All the hits: Our comparison of the top music streaming providers

Accessing music has never been so simple. But choosing the right streaming provider can be a challenge. In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on Switzerland’s most popular streaming services and help you find the right one for you.

The top music streaming providers

There is a wealth of music streaming services available in Switzerland. The most popular are Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Tidal, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. We’ve taken a closer look at the pros and cons of each, and looked into how much the platforms pay the artists per stream.

Spotify

Pros:

• Huge range of music with over 100 million songs
• User-friendly app and web interface
• Personalised playlists and new music discovery
• Free ad-supported version

Cons:

• Free version has lower-quality audio than Premium
• Ad interruptions in the free version

Artist remuneration:

• Spotify pays around CHF 0.003 to 0.005 to the artist per stream.

Price comparison:

• Free ad-supported version
• Premium Individual: CHF 13.95 per month
• Premium Duo: CHF 18.95 per month
• Premium Student: approx. CHF 7.95 per month
• Premium Family: approx. CHF 22.95 per month (up to 6 people)

Apple Music

Pros:

• Large music catalogue with over 100 million songs
• Seamless integration with Apple devices and your iTunes library
• High audio quality (lossless and Dolby Atmos available)
• No ads

Cons:

• No free version
• More difficult to use on non-Apple devices

Artist remuneration:

• Apple Music pays around CHF 0.008 to the artist per stream.

Price comparison:

• Individual: CHF 13.90 per month
• Student: CHF 7.50 per month
• Family: CHF 21.90 per month (up to 6 people)

Tidal

Pros:

• Outstanding audio quality, including HiFi and Master
• Artist-friendly business model with higher payouts to musicians
• Exclusive content and videos
• Comprehensive music catalogue with over 100 million titles

Cons:

• No free version
• Fewer personalised features than the other services

Artist remuneration:

• Tidal pays around CHF 0.012 to the artist per stream.

Price comparison:

• Individual: CHF 13.90 per month
• Student: CHF 6.49 per month
• Family: CHF 21.90 per month (up to 6 people)

Deezer

Pros:

• Comprehensive catalogue with more than 90 million titles
• Personalised playlists and “Flow” function for new music discovery
• Free ad-supported version
• CD quality (lossless audio) for Premium users

Cons:

• Ads in the free version
• Less well-known and therefore less social interaction than with other providers

Artist remuneration:

• Deezer pays around CHF 0.006 to the artist per stream.

Price comparison:

• Premium: CHF 14.95 per month
• Duo: CHF 18.95 per month
• Student: CHF 7.95 per month
• Family: CHF 22.95 per month (up to 6 people)

Summary

Which music streaming service is right for you will depend on your own personal preferences and needs. Looking for a wide range of music and a user-friendly interface? Spotify or Deezer might be the best choice. You’re an Apple fan with lots of Apple devices? Apple Music would be perfect. If your top priority is maximum audio quality and you want to support the artists directly, Tidal could be the way to go.

Top criteria at a glance

• Range of music: All of the big providers have over 90 million titles, so you’ll get a huge selection with all of them.
• Audio quality: Tidal offers HiFi and Master quality, while Apple Music supports lossless and Dolby Atmos.
• Cost: The monthly prices are very similar across the board, ranging from CHF 13.90 to CHF 14.95 for individual plans.
• Free versions: Only Spotify and Deezer offer free, ad-supported versions.
• Trial subscriptions: All of the services we’ve mentioned offer at least a one-month trial.
• Artist remuneration: Tidal pays the most per stream.

Note: all figures and prices in this article were correct as of May 2024.