deezer, Anghami, and Claro Musica. Deezer has licensing deals with all the major Mexican record labels like Sony Music and Universal Music, allowing access to an extensive catalog of Latin music. It offers customized recommendations and playlists catered to Mexican listeners. Anghami also has a dedicated Latin music section with genres like regional Mexican, norteño, banda, and more. According to sources, Anghami is one of the most used music apps in Mexico. Finally, Claro Musica is a streaming service offered by Mexican telecom company América Móvil. It focuses exclusively on Latin music and is popular for its collection of Mexican and Latin American songs and artists.
Accessibility
Music streaming apps have exploded in popularity in Mexico in recent years. However, not all major music apps are available for download or fully functional in the country. According to SimilarWeb, the most popular music app in Mexico as of January 2021 was YouTube Music, followed by Spotify and Apple Music [1].
YouTube Music can be freely downloaded from the Google Play Store in Mexico. Spotify also has a free version available for download, although full functionality requires a paid subscription. In contrast, Apple Music does not offer a free tier and is not available for download directly from the Mexican iOS App Store [2]. Users must switch their Apple ID country to the United States or another country where Apple Music is supported in order to download it.
Some other popular international music streaming services like Amazon Music, Tidal and Deezer can be downloaded normally from the Mexican Google Play and iOS app stores. Regional services like Anghami which cater more specifically to Latin music are not available. Overall, while Mexicans have access to major global players like YouTube Music and Spotify, not every service is fully accessible unless users apply workarounds.
Internet Connectivity
Internet connectivity plays a major role in determining usage of streaming apps in Mexico. According to research by Statista, the number of internet users in Mexico has grown to over 93 million as of 2022. However, connectivity remains a challenge, especially in rural areas (“Music Streaming – Mexico | Statista Market Forecast”).
While 4G penetration reached 71% in 2021, 3G networks still account for over a quarter of connections. This impacts the viability of streaming services, as slower speeds make for a poor user experience. However, advancements in mobile data networks are gradually improving access to streaming platforms. The rollout of 5G could be a gamechanger, providing the high speeds and low latency required for seamless music streaming (“Spotlight On Music Fans In Mexico – Luminate Data”).
Limited connectivity remains an obstacle in less developed regions. But as network capacity improves over time, streaming services stand to gain more users across Mexico. Affordability of mobile data plans also plays a key role in determining adoption of streaming apps.
Data/Bandwidth Usage
Music streaming can use significant amounts of mobile data in Mexico. According to Statista, the average time spent daily on music streaming in Mexico was 33 minutes in 2022. Streaming high quality audio for this length of time each day could easily exceed mobile data allowances.
Many Mexicans have limited data plans, so they need to be mindful of streaming’s data requirements. Some apps allow users to adjust the streaming quality to use less data. Downloading songs to listen offline is another option to help conserve mobile data. Using WiFi whenever possible for music streaming is recommended for those with data caps.
T-Mobile’s Music Freedom program, which allows data-free music streaming from select apps, is not available in Mexico. However, some Mexican carriers do offer special promotions or partnerships with music apps to provide discounted or free data usage.
Costs
When it comes to costs, there are a few main options for streaming music apps and services in Mexico.
Spotify offers both a free, ad-supported tier and a paid premium subscription. The free version allows you to stream music, but with advertisements between songs. The premium version costs about $100-150 MXN per month and removes ads, allows downloading music for offline listening, and unlocks additional features.
YouTube Music also has a free, ad-supported option as well as a paid premium tier costing around $100 MXN/month. The premium version removes ads, allows background listening and downloading, and provides access to YouTube Music’s full catalog of songs.
Apple Music costs approximately $109 MXN/month after a 3-month free trial period. This gives you full access to Apple Music’s catalog of over 75 million songs without any ads interrupting your listening.
There are also some free, ad-supported apps like Spotify’s mobile app or iHeartRadio. The music selection may be more limited, but they provide free streaming if you don’t mind occasional ads.
When evaluating cost, also consider your data plan and internet connectivity. Streaming audio can use a lot of mobile data, so if you have a limited/expensive plan, downloading songs for offline listening may be preferred.
Music Selection
The music selection offered by streaming services in Mexico varies depending on the service. International services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer offer access to a huge global music library with over 60 million songs.[1] These services allow users to stream popular international hits as well as regional Mexican music like ranchera, norteño, banda, and more. According to one report, Spotify has the largest catalog in Mexico with over 70 million songs.[2]
Regional services in Mexico also offer an extensive selection focused on Latin music. Claro Musica claims to have the largest catalog of Latin music with over 40 million regional songs.[3] Other local services like Saavn and Guvera also boast large libraries of Latin hits. This allows users to easily find classic and new releases in popular Mexican genres. Overall, most major streaming services in Mexico offer both international and Latin hits to satisfy diverse listening preferences.
Conclusions
When deciding which music app to use in Mexico, it’s important to consider accessibility, cost, internet connectivity, and music selection.
The most accessible and popular options are global services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. These services offer expansive music catalogs and work seamlessly across Mexico. However, their subscription costs can be prohibitive for some users.
For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, localized services like Claromusica, Musimundo, and Mextra provide an alternative. They offer competitive pricing and good selections of Latin music not always found on global platforms. However, their apps and services may not be as robust.
Internet connectivity can also be a consideration, as high-speed mobile data is not uniformly available across Mexico. Streaming services that allow downloads for offline listening like Spotify and YouTube Music may be preferable for reliability.
Overall, while global services provide the best end-user experience, localized options better serve users who prioritize cost savings and Latin music access. Budget-conscious users or those planning travel through rural areas may want to consider downloading a localized app as a secondary option.
For most travelers, Spotify or YouTube Music will likely provide the ideal combination of music selection, connectivity, and usability. But availing yourself of cheaper localized options could make sense depending on your needs and budget.