Winner Survey – This app has the best features

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

• Stiftung Warentest tested music streaming services for iOS and Android (more test reports here).
• Although none of the nine applications failed, only three received “enough”.
• The top two are the same for both operating systems, the rest are a bit mixed up.

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

Music streaming services at Stiftung Warentest: these functions are in focus

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

Basic functions such as shuffle mode, offline use, or playlist management are evaluated. Experts also paid attention to the usability of applications, data protection, and illegal clauses in the terms and conditions, with Napster, Qobuz and Tidal scoring negatively with obvious shortcomings.

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

Great accuracy, which probably surprises few: Spotify is the top choice for both Android and iOS, and it’s rated very well. The second and third positions are also identical for both operating systems, although the rating is slightly different:

• Spotify (“Very good”)
• Deezer (“good”)
• Amazon Music Unlimited (“Good” on Android, “Fair” on iOS)

The losers in the test are also clear: no app failed, but the same apps scored only “sufficient” points in both operating systems, with Napster taking the last place in both. You can get the full result of the Stiftung Warentest Music Streaming Test here (for a fee).

Music streaming services in the test: Offline mode and playlists – two weak apps

In the event of a disconnection from the Internet, the streaming service should go offline with as little disruption as possible. Aldi Life Music and Napster apps stop playing here. Other apps solve the problem more elegantly by caching the data stream while streaming. Stiftung Warentest also tested whether exercises from headache apps are helpful.

An important function is the creation of playlists: again, it is Aldi and Napster who leave a negative impression here. It’s the only apps that doesn’t suggest playlists from popular artists. Spotify is “a little more flexible” when it comes to adding music stored on the phone to the playlist in the app. Like the Amazon app, the test winner is weak when it comes to data protection: both send more unnecessary data than the others. (Rissa)