5 Alternatives to iTunes Music for Music Lovers

iTunes Music

vs.

Apple Music

5

iTunes Music and Apple Music are two popular digital music streaming services offered by Apple. Both iTunes Music and Apple Music allow users to stream music from a vast library of songs and albums. iTunes Music is designed for users to purchase and download individual songs or albums, while Apple Music allows users to stream the same content without having to buy the entire album or song. With both services, users can create playlists of their favorite songs, access pre-made playlists created by curators, and listen to live radio stations. In addition, both services include exclusive content such as artist interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. iTunes Music also offers exclusive album releases each week that can only be purchased on the platform. The main difference between the two services is that iTunes Music has an integrated store for purchasing music whereas Apple Music does not.

iTunes Music

vs.

Audible

30

iTunes Music and Audible are both popular music and audio streaming services. iTunes Music provides access to a vast library of over 50 million songs, albums, and playlists. It also features exclusive content such as radio shows, concerts, interviews, artist exclusives, and more. It's available for Apple devices such as Macs, iPhones and iPads, as well as PCs running Windows 8 or higher. Audible is an Amazon-owned service that offers more than 200,000 audio books and other spoken-word content in multiple languages. It also includes exclusive content such as audiobooks from best-selling authors, podcasts featuring interviews with celebrities, and original series created exclusively for Audible listeners. It works on iOS and Android devices as well as Amazon Echo devices. Both services offer features such as personalized recommendations based on listening history, the ability to download tracks for offline listening, curated playlists for specific genres or activities, social media integration for sharing favorite songs with friends and family members. In addition to streaming music/audio content both services allow users to purchase tracks or albums from their respective stores.

iTunes Music

vs.

Spotify

101

iTunes Music and Spotify are both streaming music services that offer users access to millions of songs. iTunes Music is a digital media player owned by Apple Inc. that also provides an online store for music, movies and television shows. This service is available on iOS devices, Macs and PCs, making it easy to access content from multiple devices. Spotify is a streaming platform with a library of over 40 million tracks available on mobile, desktop and tablets. It offers users the ability to create playlists and share them with their friends through various social networks. Both platforms allow users to save music for offline listening, but iTunes Music does not have the same level of integration with social media as Spotify does. Additionally, iTunes Music has an extensive selection of exclusive content such as Beats1 radio station and Apple Music Connect which allows artists to interact directly with fans. Both services provide free ad-supported tiers with limited features, while premium plans offer more features such as enhanced sound quality and no ads.

iTunes Music

vs.

iTunes

85

iTunes Music is the premier music downloading website, offering a vast library of songs and albums for users to purchase and download. Purchased music can then be played on Apple devices or shared with other Apple devices. iTunes without Music is an extension of the original iTunes app that allows users to purchase other types of digital content, such as movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and podcasts. This content can also be played on Apple devices or shared with other Apple devices. A major difference between these two websites is that iTunes Music offers only music while iTunes without Music offers a variety of other types of content. Both websites have similar features in terms of purchasing and downloading content, but each one has its own specific focus.

iTunes Music

vs.

Alexa

48

Both iTunes Music and Alexa are digital services that allow users to access media content. However, their features differ greatly. iTunes Music is a music library with millions of songs from various artists and genres. It allows users to preview, purchase, and download songs while also organizing them into playlists. The service also offers streaming radio stations, enabling users to listen to music without having to manually select it. Alexa is an artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant that can be used for many different tasks. It offers voice control capabilities, allowing users to issue commands such as playing music, setting alarms or timers, checking the weather, and more. Alexa can sync with other smart devices in your home, making it easier to control multiple devices at once. Additionally, it provides access to a variety of skills and third-party apps that expand its functionality even further.

iTunes Music

vs.

TIDAL

101

Both iTunes Music and TIDAL are music streaming services that allow users to access a vast library of tunes. The two services differ in a few areas, however. iTunes Music is the world's most popular digital music store, offering millions of songs in high-quality audio. It also offers playlists curated by editors and personalized recommendations based on listening history, with the option to create custom radio stations. Additionally, users can buy individual tracks and albums, as well as download them for offline listening. Lastly, there is an integrated social media element that allows users to find friends and follow their activity. TIDAL offers similar features but with a few differences. It boasts over 60 million tracks in lossless audio quality, allowing for higher sound fidelity than many other streaming services. TIDAL also emphasizes exclusive content and artist partnerships, including original videos and live concerts available only on the platform. Finally, its radio feature creates customized stations based on listeners’ favorite artists and genres while also providing discovery tools like Mood Playlists to learn more about new artists.

iTunes Music

vs.

Bandcamp

51

iTunes Music and Bandcamp are both digital music services, but they provide different features to their users. iTunes Music offers a large selection of music from popular artists across genres and the ability to purchase individual songs or albums with an Apple ID. It also has curated radio stations and allows users to access their music library on other devices. Bandcamp, on the other hand, is geared towards independent artists and labels. It also provides a wide range of genres and allows users to purchase individual tracks or entire albums at varying prices. In addition, Bandcamp has a fan-to-artist messaging system so that fans can directly support their favorite artists. Both services offer streaming capabilities, though iTunes Music requires users to have an active Apple Music subscription for full access to its library.

iTunes Music

vs.

Beatport

27

ITunes Music and Beatport are both online music stores that offer a variety of genres, artists and albums to customers. Both sites allow users to stream and download songs as well as purchase whole albums. ITunes Music has a much larger selection of music with over 40 million available songs compared to Beatport’s focus on Electronic Dance Music (EDM) with 2 million songs. Additionally, ITunes offers more features such as recommendations and access to exclusive content from their artist partners, while Beatport has a more limited selection of features. Both sites provide listening previews for each song so users can make an informed decision before purchasing. Finally, ITunes Music offers customers the ability to customize their library through playlists, while Beatport does not offer this feature.

iTunes Music

vs.

Deezer

67

iTunes Music and Deezer are both digital music streaming services that provide access to a vast library of songs, albums, playlists, and more. Both services allow users to access their music catalogs on the web, as well as through dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. iTunes Music is integrated with Apple’s ecosystem of products, allowing users to sync their entire library from one device to another. It also features extensive personalization options that allow users to customize the look and feel of their app. Deezer is focused on providing an immersive listening experience by offering curated content tailored to specific user tastes. It also has a powerful search engine that allows users to quickly find new music from its expansive catalog. Additionally, Deezer offers high-quality sound streams and lossless audio files for users who want the best possible sound quality.

iTunes Music

vs.

Gaana

4

iTunes Music and Gaana are both popular music streaming websites. Both sites offer a large selection of songs, albums, and playlists that can be streamed directly to your device. iTunes Music offers the ability to purchase individual songs or entire albums to add permanently to your library. Additionally, it has a large selection of music videos available for purchase. Gaana does not offer this feature. It also has an extensive library of podcasts and radio stations that you can tune into. iTunes Music does not have podcasts or radio stations but instead focuses on providing a wide variety of curated playlists from various genres and artists. Gaana offers the ability to customize your playlist by creating personalized playlists with your favorite songs or those recommended by the site’s algorithm. This feature is not available with iTunes Music. Both sites also have an offline mode, allowing you to download songs for playback when you don’t have internet access. Overall, iTunes Music provides a robust selection of music and videos for purchase while Gaana gives users more control over their listening experience with tailored playlists based on their preferences as well as podcasts and radio stations.

iTunes Music

vs.

Google Play

58

Itunes Music and Google Play both offer a wide selection of music that can be accessed online or through an app. Itunes Music provides a library of over 60 million songs, with access to thousands of playlists put together by the curators at Apple Music. It also offers some exclusive content, such as Beats 1 radio station and the Connect feature, which allows fans to follow their favorite artists and stay up-to-date with their newest releases. Google Play has its own vast library of music, featuring over 40 million tracks. Its main feature is its personalized recommendations service which helps users find new music based on their listening history. Additionally, it is integrated with YouTube Red for subscribers who want access to exclusive videos and original series from renowned producers and musicians. In addition, Google Play offers a family plan that allows up to six people to share one subscription account.

iTunes Music

vs.

Android

15

Both the iTunes Music and Android websites offer users a wide variety of music and audio streaming services, though their differences are quite pronounced. The iTunes Music website is designed to be used with Apple products such as iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. It offers access to a library of millions of songs and albums available for purchase or streaming. Users can also access curated playlists based on popular genres, moods, activities, or artists. The iTunes Store also offers music videos and podcasts. Android's platform focuses on allowing users to stream music from several different sources at once. It offers integration with other streaming services such as Spotify, Google Play Music, Tidal, Napster, Deezer, YouTube Music and Amazon Music Unlimited. Android also allows users to listen to their favorite tracks offline without an internet connection. Additionally, the Android app provides personalized recommendations based on what users are listening to in order to help them discover new music quickly.

iTunes Music

vs.

US

34

iTunes Music and US are both websites offering digital music downloads. iTunes Music is an Apple-owned platform, while US is a free online music store. When it comes to content, iTunes Music has a larger selection of tracks and albums than US, including popular genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, and more. In addition to downloading songs, iTunes Music also allows users to stream music from the Apple Music library, as well as purchase movies and TV shows. US also offers streaming capabilities for its library of songs, but does not offer any other media types for download or streaming. In terms of user experience, iTunes Music provides a more intuitive interface with easy navigation menus that allow for quick searches by artist or genre. On the other hand, US relies on more basic search functions such as keyword search and browsing categories. Both sites provide helpful customer support services including live chat options and FAQs. Ultimately, both platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses depending on the user’s needs when it comes to finding the perfect music download or stream.

iTunes Music

vs.

Playlist

15

iTunes Music and Playlist are both digital music streaming services that offer a variety of music to their users. iTunes Music offers a vast library of millions of songs, with the ability to create playlists and purchase individual songs or albums. Playlist provides access to over 50 million songs, plus personalized radio stations and exclusive artist-only releases. A key difference between the two sites is the way in which users can access the music. On iTunes Music, users can download their purchased music for offline listening or stream it through Apple Music. With Playlist, streaming is the only option available; there is no option to download the tracks for later listening. Another difference between them is their user interface design; iTunes felt more like an online store than a streaming service while Playlist has more of a mobile feel and allows you to quickly browse through different genres and artists. In terms of social features, both services offer similar options, such as sharing your playlists with friends or following other user’s playlists directly from the website. However, Playlist also offers group listening sessions where up to 10 people can listen together in real-time. Overall, iTunes Music and Playlist are both great services for finding new music but they each have unique features that make them stand out from one another.

iTunes Music

vs.

Qobuz

56

iTunes Music and Qobuz are both streaming music services that offer a wide variety of musical genres and artist catalogs. However, their features differ in several areas. iTunes Music is available as an app for Apple products such as iPhones and iPads, or can be accessed directly through the website. It has a large library of songs and albums to choose from and offers personalized playlists tailored to your listening habits. Additionally, music videos are also available along with exclusive releases from famous artists. Users can buy songs to download onto their device or add them to their library for streaming. Qobuz is a subscription-based streaming service available on both iOS and Android devices, as well as through its website. It has an extensive selection of classical music, jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, blues, folk and more; plus it offers high-resolution downloads that retain the original sound quality of tracks with 24bit/192kHz audio files. It also includes editorial content such as interviews with artists and reviews from magazines like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Additionally, users can create playlists from their favorite artists or use the curated playlists created by Qobuz's team of experts.

iTunes Music

vs.

YouTube Music

66

iTunes Music and YouTube Music are both services that allow users to listen to music online. While iTunes Music is only available on Mac/PC and iOS devices, YouTube Music can be used on any device with a web browser. iTunes Music is focused mainly on music purchases and downloads, while YouTube Music allows users to search for music content from official artists, albums, playlists, videos, remixes and covers. With iTunes Music, users have access to the entire Apple Music library of over 50 million songs; YouTube Music offers access to millions of official songs as well as remixes, covers and live performances. iTunes Music allows users to create their own playlists and download individual tracks or albums; whereas YouTube Music allows users to create custom playlists of both official and unofficial content. Both services offer comprehensive artist profiles with information such as discography, bio, tour dates etc.

iTunes Music

vs.

Napster

46

iTunes Music and Napster are two popular sites for buying and listening to music. Both offer a wide selection of songs from various genres. iTunes Music has a more user-friendly interface than Napster, making it easier to browse and find new songs. It also offers an extensive library of podcasts, audiobooks, and other digital media. Users can rate songs they’ve purchased or create playlists of their favorite tracks. Napster provides users with the ability to stream full albums and tracks before purchasing them. It also allows members to share music with friends via social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, Napster gives access to exclusive music videos and interviews with artists. Overall, both services provide great options for purchasing music online but iTunes Music is better suited for beginners due to its user-friendly design, while Napster is better for experienced users who want access to exclusive content and the ability to share their music with friends.

iTunes Music

vs.

Pandora

21

iTunes Music and Pandora are two popular streaming music services available to users. Both provide access to millions of songs, albums, and artists. However, they differ in how they deliver the music to the consumer. With iTunes Music, users can purchase their favorite songs or albums for permanent download. In addition, Apple Music subscribers gain access to exclusive content from artists and can listen to Beats 1 radio for curated programming. Users have more control over what they listen to as they can create their own playlists which are easily shared with other Apple Music members. Pandora, on the other hand, is a radio-style streaming service that uses an algorithm called Music Genome Project to curate its playlists based on input from users such as favorite artists or songs. Users can rate the songs they like or dislike so that future selections are tailored to their preferences but have less control over what plays next than with iTunes Music.

iTunes Music

vs.

Free

17

Both iTunes Music and Free are websites that offer a variety of music for streaming or purchase. However, there are some key differences between them. iTunes Music is an Apple-owned website that specializes in selling digital downloads of songs and albums, as well as streaming playlists. It also offers a vast selection of podcasts, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and more. On the other hand, Free is a free music streaming service that allows users to search for songs by genre or artist and stream them directly from the website. Free has no download options and also offers free radio stations with no ads or subscription fees. Additionally, while iTunes Music limits streaming to Apple devices only, Free allows users to stream on any device. Therefore, while iTunes Music specializes in retailing music downloads and providing access to other content such as movies and podcasts, Free focuses on providing unlimited online streaming of music at no cost.

iTunes Music

vs.

Amazon

46

Both iTunes Music and Amazon are popular online music stores. Both offer an extensive selection of songs, albums, and artists from all genres. They both provide users with the ability to preview songs before buying them. However, iTunes Music allows users to download full albums with one click; Amazon requires users to purchase individual songs. Additionally, iTunes Music offers a convenient way for Mac users to organize their media library by using the built-in iTunes app. Amazon on the other hand offers more flexibility in terms of downloading and storing music files as it is compatible with both PCs and mobile devices. Furthermore, while iTunes Music provides exclusive content such as bonus tracks and pre-release singles, Amazon's platform has a more robust search engine that makes it easier for users to find the exact song or album they are looking for.