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This article was taken from the March 2014 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
How we tested
We tested music-streaming services for desktop, mobile, tablets and web browsers. As each service offers a similar range of music, judging focus was on robustness, design, experience, quality of radio offerings and compatibility across platforms. We also asked five music and technology commentators to share their opinions.
Google Play
Google can store up to 20,000 of your songs in the cloud, and upgrading turns it into a fully fledged streaming service. Despite the company's technical nous, the web version was the least robust platform on test. There were periods when the app would log out in mid-song or simply refuse to stream audio at all. A test on the mobile iOS app fared better, although "there was a worrying drop in sound quality on a mobile device", says Joe Cox. "But if Google addresses this, the smooth integration of purchased and streaming music could be a winner."
Wired: Free cloud storage
Tired: Grainy artwork; wobbly connection
Cost: Free cloud storage; £9.99/month for all-access streaming
Specifications Platforms: Android, iOS, browser
Highest bit rate: 320 kbps
Songs in catalogue: 18 million
User base: Unknown
Cloud storage: Up to 20,000 songs
Offline mode: Yes
App store: No
"Rdio is a service for the aesthetes," says reviewer Miriam Chatt. "The spacious, flat design encourages exploration." It's very appealing to use, and its glossy, full-screen design is the most immersive listening experience since the days of staring at the LP artwork as you play the record. You can collect your albums in one catalogue rather than in playlists, although collection-matching with our iTunes created duplicates. Switching between devices is easy: open the app on your smartphone and it can act as a remote for your desktop, or continue playing from where you left off.
Wired: Immersive apps; slick looks
Tired: Duplicate albums are a pain
Cost: £4.99/month for no ads; £9.99/month for mobile; £17.99/month for family access
Specifications Platforms: iOS, OS X, Android, BlackBerry, Windows, browser
Highest bit rate: Unknown
Songs: 20 million
User base: Unknown
Cloud storage: No
Offline mode: Yes
App store: No
Deezer refreshed its web interface last November, making music recommendations clearer, but doing little to improve user experience. Its strength, however, is the third-party app platform - although some apps look like a third-party website has been squashed into the interface. The company has attracted huge investment to push it into new markets in a bid to beat Spotify. "Deezer has taken a shotgun approach and licensed as many territories as possible, which could be a big help for them as smartphones take off around the world," says Brittney Bean.
Wired: Open apps
Tired: Buggy player
Cost: Free web access with ads; £4.99/month for web-only; £9.99/month for mobile access
Specifications Platforms: iOS, OS X, Android, Windows, browser
Highest bit rate: 320 kbps
Songs: 30 million
Claimed user base: 5.5m paying, 12m monthly active users
Cloud storage: Yes
Offline mode: Yes
Apps: Yes
Apple's internet radio debut is well- designed and handy (iCloud stores your collections across devices). "I tried it on my Apple TV, and once I got past the 60-second pre-roll ad, the playlist programming was good," says Jason Herskowitz. Pick from a wide variety of genres and tweak suggestions to be favourite hits or esoteric finds without leaving the main UI. You can tweet or share your top stations on Facebook, but a deep social experience is missing. For ad-free streaming, and to add your library to the cloud, you can upgrade to iTunes Match.
Wired: Crisp layout; fairly non-invasive ads; robust line-up
Tired: Limited social content
Cost: Free with ads; £21.99/year for cloud storage
Specifications Platforms: iOS, desktop, Apple TV
Highest bit rate: Unknown
Songs: Unknown
User base: Unknown
Cloud storage: With iTunes Match
Offline mode: With iTunes Match
Apps: No
Spotify's greatest strength is that it was the first streaming service to capture the UK's attention. Combine that with the fact that it has the best social-network integration and you have a platform that benefits from live friend activity and the ability to send and receive recommendations to a personal inbox.
A close relationship with major record labels helps it win exclusive streams, but storing music as playlists is a faff. "The way it fails to separate albums from playlists is a dealbreaker, as is the poor organisation of your music," says Darren Hemmings.
Wired: Social skills
Tired: Messy playlists
Cost: Free with ads; £4.99/month for no ads; £9.99/month for mobile and downloads
Specifications Platforms: iOS, OS X Android, Windows, BlackBerry, browser
Highest bit rate: 320 kbps (premium)
Songs: 20 million
Claimed user base: 6m paying, 24m monthly active users
Cloud storage: No
Offline mode: Yes
Apps: Yes
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
