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Catalogue music streaming with algorithmic discovery
CompanySpotify
Since2008
PricingFreemium
Spotify's advantage is not the catalogue, which is broadly the same everywhere, but the recommendation layer on top of it. Discover Weekly and the radio features remain the reason many people stay.
Streaming aimed at audio quality and artist payout
CompanyBlock
Since2014
PricingPaid
Tidal competes on two things the larger services do not lead with: high resolution audio formats, and a payout model that directs a share of a subscription to the artists that subscriber actually listened to.
Music streaming with lossless audio and no free tier
CompanyApple
Since2015
PricingFreemium
Apple Music ships lossless and spatial audio at no extra cost, which is the clearest technical differentiator in the category. Editorial curation is stronger than the algorithmic competition; algorithmic discovery is weaker.
Streaming backed by YouTube's catalogue of everything
CompanyGoogle
Since2015
PricingFreemium
YouTube Music reaches material no licensed catalogue contains: live sets, remixes, covers, and regional uploads that never had a commercial release. For anyone whose listening goes past the mainstream, that coverage is decisive.