Free Spotify Alternatives That Are Actually Worth Using
Only a few big services still have a free plan. Tidal dropped its free tier in 2024, and Apple Music and Qobuz have no free on-demand plan.
| Service | Free plan limits |
|---|---|
| YouTube Music | Ads, and no background play on mobile |
| Deezer Free | Ads, and shuffle-only play on mobile |
| Amazon Music Free | Ads, and a smaller set of playlists and stations |
| SoundCloud | Ads, and some tracks are 30-second previews only |
| Pandora | Ads, and radio-style listening with limited skips |
Sources: YouTube Music, Deezer, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Pandora.
Best overall: YouTube Music
The biggest catalog of any free plan, including live versions and covers. The catch is that playback stops when you lock your phone.
Closest to Spotify Free: Deezer
Deezer Free works a lot like Spotify Free on your phone: ads and shuffle play. In the US it's mobile only, and desktop plays 30-second previews. It also has Flow, a personal mix that learns what you like.
Best for new artists: SoundCloud
Independent uploads, DJ mixes and remixes that aren't on other services.
If you have Prime
Amazon Music Prime isn't free, but it's included with Prime at no extra cost and has no ads. Most playlists play in shuffle mode.
Take your playlists with you
Free transfer tools work between free accounts too. TuneMyMusic moves up to 500 songs for free.
Pick where your music is going.