Streaming Music Services: How Do They Compare?
Cloud music services store millions of songs on a network of secure servers, and let you access those songs using a variety of Internet-connected devices, such as home theater receivers, car stereos, and TVs. You can play your favorite tunes, and also discover new artists, songs, and genres. And it’s all available instantly — without filling the memory of your computer, phone, or tablet. The chart below compares key features of a number of today’s most popular cloud music services.
| Listening options | Subscription options | Sound quality | Catalog size | Device compatibility* | Key pros & cons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grooveshark |
On-demand Internet Radio Stations by genre Artist’s Choice and Tastemaker Playlists |
Free: Listen on Grooveshark.com Grooveshark Plus: $6/month or $60/year; no banner adds, access to desktop app, and more Grooveshark Anywhere:$9/month or $90/year; adds unlimited access from your mobile phone |
Up to 128 kbps | 1,000 labels and 25,000 independent artists | Mobile: Android™, BlackBerry®, Nokia, HP webOS | Currently no iPhone®/iPod® compatibility |
| Last.fm |
Internet Radio |
Free: Download Last.fm's "Scrobbler" to listen on your computer Subscription:$3/month; no ads, mobile access |
Up to 128 kbps | 12 million songs |
Mobile: iPhone, iPod touch®, Android, Windows Mobile 7, HP TouchPad Home: Sonos®, Logitech Squeezebox™, Xbox 360 (with Xbox LIVE Gold account), Onkyo receivers, and more |
Provides music and concert recommendations based on what you listen to on Last.fm, iTunes®, Spotify, MOG, Rdio, and more |
| MOG |
On-demand Internet Radio |
FreePlay: Listen on your computer Basic: $4.99/month; no ads, plays on your computer and some home A/V components Primo:$9.99/month; adds mobile capability |
Up to 320 kbps | 14 million songs |
Mobile: iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android phones and tablets; BlackBerry coming soon Home: Sonos®, Logitech Squeezebox™, Apple TV® and AirPlay® enabled devices, Roku, LG Internet-ready TVs, and more Car: Built into 2011 and later BMWs and Mini |
Superior audio quality |
| Music Unlimited |
Internet Radio On-demand with Premium subscription |
Free: Listen to Internet radio stations categorized by things like genre and era, without ads and with the ability to skip to the next song as often as you like Basic: $3.99/month; adds custom stations based on search terms Premium:$9.99/month; access full library and create personal playlists |
Unknown | 10 million songs |
Mobile: Android phones, Sony Tablets and Laptops, Sony Walkman, Sony PSP® Home: Sony PlayStation® 3, some BRAVIA home theater systems and Blu-ray players |
Works primarily with Sony devices |
| Pandora® Internet Radio |
Internet Radio |
Free: Listen on your computer or compatible device Pandora One:$36/year; no ads, higher-quality audio, listen via desktop application |
Up to 192 kbps with Pandora One subscription | 1 million songs |
Mobile: iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android, BlackBerry, Palm Pre
|
Popular option for music discovery |
| Rdio |
On-demand |
Free: Listen on your computer; no ads; usage limit based on listening habits
Unlimited family: $17.99/month; two unlimited subscriptions |
CD-quality sound via high-speed Internet connection; lower bitrates via 3G phone network | 9 million songs |
Mobile: iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad®, Windows™ Phone 7, Android, BlackBerry Home: Sonos®, Apple TV® (with an iPhone, iPod, or iPad that has the Rdio app installed), Roku |
Offline listening mode makes it easy to listen on the go (with Unlimited subscription) |
| Rhapsody |
On-demand Internet Radio |
Free: 14-day trial
Premier: $9.99/month; access on 1 mobile device, online streaming on your computer, unlimited home audio listening Premier Plus:$14.99/month; adds access on 3 mobile devices |
Up to 160 kbps streaming; 256 kbps for purchased MP3s | 14 million songs |
Mobile: iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, Barnes & Noble NOOK, Amazon Kindle Fire Home: Sonos®, Logitech Squeezebox™; Denon, Onkyo, Sony, and Marantz receivers, and more |
Offline listening mode makes it easy to listen on the go |
| Spotify |
On-demand Internet Radio |
Free: Unlimited listening for first 6 months, 10 hours/month after that
Premium: $9.99/month ; adds offline mode, mobile access, higher sound quality, exclusive content, and streaming to some home A/V devices |
Up to 160 kbps (with Free and Unlimited subscriptions) Up to 320 kbps (with Premium subscription, via desktop or iPhone) |
15 million songs |
Mobile: iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android, Windows Phone 7, Palm, Symbian Home: Sonos®, Logitech Squeezebox™; Onkyo receivers, and more |
Offline listening mode makes it easy to listen on the go (with Premium subscription) |
| *Listening on mobile or home A/V devices often requires a paid subscription; see music service site for details. |