Audio streaming service that gives you access to millions of songs and podcasts from around the world
Audio streaming service that gives you access to millions of songs and podcasts from around the world
Pros
- Possesses a vast library of music and podcasts
- Top shelf social media integration
- Algorithm-driven music recommendations
Cons
- Missing some major international artists
- Best features are locked behind a premium subscription
Spotify is one of the premier audio streaming services thanks to its comprehensive catalog of music that offers millions of songs from an extensive library of artists that includes internationally recognized names and underground indie acts. Add hundreds of thousands of podcasts and the promise of new music on a regular basis, and you're left with one of the most thorough ways for streaming music on the market. If that sounds intimidating, you can be comfortable in the knowledge that Spotify offers an intuitive and responsive interface that makes it easy to track down the music you want. Just keep in mind that some of these features will be locked behind a paywall.
That said, a free Spotify membership is still a robust choice for anyone who just wants an alternative to traditional radio. Advertising subsidizes the cost of the free service, although users are largely limited to shuffle play for both their playlists and the full albums that can be found on the service. But the premium plans vastly expand on the feature set for a rate that's competitive with similar music streaming services. In addition to increased bitrates when playing audio, these plans allow you to download music directly to your own phone, create and stream an unlimited amount of audio, and skip as many songs as you'd like when using Spotify radio.
Whether you're an active or passive listener, you can expect your Spotify account to grow with you. It's rarely difficult to find music when you know what you're looking for, but you can also count on Spotify's algorithms to recommend music and programming that suits your own sensibilities. Daily mixes and recommended playlists will regularly appear in your feed, and they only grow more sophisticated as Spotify's algorithms learn more about the variety of podcasts and music that you prefer. If you're looking to explore on your own, the search functionality available on the mobile app is both snappy and intuitively designed. A recommended artists selection gives you some sense of guidance, or you can simply begin browsing by genre. If you find an artist, song, or album you like, Spotify's database will be happy to recommend something from a similar artist. They can even automatically generate a playlist that's influenced by a specific artist — a great choice if you're looking to dig deeper into a new genre or era of music without having to do research.
Sharing with yourself and others is also easy. A single click interface allows you to quickly add a new song to either your queue or your favorites list, and it usually only takes one or two more clicks to add it to an existing playlist. And with the ability to integrate Spotify with existing social media platforms, you can stay tuned in to what your friends are listening to and easily share your favorite tracks.
Pros
- Possesses a vast library of music and podcasts
- Top shelf social media integration
- Algorithm-driven music recommendations
Cons
- Missing some major international artists
- Best features are locked behind a premium subscription
