The Best Music Streaming Services and Your SmartHome System

While technology is constantly changing, one thing that will never go out of style is music. However you choose to jam out, you will love the sound quality your new home automation system provides. Pairing your SmartHome system with a popular music streaming service will allow you to seamlessly have dance battles in the living room or listen to your favorite tunes during a quiet night at home.

Are you ready to discover how to pick the right music streaming service for you and your home? We understand you want the best listening experience and are probably wondering which music streaming service is most compatible with your SmartHome system. To answer this question, we’ve compiled a list of the top music streaming services along with their pros and cons. Read on to find out!

Picking the Right Music Streaming Service for Your SmartHome System

Before deciding which music streaming service is the best for you and your home, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the top five music streaming services on the market today.

Apple Music

The Apple Music platform offers its users more than 75 million songs. Apple Music does not offer a free tier but offers users a student plan for $4.99/month, an individual plan for $9.99/month, and a six family member plan for $14.99/month.

Pros:

• More than 75 million tracks available for streaming
• 24/7 Apple Music radio stations
• Family plan options are available

Cons:

• No free version
• Lossless audio is not available on all platforms

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Spotify

The Spotify platform launched in 2008 and now has over 70 million tracks and 2.2 million podcasts for its users to consume. Spotify offers three different payment options, including Spotify Student at $4.99/month, Spotify Premium at $9.99/month, and Spotify Family at $14.99/month.

Pros:

• Free version available
• Podcasts available through streaming service
• Collaborative playlists and group session options
  

Cons:

• No Hi-Res Audio option
• No lyrics in web or desktop apps

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Tidal

The Tidal platform was first launched in 2014 and then relaunched in 2015 by Jay-Z. Therefore, Tidal is the first streaming service billed as being artist-owned. Tidal offers its users a free option, a HiFi package for $9.99/month, and a HiFi Plus package for $19.99/month.

Pros:

• High sound quality with optional Hi-Res Audio
• Music-focused podcasts available
• Exclusive backstage content, live streams, and concerts available
  
  

Cons:

• The free tier offers none of Tidal’s defining perks
• More expensive compared to similar streaming services
  

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YouTube Music

The YouTube Music platform was first announced in 2018. This newer streaming service offers a free version where users have to listen to ads every few songs or a premium option for $9.99/month that is ad-free.

Pros:

• Family and student plan options are available
• You can easily switch between audio and music videos
• Access to excellent location and time-based playlists
  

Cons:

• It doesn’t offer non-music options like podcasts
• No Hi-Res Audio option available

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Amazon Music

The Amazon Music platform was first launched in 2007. With Amazon Music Unlimited, users can listen to unlimited streams for $7.99/month.

Pros:

• 90-day free trial option
• Large music library
• Integration options with Amazon device family
  
  

Cons:

• No live radio option
• No music video content is available

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Which Music Streaming Service Will You Integrate Into Your SmartHome?

Ultimately, you can easily integrate any of the five music streaming services into your SmartHome system. It’s genuinely all about preference. If you’re already an Apple person and use only Apple devices, then Apple Music would be an excellent choice. In the same respect, if you use Amazon devices and utilize a prime membership, Amazon Music would probably be the best choice. While you can choose any music streaming service that you want, be sure to let your integrator know your streaming preference before installation to ensure that you get the best possible audio experience out of your automated home.