Looking for free alternatives to Spotify to stream music without paying? Here are the best options—depending on whether you’re into playlists, radio-style listening, or more control over tracks.
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🎧 Top Free Alternatives to Spotify
1. YouTube Music (Free Tier)
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Huge library (basically all of YouTube)
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Personalized playlists + recommendations
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Free version has ads and no background play (on mobile)
✅ Best for variety and obscure tracks
❌ No offline mode, mobile restrictions
2. Pandora (Free Plan – US only)
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Radio-style streaming based on your taste
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Thumbs up/down to train it
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Ads between songs, skips are limited
✅ Great for discovery
❌ Not available outside the U.S.
3. Deezer (Free Plan)
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90 million+ tracks
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Personalized playlists, genre radios, podcasts
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Ads and shuffle-only playback on mobile
✅ Closest feel to Spotify
❌ Lower audio quality on free tier
4. SoundCloud (Free Tier)
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Especially good for indie, remixes, emerging artists
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No account needed for basic listening
✅ Great for discovering new/underground artists
❌ Mainstream music is limited
5. Audiu
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Blockchain-based streaming platform (yes, really)
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Mostly indie and electronic artists
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Totally free, no ads
✅ No ads, free forever
❌ Not much mainstream music yet
6. Jango
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Free internet radio with unlimited listening
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Customizable stations with no account required
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Fewer ads than Pandora
✅ Chill, no-login option
❌ No on-demand track selection
🧠 Quick Picks by Style
Want… | Use This |
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Big music library | YouTube Music |
Smart radio + recommendations | Pandora |
On-demand listening feel | Deezer Free |
Underground & indie music | SoundCloud |
Ad-free indie discovery | Audius |
No-login, radio-style play | Jango |
Need a service with offline listening, no ads, or curated playlists for a specific vibe (like lo-fi, gym, or study)? Just say the word and I’ll tailor it for you.