In 2020, global revenue of music streaming services was around $13.6 billion—now, in 2025, it’s soaring past $17.5 billion. That’s proof that more people than ever want to listen through a streaming app rather than old-school downloads or CDs.
Why? Streaming services make it easy! You get a massive music catalog, curated playlists, and smart music discovery to help you find new favorites. Plus, you can download music for offline listening and even vibe to Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio.
If you’re confused about the service to pick or you don’t even know the available ones, this article will give you a safety net. Let’s break down the best music streaming options this year.
Top 5 Online Music Streaming Services 2025
Ready to know the best music service right now? Let’s explore!
Spotify
Spotify has been a big name in the music streaming industry for years, and it is still ahead of the game. It’s got a music catalog packed with over 100 million tracks, including the latest hits and classical music.
Aside from playing music, it also helps you discover new music. Thanks to its powerful music discovery tools, like “Discover Weekly,” it practically reads your mind, curating the perfect playlists just for you. And if you love looking back at your favorite songs, Spotify Wrapped is still a fan favorite.
Of course, there’s a free version, but to unlock the real magic, Spotify Premium is the way to go. No ads, offline listening, and better audio quality make it worth every penny. And if you’re looking for a deal, the family plan keeps things affordable. Students can grab a student discount for an even cheaper ride.
YouTube Music
YouTube Music is a go-to music platform for those who love both streaming music and watching music videos in one place. The platform has a massive music catalog that includes official tracks, live performances, and even rare user-uploaded content.
What’s more? It’s simple — seamless switching between audio and videos. Love a song? Instantly watch its video with a single tap. Need fresh tunes? The Radio Builder lets music lovers create custom stations based on their favorite artists.
And now, YouTube Music includes podcasts, which makes it an all-in-one streaming app. Want ad-free listening? YouTube Music Premium has you covered, with background play and offline downloads. Plus, if you’re already a YouTube Premium subscriber, you get it all bundled in.
Apple Music
Apple Music offers curated playlists and Apple Music Radio, where real humans help you discover new music.
Music journalist Christina Warren put it best when she said, “The ‘For You’ section in Apple Music made me excited about music for the first time in a long time.”
And let’s be honest — who doesn’t love a well-crafted playlist that just gets you?
Apple Music is also about sound quality. With lossless streaming, Dolby Atmos, and spatial audio, the service provides a next-level listening experience. Imagine listening to your beloved tunes with a complete 360-degree sound as though you were right in the studio with the artist.
Subscription choices on this music app cover all kinds of listeners. Individual and family plans make it simple to share with loved ones; the free trial allows you to test things out before committing. And if you subscribe to Amazon Prime, Apple Music is seamlessly integrated via smart devices.
Amazon Music
One noteworthy aspect of Amazon Music is its integration with Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated assistant. Voice commands let users request particular songs, adjust playback, or get music recommendations.
Another great thing is that Amazon is running sales in an attempt to draw in fresh users. For example, users are able to explore the service thoroughly before paying by using a three-month free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited and Audible.
The sound quality is impressive. Moreover, this streaming service offers several tiers (there’s a free tier too) to suit various customer tastes:
- Amazon Music Free: This tier provides free access to thousands of stations and a range of top playlists.
- Amazon Music Prime: Included with an Amazon Prime membership, this tier provides ad-free streaming of around 2 million songs and thousands of playlists and stations.
Tidal
Tidal has both high-quality music and features that focus on artists. People can listen to more than 100 million songs and watch more than 650,000 music videos on the app.
In addition to this, Tidal stresses that musicians should be paid fairly. According to the company, it pays the most royalties to music artists of any music streaming service.
Lior Tibon, Chief Operating Officer of TIDAL, also emphasized, “TIDAL is taking the next step to bring about a real paradigm shift in music streaming. We are looking forward to using our new tools to support both small and large artists around the world.”
Tidal has different levels of subscriptions. Tidal HiFi gives lossless CD-quality streaming, and Tidal HiFi Plus provides high-resolution audio in formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio. Both tiers don’t have ads, so you can listen to songs without interruption.
Tidal also works with many platforms. It has apps for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and it works with Apple TV, Roku, CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Fire TV.
Impacts of Listening to Good Music
Every music enthusiast or streamer knows music can be therapeutic. The right song can put you in the mood to work, inspire you to create, or set the tone for a beautiful outdoor or indoor experience.
It is also the perfect addition to other forms of entertainment. For context, betting expert and MightyTips tipster, Evelyn Balyton has mentioned that the right music can help bettors make better decisions when wagering on their favorite matches. This means streaming your favorite tracks on Google Play Music and Spotify when playing at betting sites can boost your winning chances.
Other ways your streaming catalog on Prime Music, Apple Music and Spotify can help you include:
- Reduces stress
- Can improve your mood
- Boosts memory
- Can help with concentration
- Can reduce pain
Final Thoughts on the Best Services for Streaming
The article reflected on the best digital music services in 2025! But note, there is no single best music streaming service. All of it boils down to your needs.
Spotify is a good choice if you want limitless, well-chosen playlists. Apple Music and Tidal give you lossless audio, Dolby Atmos, and spatial audio. Those who enjoy music videos will find YouTube Music ideal, while for Amazon Prime customers, Amazon Music Unlimited is your best bet.
Every streaming platform offers something unique. The secret is to identify the one that makes you want to listen to music every day.
