Which app is fast to download music?
This article will compare the most popular music downloading apps in 2022 based on factors like speed, library size, cost, platform availability, audio quality, offline listening, curated playlists, and social features. The main apps we will cover include Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, and Pandora. With so many options now available for streaming and downloading music, it can be tough to decide which service best fits your needs and budget. This comprehensive overview aims to assist readers in determining the ideal music app for their lifestyle.
Speed
Download speeds vary across music streaming apps. According to one source, Spotify and Apple Music have fast download speeds, while YouTube Music is slower.
Spotify’s download speed averages at 1.4 MB/s across 3G and WiFi networks. Downloads occur quickly thanks to Spotify’s use of Ogg Vorbis audio compression. Apple Music is also relatively fast at 1.2 MB/s with its AAC compression format.
YouTube Music’s download speed is slower in comparison at 0.8 MB/s. Since it uses the M4A format, files are less compressed leading to larger sizes and slower speeds. However, YouTube Music makes up for this with its expansive catalog of remixes, live versions, and user covers.
Other apps like Amazon Music fall in the middle around 1 MB/s. Overall download speeds depend on cellular data vs WiFi and compression formats. But leading apps like Spotify and Apple Music offer the fastest downloads currently.
Library Size
When it comes to the size of music libraries, Spotify and Apple Music have the largest catalogs with over 80 million songs. Spotify claims to have over 82 million tracks while Apple Music says they have over 90 million songs.
Amazon Music’s library is also quite extensive with over 70 million songs according to this source. YouTube Music has over 70 million official songs but their catalog extends to over 50 million additional tracks when including all the user generated content on YouTube.
So Spotify and Apple Music edge out the competition when it comes to pure music catalog size. But the other services still offer ample libraries for most listeners’ needs.
Cost
When it comes to cost, most music streaming apps offer both free and paid subscription options. The free versions typically allow you to stream music and create playlists, but may have limitations like ad interruptions or not being able to download songs for offline listening. Paid subscriptions remove ads and unlock additional features.
For example, SoundCloud offers a free tier as well as SoundCloud Go and Go+ paid plans starting at $4.99/month. Similarly, Spotify has a free ad-supported tier along with Premium paid plans from $9.99/month. Other popular services like Apple Music and YouTube Music provide free trial periods for their paid subscriptions which start around $9.99/month after the trial.
When comparing costs, it’s also important to consider the different features provided at each tier. While free accounts allow streaming, paid plans may provide higher audio quality, offline listening, no ads, and more. So the extra cost may be worthwhile for some users who want a premium experience. Overall, most major music apps provide competitive pricing models to appeal to users with different budgets and needs.
Platform Availability
When choosing a music streaming service, it’s important to consider what platforms and devices it is available on. You’ll want to make sure the service has apps for your smartphone OS, works on your computer’s operating system, and is compatible with other devices you may want to listen on like smart speakers or gaming consoles.
Spotify has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux so it has very wide platform support. Spotify also works with many smart speakers, TVs, cars and gaming consoles.
Apple Music unsurprisingly only works on Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, Macs and the Apple TV. Support for other platforms is limited.
Amazon Music is available on Fire TV, Echo speakers, iOS, Android, Mac, PC and in new cars with Alexa built-in. So it has wide platform support, but lacks Linux app and doesn’t work on PS or Xbox.
YouTube Music works on iOS, Android, and on the web. But it does not have desktop apps for Windows or Mac. There is limited compatibility with smart speakers and other devices as well.
In summary, Spotify has the most universal platform and device support across mobile, desktop, smart speakers, TVs and gaming consoles. Apple Music only works on Apple devices. Amazon Music and YouTube music have decent mobile support but lack native desktop apps and full smart device integration.
Audio Quality
When it comes to audio quality, the bitrate and audio format supported by each music streaming service is an important consideration. According to Stucky’s Furniture and Appliance, the highest bitrate a track can have is up to 9,216 kbps, which is significantly higher than the regular 320kbps used for CD-quality audio. Streaming services like Tidal offer high bitrate streaming up to 9,216 kbps for premium subscribers, while most other services max out at 320kbps.
As noted by HiresAudio, lower bitrates around 96kbps or 160kbps can result in noticeable quality differences, with audio sounding less clear. At higher bitrates like 320kbps, differences are less noticeable. So services offering CD-quality audio or better will provide excellent sound quality. Tidal also offers tracks in lossless FLAC format for maximum quality.
In summary, Tidal leads for bitrate and format support up to 9,216kbps and FLAC. Other top providers like Spotify max out at 320kbps, still offering high audio fidelity. Lower bitrates below 192kbps can impact quality, so avoiding the lowest tiers is ideal for audiophiles.
Offline Listening
Offline listening allows you to download songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts to your device so you can listen without an internet connection. This is a key feature for anyone who wants to listen to music on the go without using mobile data or dealing with spotty connectivity.
Of the major music streaming services, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music all offer offline listening. The amount of music you can save varies by service:
- Spotify allows you to save 10,000 songs per device for offline listening. This is a generous limit that provides ample content for offline listening.
- Apple Music permits you to save 100,000 songs for offline listening. This massive library ensures you’ll never run out of offline content.
- Amazon Music sets no official limit, allowing Prime members to download as many songs as they want for offline listening.
So in summary, Apple Music and Amazon Music offer virtually unlimited offline music, while Spotify allows saving 10,000 songs per device. For most listeners, 10,000 songs should be sufficient for offline needs.
Curated Playlists
When it comes to curated playlists, both Spotify and Apple Music offer a wide selection. However, Apple Music’s human-curated playlists tend to be more personalized and of higher quality. As noted on Reddit, “Apple Music curated playlists are so much better than Spotify’s.” Apple employs dedicated music experts, called Apple Music curators, to hand-craft playlists for every mood, genre, and activity (Topsify).
In comparison, Spotify relies more on algorithms for its personalized playlists. While Spotify creates some excellent algorithmic playlists, Apple’s human touch results in more thoughtful, nuanced, and relevant selections. Apple Music’s “For You” section provides a daily mix of playlists tailored to your individual taste. You can also access and follow genre playlists curated by Apple’s team of experts. Overall, Apple Music’s curated playlists feel more personalized, consistent, and carefully crafted.
Social Features
Social features like sharing, commenting, and following other users are important for music apps to help foster community and engagement. Audiomack stands out for its strong focus on social interaction through features like Re-Up, favorites, playlisting, sharing, and commenting. As their website states, “With Supporters, Audiomack is treating artists as they see themselves – as brands” (Audiomack). This allows artists to build followings, receive direct support from fans, and interact more deeply.
In contrast, AWA Music’s social features seem more limited based on reviews. While it does aim to create a sense of community among users, its social element appears to simply add a “new dimension to the music experience” rather than robust tools for sharing, engaging with fans, and promoting artists’ work (Music Gateway). For musicians looking to grow their fanbase and connect with listeners, Audiomack likely provides more extensive social tools.
Conclusions
There are several fast music downloading apps available, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Spotify offers the largest music library and playlists, but average download speeds. YouTube Music provides fast downloads and official music videos, but an average music catalog. SoundCloud has unique indie content, but slower speeds and no offline listening. Overall, Spotify is the best option for most mainstream music listeners who want a huge catalog and playlists for streaming. YouTube Music is great for fast downloading of popular tunes and music videos. SoundCloud suits indie fans who want to discover new artists, despite slower speeds.
The ideal app depends on your use case. Casual listeners who want offline playlists for commutes or travel should choose Spotify for its vast catalog. YouTube Music is better for quickly grabbing the latest pop hits and videos. Audiophiles who want high quality downloads may prefer paid options like Tidal HiFi or Amazon Music HD. SoundCloud is best for unsigned artists and remixes. Consider which features are most important – speed, size, quality, discovery – and choose the service that best fits your needs.