When you are looking for a new music app to play your tunes on, you need to find one that is able to offer you the features that you desire. While there are many free music apps out there, you should also consider getting a premium subscription for additional features.
Free vs. paid plans
Spotify offers three types of services. The free plan is the most basic, and allows you to stream songs. There is also a Premium version, which lets you download music for offline listening. However, each service has its own limitations.
If you are looking for the best option, consider Spotify’s Premium subscription. For $9.99 a month, you will gain access to unlimited podcasts and albums, plus you will have an ad-free experience. It’s also great for long flights.
One of the main advantages of Premium is that you can listen to newly released songs instantly. In addition, you can get access to exclusive content. You can also play any song on demand. And if you want, you can even skip or repeat tracks.
Streaming services like Spotify tend to be a bit expensive. So, you need to weigh your options before signing up. Luckily, Spotify has a three-month free trial. This way, you have time to test out the Premium service.
During the trial period, you will be able to listen to all of the perks of the premium service. But if you don’t like it, you can cancel before the trial ends.
With a Premium plan, you can also access Spotify’s Group Sessions. These are playlists created for specific artists or genres. By selecting a playlist, you can listen to it together with your friends.
Ad-free music
Spotify is one of the leading music streaming services in the world. It is available on PC, tablet, smartphone, car, and games consoles. You can even listen to your favorite songs on smart TVs.
The service is ad-free, and you can download your favorite tracks for offline listening. However, there are some disadvantages to using the free version. Some users have complained that they receive ads every two or three songs.
The service also has a paywall for new releases. In order to bypass it, you have to pay a monthly fee of $9.99. As you can imagine, this is a small price to pay for unlimited access to music.
On the other hand, you can skip up to six songs in an hour. This feature can also be found on the desktop app.
Spotify’s premium tier is ad-free and offers higher quality streaming. But you’ll only get access to this feature for two weeks.
If you are interested in a Spotify deal, it is best to read the fine print. Sometimes, you’ll be required to download an application in order to enjoy the offer. Alternatively, you may be required to provide your credit card information. This can pose a serious security risk.
Curated playlists
There’s no denying that Spotify is the go-to music streaming app for millions of users. Whether you’re into hip hop or pop, you can find your favorite tracks in the app. In addition to that, you can also use the platform to discover new music. If you’re a premium user, you’ll get access to a whole host of features that curate playlists. And even if you’re not a premium user, you can still access some of these features.
When you first sign up for Premium, you’ll receive a free month. You can cancel at any time. Once you’re a Premium user, you’ll get ad-free access to 82 million songs, plus exclusive content. Plus, you’ll enjoy better streaming quality. As a Premium user, you’ll also be able to save songs for offline listening.
Another nifty feature of Spotify is its ability to recommend new songs based on your listening habits. This helps you create personalized playlists. For example, if you love the sound of 90s pop, it might recommend you check out “Summer Rewind.”
To get started with your playlist, simply right-click the song you want to add to your playlist. You can then select the option to make it private or share it on social media.
Saving songs to devices when you’re offline
If you want to be able to listen to music even when you are not online, you should consider subscribing to Spotify Premium. It is a great way to get higher quality streaming, as well as save songs to your device when you are offline. Depending on the quality setting you choose, the downloads will take up additional space on your mobile devices.
When you subscribe to Spotify Premium, you also get a free month. Moreover, the service is available on PC, tablet, games consoles, and smart TVs. You can also use it through Bluetooth devices, like headphones or head units.
With a Premium account, you can download songs for listening when you are not online. In addition, you can share songs directly via social media. Similarly, you can create playlists, customize your profile, and co-create collaborative playlists with other users.
To play downloaded content when you are offline, you can choose the Offline mode in the Playback section of Spotify. Then, you can select your favorite songs to download and listen to them. Once you’ve done this, you can stay in the offline mode for up to 30 days. However, once the time limit has passed, you will have to re-download all the songs.
Limits on shuffle ability on pre-made playlists
One of the perks of being a Spotify Premium subscriber is the ability to skip ahead in your favorite playlist. However, the service does have limitations. For starters, you’re limited to six skips per hour. Plus, Spotify only allows you to download 10,000 songs for offline listening.
The company did add a feature that lets you create and share your own personalized music playlists. In fact, the Spotify app allows you to create up to three large playlists. It also allows you to store up to 50,000 songs on five different devices.
You can even use an Echo Dot to make requests for your favorite tracks. If you’re a Spotify Premium subscriber, the app has a few other perks, like the ability to save songs in your “My Music” folder for offline playback.
The shuffle-a-ma-same feature is the only way to go if you aren’t paying for Premium. Aside from the aforementioned limitations, you can’t skip past the most popular playlists. This is a bummer since the app has a huge library of songs to choose from.
Not to mention, you can’t skip past the most recent songs in your Favorites playlists. With a Premium subscription, you get access to all the content on the app, including your playlists and radio stations.
Available on AT&T and Xbox
In the world of streaming TV, AT&T and Xbox are just two of the many players in the arena. Aside from the obvious cable providers, Telus and Dish Network have also been making headlines in recent years, providing customers with a range of services. The latest announcements, however, involve a bit of both.
While you may have already heard of the AT&T U-verse wireless service, it’s not yet clear whether or not Xbox 360 users can access it. That being said, the company has been experimenting with game streaming since last year. If you have a U-verse subscription, you can now take advantage of the dedicated Xbox One app. This allows you to browse through your channel lineup and select the ones you want to watch.
As for the actual experience, it’s a good idea to check your provider’s website for any nifty features and functionality. It’s also possible to watch shows on the go with the AT&T U-verse Mobile app, which can be downloaded to your iPhone, iPad or Android device for $9.99 per month. You’ll have to sign up for a postpaid mobile plan first.
Unlike other mobile services, AT&T’s app has no contract and offers a wide range of streaming media content, including movies, television shows and games.
Groupon and Pandora are good alternatives
Pandora is the most popular music streaming service, and its subscriber base has skyrocketed to more than 50 million users. However, the long-term viability of the company is not guaranteed.
Pandora is based on a business model that relies heavily on advertising. To keep its business growing, it must increase its number of subscribers and attract local advertisers.
The best way for Pandora to increase its number of subscribers is to make its service more accessible on a variety of devices. In addition, it must expand its revenue potential and gain more visibility in social media networks.
There are three ways to do this. First, it could partner with social networking sites. This would streamline its distribution and make it easier for fans to share the service. Second, it could launch an offline listening mode. Third, it could add more ad campaigns.
If a third option is not possible, then Spotify should be considered. It offers on-demand music streaming, and it also allows users to create custom radio stations. But its free version has limitations.
Another Pandora competitor is Tidal, which was founded by rapper Shawn Carter. The service allows users to listen to songs in high-quality audio without having to deal with licensing issues. Moreover, Tidal grants users access to exclusive content from artists.