Clear winner: This app has the best features

Stiftung Warentest tested streaming music services for iOS and Android. One app emerges as the clear test winner, the rest of the results are mixed.

• Stiftung Warentest has tested streaming music services for iOS and Android (more reviews here).
• Although none of the nine apps failed, three only received a “fair.”
• The first two are the same for both operating systems, the rest is a bit of a mixed bag.

Listen to your favorite music whenever and wherever you want, that’s what music streaming was invented for. Stiftung Warentest tested nine apps from various services that can be used for both iOS and Android. One turns out to be the clear winner, three are less convincing. It is noteworthy that three other apps work “well” for Android, while only one streaming service is really recommended for iOS.

Music streaming services at Stiftung Warentest – these features are focused

Nine apps were tested, which are available for Android and iOS operating systems. Costs range from €7.99 to €14.99 for individual accounts and up to €24.99 for family accounts with six people, although the “Aldi Life Music” streaming service does not offer this feature at all. Matching music streaming apps had By the way, Stiftung Warentest only tested Bluetooth headsets last month.

Basic functions such as shuffle mode and offline use or playlist management were evaluated. The experts also paid attention to the ease of use of the applications, data protection and illegal clauses in the terms and conditions, with Napster, Qobuz and Tidal scoring negatively with clear deficiencies.

Music streaming services in the test: clear winner for iOS and Android

The great resolution, which probably surprises few: Spotify is the best option for both Android and iOS and is rated “very good”. Second and third place are also identical for both operating systems, although the ranking differs slightly:

• Spotify (“very good”)
• deezer (“good”)
• Amazon Music Unlimited (“good” on Android, “fair” on iOS)

The losers in the test are also clear: no apps crashed, but the same apps only rated “fair” on both operating systems, with Napster coming in last on both. The full result of You can get music streaming trials from Stiftung Warentest here (chargeable).

Music streaming services in the test: offline mode and playlists: two apps are weak

If the Internet connection is interrupted, the streaming service should switch to offline mode with as little interruption as possible. Aldi Life Music and Napster apps stop playback here. Other applications solve the problem more elegantly by caching the data stream during transmission. If the exercises Stiftung Warentest has also tested headache apps.

An important function is the creation of playlists: again, it is Aldi and Napster that make a negative impression here. They are the only apps that do not suggest selected playlists from well-known artists. Spotify is “a little more flexible” when it comes to adding music stored on the phone to the app’s playlist. Like the Amazon app, the test winner is weaker when it comes to data protection: Both send more unnecessary data than the others. (resa)