Which is the best app to download audio songs?
Brief Intro to Audio Streaming Apps
The audio streaming landscape has seen tremendous growth in recent years. According to Statista, the worldwide music streaming market is projected to grow to $33.97 billion by 2027, representing a 4.70% CAGR between 2024-2027 [1]. The rise of smartphones, faster internet speeds, and on-demand access has fueled the popularity of streaming apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
Music streaming now accounts for over 80% of total music industry revenue, far surpassing physical music sales and digital downloads. In the US alone, there were 523 million music streaming app users in 2022, up from 353 million in 2018 [2]. The convenience of being able to instantly stream millions of songs on any device has made audio streaming the preferred way for consumers to listen to music.
With so many streaming options available, determining the best app for downloading audio depends on factors like library size, sound quality, platform availability, and cost. This guide compares the top contenders to help find the ideal streaming service based on individual needs and preferences.
Factors to Consider when Choosing an Audio App
When deciding which audio app is right for you, there are several key factors to take into account:
Library Size – The number of songs, albums, artists and playlists available is important. Larger libraries like Spotify’s over 60 million tracks or Apple Music’s over 75 million songs give you more options to choose from.
Sound Quality – Streaming quality ranges from 64kbps to 320kbps. More is better, so high quality options like TIDAL’s lossless HiFi at 1411kbps provide a superior listening experience.
Cost/Subscription Model – Pricing like Spotify’s $9.99/month premium tier or YouTube Music’s free ad-supported tier matters. Paid plans offer more features but free options are available.
Supported Devices – Make sure the app works on your devices like iOS, Android, Mac, PC, smart speakers, etc. Apps like Spotify and Apple Music support many platforms.
Playlists/Discovery – The ability to find new music through personalized recommendations and curated playlists is important. Apps like Spotify and Apple Music offer robust playlist options.
Top Contenders for Best Audio App
When it comes to downloading and streaming music, there are several top apps that stand out as contenders for the best overall option. Here are the top players in the music app space:
Spotify
Spotify (https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-music-streaming-service/) is one of the most popular and widely-used music streaming services. It offers a massive library of over 82 million songs and 3.6 million podcasts. Spotify also features excellent playlist curation and discovery features powered by advanced algorithms. One of the key advantages of Spotify is its free ad-supported tier, allowing users to stream music at no cost.
Apple Music
Apple Music (https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-music-streaming-apps/) is Spotify’s biggest competitor, with over 90 million songs and 30,000 playlists. It offers similar features to Spotify, including customized recommendations and playlists. Apple Music’s integration with iOS and Apple devices is a major advantage for iPhone users. It also provides high-quality audio and has a massive library of music videos.
Amazon Music
Amazon Music provides access to over 90 million songs, with the added benefit of integration with Alexa voice assistant. It offers competitive pricing, with an Unlimited tier providing high-quality streaming. Amazon Prime members get access to a limited music catalog on Prime Music at no extra cost.
YouTube Music
YouTube Music leverages YouTube’s massive catalog of songs, remixes, live performances, and music videos. It offers official songs, albums, playlists and artist radio stations. One advantage is the ability to switch seamlessly between music and music videos.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is known for its collection of indie and emerging artists. It features over 200 million tracks, with 125 million users. SoundCloud is popular for finding remixes, DJ sets and other unique content.
Pandora
Pandora pioneered the music genome project, analyzing songs based on hundreds of musical attributes to enable personalized stations. Pandora still leads in music discovery through its algorithmic recommendations powered by data science.
Spotify Overview and Features
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services, with over 299 million monthly active users as of 2022 (https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-spotify/). It offers access to a massive library of over 70 million songs and 2.6 million podcasts (https://support.spotify.com/us/article/what-is-spotify/).
Some key features of Spotify include:
- Playlists – Users can create customized playlists or browse Spotify’s curated playlists like Discover Weekly.
- Social features – Users can follow friends and see what they are listening to.
- Supported devices – Available on mobile, desktop, smart speakers, TV, gaming consoles, and more.
- Sound quality – Streams up to 320kbps on Premium. Lower quality on the free tier.
- Free and paid tiers – The free version has ads and shuffle only. Premium removes ads, unlocks on-demand playback, and offers enhanced features.
Overall, Spotify offers a massive catalog of music and podcasts, robust playlists and discovery features, social sharing capabilities, and support across a wide range of devices.
Apple Music Overview and Features
Apple Music is the music streaming service created by Apple. It has over 100 million songs in its library, including latest releases as well as a back catalog of music. Since Apple Music is integrated into Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV, it provides seamless access across devices.
Apple Music offers human-curated playlists covering various genres, moods, activities and decades, as well as algorithmic playlists tailored to each user’s music taste. There are also exclusive radio shows hosted by artists and DJs. Subscribers can save music offline for listening without an internet connection.
Apple Music streams most songs at 256 kbps AAC bitrate, providing CD-quality audio. Users can also opt for lossless audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz, as well as Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for a more immersive listening experience. Overall, Apple Music provides a robust music library, deep integration with Apple devices, expertly curated playlists, and high quality audio.
YouTube Music Overview and Features
YouTube Music is a music streaming service developed by YouTube. It offers both ad-supported free streaming and ad-free premium subscription options. Some key features of YouTube Music include:
- Access to official music videos – YouTube Music provides official music videos from artists, record labels, and other rightsholders. This gives it the largest catalog of music videos of any streaming service.
- Large song catalog – In addition to official music videos, YouTube Music also has over 80 million official songs, albums, live performances, and remixes in its catalog (according to https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-app-2023-guide/). This rivals other top music services.
- Integration with YouTube – The service is tightly integrated with YouTube, allowing you to easily switch between music tracks and music videos.
- Personalized playlists – YouTube Music can generate customized playlists based on your listening history, likes, and dislikes. This includes customized mixes like Discover Mix and New Release Mix.
With its extensive catalog of music videos and songs, plus integration with YouTube, YouTube Music offers a unique value proposition compared to streaming rivals. Its personalized playlists and mixes also help listeners discover new music based on their tastes.
Other Notable Apps for Downloading Audio
In addition to Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, there are several other notable apps for downloading and streaming audio content:
Amazon Music – Amazon’s music app allows you to access over 90 million songs ad-free. Amazon Prime members get access to 2 million songs for free. It offers playlists and stations curated by music experts.
SoundCloud – This app features music and podcasts from both major and independent artists. It has a large catalog of remixes, live performances, and more underground content.
Pandora – Known for its proprietary Music Genome Project, Pandora offers customized radio stations based on songs, artists, and genres you input. The free version includes ads.
These apps offer additional options for accessing audio content, though they lack some of the features and breadth of music offered by Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
Key Differences Between the Top Apps
While Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music share many similarities, there are some key differences between the top audio streaming apps to consider:
Library Size
Spotify currently has the largest library with over 82 million songs (Source). Apple Music has over 75 million songs, while YouTube Music has over 70 million (Source).
Sound Quality
For premium audio quality, most experts agree Tidal or Deezer are the best options as they offer lossless audio up to 1411 kbps. Spotify maxes out at 320 kbps for its premium subscription. Apple Music streams 256 kbps AAC files, while YouTube music streams at 128 kbps for non-paying users (Source).
Cost
Most standard streaming subscriptions cost $9.99/month. Tidal’s lossless HiFi plan costs $19.99/month. YouTube Music’s premium offering is $11.99/month. There are also student and family plans available for most services at a discount (Source).
Other Features
Each service has unique features beyond just music streaming. For example, Spotify offers playlists and music recommendations powered by advanced AI. Apple Music showcases exclusive album releases and live streams. YouTube Music leverages YouTube’s vast catalog of music videos and cover songs (Source).
The Best App for Downloading Audio
After comparing the features, selection, and pricing of the top audio streaming apps, I recommend Spotify as the best overall app for downloading audio. Spotify offers an extensive library of over 90 million songs from major and independent record labels, including over 4 million podcast titles (1). The free version of Spotify allows on-demand streaming with ads, while Spotify Premium removes ads and allows downloads for offline listening for $9.99/month (2).
Key advantages of Spotify include its proprietary Discovery Weekly playlist that recommends songs based on your listening habits, awesome curated playlists like RapCaviar with over 13 million followers, and the ability to follow artists to get notifications for new releases (3). Spotify also works across a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to gaming consoles and smart speakers.
Compared to Apple Music, Spotify has a larger music catalog, better music discovery, and is compatible with more devices. However, Apple Music may be preferable for hardcore fans of Apple products thanks to its Siri integration and spatial audio features. For those who want video content, YouTube Music is better since it includes ad-free YouTube access. Ultimately though, Spotify strikes the perfect balance of an expansive catalog, strong curation and sharing features, and reasonable pricing.
Sources:
(1) https://newsroom.spotify.com/company-info/
(2) https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/
(3) https://www.spotify.com/us/
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
After comparing the leading audio apps on multiple factors, it’s clear that Spotify stands out as the best overall app for downloading music. With its vast library, playlists, sharing features, and seamless integration across devices, Spotify checks all the boxes for most music listeners. Apple Music and YouTube Music also offer compelling features and benefits, but Spotify’s combination of an intuitive interface, social components, and excellent recommendations give it the edge.
The key points in summary:
- Spotify has the largest music catalog of over 70 million tracks.
- Spotify offers personalized playlists and daily recommendations based on your taste.
- Spotify has impressive social features for following friends and sharing music.
- Spotify works across mobile, desktop, tablets, gaming consoles, and more.
- Spotify’s free tier gives you plenty of features to enjoy without paying.
While the other streaming giants like Apple Music and YouTube Music have their pros as well, Spotify delivers the best overall experience for most people looking to download and listen to music. With its constantly improving features and availability across platforms, Spotify is tough to beat for your audio streaming needs.