1. YouTube Music
YouTube Music is the first true music video app that allows you to listen to music without watching the video, much like a regular music streaming app. With this app, you have the choice to either watch the video or just listen to the music, catering to both your auditory and visual needs.
YouTube Music has many interesting and useful features, but most are only unlocked with a YouTube Red subscription costing $10/month (Android) or $13/month (iPhone). Without Red, the app is quite similar to the basic YouTube, and many cool features won’t be available. Before deciding to pay for Red, you can try it for free for 14 days. Without Red, YouTube Music doesn’t stand out much, but once you subscribe, it becomes a trailblazing video app. Now you can listen to music without needing to watch the video. This is perfect for times when you can’t find an audio version, and the video becomes your savior. When you want to listen, just tap a small button to switch the app to audio mode. In this mode, the app stops playing the video and shows a still image (similar to traditional music apps). And, of course, even if you turn off the screen or open another app, YouTube Music will continue playing the music. Testing shows that this feature works better on Android than on iOS, as switching to audio mode is a bit laggy on iOS.
Each subscription level offers slightly different suggestions based on the video you're watching. You can also play all the clips you've liked. A custom playlist is great but be careful to only like the songs you want to listen to.
App download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/youtube-music/id1017492454

2. Tidal
Tidal is a high-quality music streaming service, launched in 2014 with investment from rapper Jay-Z. Known for its exceptional sound quality, Tidal competes strongly with other industry giants like Spotify and Apple Music. Users can enjoy FLAC audio on mobile devices, while PC and MacBook users can experience MQA audio with flawless sound quality. The Master (MQA) subscription offers a 24-bit resolution with sample rates ranging from 48kHz to 192kHz.
Tidal's music library spans 53 countries, featuring over 60 million songs. It also offers more than 250,000 high-definition music videos. Tidal provides top-tier sound and professional curation, offering a variety of both classic and modern genres. The app suggests popular music, remembering your search habits to provide tailored recommendations. It even offers seasonal and weather-based suggestions. Tidal's vast catalog includes songs from global artists across various genres, including Lykke Li (Indie), Amorphis (Metal), and Baccara (Europop). Its depth of sound and balanced frequencies deliver an immersive listening experience.
Unlike Spotify and Apple Music, Tidal focuses on curating trending albums and clips, which change daily based on global rankings. As a subscriber, you'll enjoy exclusive albums from top artists worldwide.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tidal-music/id913943275

3. iHeart Radio
iHeartRadio is a popular option for live radio streaming on your iPhone or other iOS devices. Developed by Clear Channel, one of the giants in radio broadcasting, iHeartRadio has the potential to become a standout app.
The iHeartRadio app features over 750 radio stations, covering a wide variety of genres to keep almost every listener satisfied. Categories include alternative, Christian, classic rock, dance, Spanish music, and more. For news enthusiasts, there are plenty of options for news, talk radio, and sports channels. When you first launch iHeartRadio, the app asks for permission to use your location, so it can find local stations near you. Users in major cities will have no trouble discovering local stations. You can also access stations from other cities, which is one of the app's best features. iHeartRadio runs smoothly and makes listening to radio incredibly easy, though it has some downsides compared to other internet radio apps—such as no option to pause or skip songs, and ads or DJ announcements, much like traditional radio.
You'll have to decide if these drawbacks are worth it, but the ability to listen to your favorite morning show makes it a satisfying experience for many listeners.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iheart-1-for-radio-podcasts/id290638154

4. Pandora
Pandora is one of the most popular music discovery apps worldwide. With over 15 years in operation and more than 100 million monthly users, Pandora is an excellent choice for those looking to explore new music without being confined to a single genre.
This app uses an algorithm to create personalized stations based on your listening history and preferences. Once you start using Pandora, it will quickly help you discover new tracks you’ll enjoy. Over time, the app learns your musical tastes and becomes even more tailored to you. Best of all, you won’t have to worry about hearing the same songs over and over, as Pandora’s algorithm mixes familiar tunes with new tracks you may not have heard before. Additionally, Pandora is completely free to use. One of the greatest things about Pandora is how it allows you to continuously discover new music, keeping things fresh and exciting.
Perfect for any music lover, whether you’re into rock, country, pop, or anything in between, Pandora offers personalized stations for all moods and activities. You can create a station based on your current mood or choose from Pandora’s ready-made stations that cover a wide range of themes.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pandora-music-podcasts/id284035177

5. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a globally popular online music streaming app. What sets it apart is its ability to suggest playlists based on your music preferences. It also stands out for being one of the fastest platforms to update with the latest tracks.
This feature is especially loved by users, as you don’t have to spend much time searching for similar songs to the ones you frequently listen to. A suggested playlist will automatically appear when you like a song, making it easy to discover new music. If you ever forget the name of a song you liked on SoundCloud, don't worry. The app keeps a history of all the tracks you've listened to. This handy feature lets you easily revisit tracks you may have forgotten. Sometimes it’s demo tracks or new covers by independent artists that you can’t find on other music services. But SoundCloud ensures that new music is updated faster than anywhere else. Simply search for a keyword like an artist’s name, music genre, or band, and you’ll find all relevant tracks, albums, and playlists instantly. It’s a powerful music search engine trusted by many. If you discover an artist you love and want to stay updated on their latest songs, simply follow their SoundCloud profile. And of course, if you want to share your favorite artists with others, you can easily share their SoundCloud profiles too.
In addition to being a music player, SoundCloud acts as a social media platform for music. You can Repost any track you’re enjoying and share it with others. Plus, you can leave comments at specific moments in a track, creating an interactive music experience.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/soundcloud-discover-new-music/id336353151

6. Deezer
Deezer is a widely-used app for both online and offline music streaming. It offers a vast library of songs from various genres, including international and Vietnamese music, allowing users to have plenty of choices. In addition to a rich music selection, the app curates automatic playlists based on your listening habits and preferences.
Another convenient feature of Deezer is its easy sharing capability. You can easily share your favorite tracks with friends via platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Deezer also lets you create personalized music collections, either automatically or manually. The app works offline, so you can enjoy your tunes even when you don't have internet access. With millions of songs at your disposal, you can search for specific tracks using keywords, and Deezer will suggest the most relevant results. Whether you want to create a playlist with calming songs, lively tunes, or energetic EDM tracks, Deezer lets you customize your musical journey. Plus, you can listen to music anytime and anywhere, even without an internet connection.
If you like to sing along to your favorite tracks, Deezer has a feature that displays lyrics for each song, making it easier to follow along with the words.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deezer-music-podcast-player/id292738169

7. Qobuz
Qobuz is a high-quality music streaming service that originated in France in 2007, with Dan Mackta as its director. Initially available only in European countries like France, Germany, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Austria, and Spain, Qobuz expanded to the US in 2019, gaining more recognition among music lovers.
Initially offering multiple service packages focused on audiophile-quality tracks, including Hi-Fi, Sublime, and Sublime Plus, Qobuz consolidated these into a single plan called Studio Premier in November 2019. This simplified package offers a perfect music experience, replacing MP3 playback with superior audio quality. Currently, Qobuz's library boasts around 60 million high-quality tracks, ranging from CD quality to Hi-Res audio up to 24bit/192kHz. The service integrates seamlessly with many audiophile hardware devices and other music software like Roon and Audirvana, and is supported on Windows, iOS, Android, and macOS, ensuring ease of access for all users. Unlike many other streaming services, Qobuz streams FLAC files with up to 24-bit resolution and 192kHz sampling rate, ensuring exceptional sound quality. It also offers a vast selection of around 60 million tracks and supports wireless music protocols like Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Airplay.
Qobuz provides detailed information on every track, including release date, composer, artist contributions, and instrument details. You can access this rich database of information by clicking on the info icon next to each song.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/qobuz/id946429340

8. Apple Music
Apple Music is considered the ultimate music app for iFans, packed with a variety of features. Developed by Apple Inc., it launched on June 30, 2015, in over 100 countries.
Apple Music quickly gained popularity due to its massive song library and personalized playlists based on users' listening habits. By June 2019, the service had surpassed 60 million subscribers worldwide. With a collection of over 70 million songs, users can stream their favorite tracks online or download them for offline listening using iCloud. Songs added to the Library are automatically downloaded to the device for offline access. On the Now Playing screen, users can tap on the song's artist and album name to view the full album. Apple Music also recommends songs based on your music preferences. By going to the 'For You' tab and clicking on your avatar, you can select 'Start sharing with friends' to share your favorite songs, artists, and genres. To create your own radio stations, just click on the three dots next to a song, album, or artist and select 'Create station.' These stations will include songs similar to your choices, powered by Apple’s intelligent algorithm.
Apple Music provides users with high-quality music streaming at 256kbps AAC. With a library of over 70 million tracks, Apple Music offers a variety of genres and songs tailored to users' tastes, including exclusive music and videos.
Download link: https://www.apple.com/vn/apple-music/

9. Amazon Prime Music
Amazon has officially launched its own streaming service in the UK, available for free to Amazon Prime members without any extra fees. The service, Amazon Prime Music, offers a variety of music content for free access to its members.
Prime Music provides over a million tracks and albums for streaming or offline listening without requiring any purchase. You can enjoy curated playlists selected by the Prime team or search for specific songs or albums. Some recommendations are tailored based on your previous Amazon purchases or listening history. The service also offers charts featuring trending songs and albums that other users are currently enjoying. Furthermore, new songs, albums, and playlists are regularly featured for exploration. With this platform, you can listen to more than 2 million songs, accessible across mobile devices and computers. The Amazon Prime package includes many other perks, such as fast shipping, exclusive Prime Video content, and access to Prime Reading for eBooks, magazines, and more. Earlier this year, Amazon introduced a free, ad-supported music service for Echo and Alexa-enabled devices, which has now expanded to iOS, Android, Fire TV, and PC users.
Users can explore popular playlists and music stations based on artists, genres, and hit tracks. Additionally, Amazon Prime members can enjoy 2 million ad-free tracks.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amazon-music-songs-podcasts/id510855668

10. Spotify
Spotify is one of the leading global music streaming platforms, boasting over 100 million users and a catalog of more than 35 million songs. As of March 12, the Vietnamese music community has been able to enjoy the app on both computers and smartphones.
If you're used to traditional offline music players where you manually search and play songs, you'll definitely be impressed with Spotify. Using this service frees up a vast amount of storage space, replacing it with access to a quality music library. With over 40 million tracks available, it is one of the largest public music collections globally. The best part is that all of these songs are fully licensed, so you don’t have to worry about pirated content. Spotify uses the Ogg Vorbis format with a bitrate of 320 kbps or higher, delivering smooth, clear audio without the distortion that comes from poor-quality or illegal conversions. Of course, any issues with the original recording will remain. Furthermore, Spotify is quick to update its catalog with new songs from all markets. Even though it only recently launched in Vietnam, you can already find popular Vpop hits from artists like Hồ Ngọc Hà, Noo Phước Thịnh, and Sơn Tùng M-TP, with special releases like Mỹ Tâm's 'Tam 9' album, which isn’t available on other local music platforms.
Moreover, Spotify offers fast updates of new tracks and playlists, with daily updates to your personalized mixes. The more you listen, the better the recommendations get. Your Daily Mix will often surprise you with how well it matches your musical tastes.
Download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spotify-music-and-podcasts/id324684580

