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Spotify excited its users with the announcement of lossless music streaming, known as HiFi, in 2021. But since then, a series of delays mean we’re still waiting for its release. So, if you’re fed up waiting for Spotify HiFi, check out these high-resolution alternatives.
1Apple Music
Screenshot/Photo by Christopher Close – No attribution required
Apple Musichas some of the best music streaming quality you’ll find anywhere online, and it’s one of thereasons I left Spotify to join Apple Musicearlier in 2024. Sound quality varies from 44 kHz to 192 kHz. Some songs are optimized for Dolby Atmos, and from a user experience standpoint, the interface is clean and easy to navigate.
Apple Music Pricing
Apple Music has a handful of pricing tiers, which cost the following:
Subscription
Monthly Price
Individual
TIDALhas over five million users and more than 100 million songs. You can listen to Dolby Atmos, FLAC, and other lossless formats. Like Spotify Premium, you get editorial playlists, ad-free listening, and unlimited skips.
When using TIDAL, you’ll also find over 300,000 videos covering several genres, including K-Pop, hip-hop, and rock.
If you want to try TIDAL before subscribing, you can get a free 30-day trial. You can also check out our review onwhat TIDAL is, and whether it’s worth using.
TIDAL Pricing
Pricing for TIDAL is as follows:
Monthly Cost
$9/mo (add-on)
3Amazon Music
Amazon Musiclaunched in 2007 and now has over 80 million users. You can browse 100 million songs and listen to your tracks in HD (850 kbps average bitrate) and Ultra HD (3,730 kbps average bitrate). Amazon Music’s HD and Ultra HD music is available on multiple devices, including iOS, Android, and a number of speakers.
Amazon Music gives you an overview on the homepage of different albums and playlists that might interest you, including a list of the 100 most played songs. You canget the most out of Amazon Music HDin several ways, such as getting good-quality headphones and a solid multi-room system.
Amazon Music Pricing
Amazon Music costs less if you’re a Prime user. Here’s a breakdown of the service’s pricing:
Annual Cost
Prime Member
Non-Prime Member
Family Plan
$159.99/yr
Deezersupports music playback up to 1,411 kbps and has FLAC playback. 90 million+ songs exist on the platform, and you’ll find more than 30,000 radio stations. You can listen to both music and podcasts on the Deezer app, and it’s also possible to make collaborative playlists with others.
One fun Deezer feature is that you can see how compatible other people’s music tastes are with yours. You can also discover new songs in multiple categories and moods, such as motivation, rock, and chill. You canmaximize your experience with these Deezer tips and tricks.
Deezer Pricing
Deezer’s pricing is as follows:
Deezer Premium
$107.99/yr
Qobuzhas FLAC streaming up to 9,216 bbps and a 24-bit/192kHz sample rate. The company claims that it has the “best Hi-Res catalog in the world”, and there are over 100 million songs available on the platform. You can also download various albums from artists like AC/DC, Neil Young, and more.
When you download albums from Qobuz, you’ll pay just for the digital download. Prices vary depending on the album you purchase, but if you want unlimited high-quality streaming, you’re better off getting a subscription instead. In addition to the tracks available on Qobuz, you’ll also find original editorial content. Both subscriptions—Studio and Sublime—support offline listening.
Qobuz Pricing
If you want to get a Studio or Sublime subscription, you’ll pay the following for individual plans.
While Spotify is the most popular music streaming service in the world, it’s also not your only choice. From Apple Music to Qobuz, you’ll find plenty of interesting alternatives. Try each of these and use their free trial periods to make a better-fitting choice for your needs.
