Spotify vs. Deezer: which is better?
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Spotify is the world's largest premium music streaming service with over 130 million paying users. Deezer is slightly smaller with a subscriber base of less than 10 million. But is Spotify really much better than its rival, or is it a David and Goliath story, in which the underdog ultimately wins the fight?
That's what we're going to find out. We'll be looking at all the differences between the two streaming services to find out which one comes out on top in the Spotify vs Deezer battle. Let's dive into it.
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Contents hide 1 Spotify vs. Deezer: Content 2 Spotify vs. Deezer: Music Discovery 3 Spotify vs. Deezer: Audio Quality 4 Spotify vs. Deezer: Pricing and Plans 5 Spotify vs. Deezer: Other Differences 6 Who's the Winner?Spotify vs. Deezer: Content
Both Deezer and Spotify have a library of over 50 million songs. I didn't notice much difference between the two as all my favorite artists and songs are available on both platforms. These include world famous musicians, as well as smaller bands and DJs.
But music is not the only content offered by the two services. They also both offer podcasts, which is where I saw a difference between the services. Deezer has a good selection of podcasts, but Spotify is way ahead of its rival. Most of the podcasts I listen to are available on Spotify, but not on Deezer.
Spotify is investing more money in the sector. He recently reached an agreement with Joe Rogan whereby he will stream his popular podcast titled The Joe Rogan Experience exclusively on Spotify. It's a brilliant move by the Swedish streaming giant given the popularity of Rogan's podcast. Your audience will have no choice but to follow you on Spotify if they want to keep listening to you.
Both services also have several videos on their platforms, although they are not front and center like with YouTube Music or Tidal. There are no dedicated video sections available, but you come across video content when searching for artists and songs.
If music is what you're into, you'll be happy with either service. They both have a great selection of songs and artists available. But if you love listening to podcasts and don't want a separate app, Spotify has the upper hand here. Deezer is also investing heavily in trying to bring as many podcasts as possible to its platform, but it's lagging behind Spotify at the moment.
Spotify vs. Deezer: Musical Discovery
Both streaming services are ideal for music discovery. Spotify offers the popular Discover Weekly playlist which contains songs from artists and genres you normally listen to. You get a new one every Monday with 30 tracks. The service also creates up to six daily mixes for you based on your listening habits. Additionally, there's also a Release Radar playlist with songs from new releases that the service thinks you'll like.
Deezer's offer is even better in my opinion. The service has what it calls Flow, which is an endless mix of new and favorite tracks. There's also a Discovery Playlist which is updated every Monday and is full of songs you haven't heard on Deezer yet. Then there's the New Releases Playlist featuring new tracks from the artists you love, and the Chill Playlist with songs to listen to while chilling on the weekends. Moreover, Deezer also creates mixes for you based on your listening habits with new and familiar songs.
Spotify vs. Deezer: audio quality
This is where Deezer has the Spotify groove, but only if you're willing to pay the extra. In the regular plan offered by both companies, streaming exceeds 320 kbps. Both also have the option to reduce the quality to save the data.
But unlike Spotify, Deezer also offers a HiFi package that gives you access to high-quality FLAC audio files with a bitrate of 1 kbps. But you will need a good pair of headphones to enjoy the best audio quality.
Additionally, Deezer's HiFi package gives you access to 360 Reality Audio tracks by downloading a separate app called 360 by Deezer. 360 Reality Audio is Sony's newest push to bring a new format for audio streaming. It's a new way to mix audio that allows engineers to make instruments sound like they're placed in the space around you.
If you are an audiophile, Deezer is definitely the best option for you. But keep in mind that you will have to pay MXN$179,00 per month to get access to the company's HiFi package. If you want to go with a standard plan to save money, there's no difference between the quality you get with Spotify and Deezer. For most people, the standard audio quality is more than adequate on both services.
Spotify vs. Deezer: Pricing and Plans
Spotify and Deezer both have a free plan available with more or less the same limitations. You can only shuffle except for a few specific playlists, you can skip six tracks per hour, and you can't download music for offline listening. There is a slight difference in audio quality though – 128kbps for Deezer and 160kbps for Spotify.
When it comes to premium plans, the two services also share a lot of similarities. In the US, both offer a basic subscription at MXN$115,00 per month, or MXN$57,00 if you're a student. A family plan supporting up to six accounts is available for MXN$179,00
Deezer's annual subscription will save you around MXN$1.
However, Deezer lets you pay for an annual subscription upfront, saving you around MXN$38,00. Deezer also offers a HiFi package which offers better audio quality – read more in the previous section.
Spotify, on the other hand, has a plan called Duo Premium in its lineup that caters primarily to couples. It gives you access to two accounts and costs MXN$149,00.
Spotify vs Deezer: other differences
There are also many small differences between the two services. For example, Deezer has a built-in SongCatcher, which is its version of SoundHound or Shazam. When you're on the go and you hear a great song you don't know, all you have to do is launch SongCatcher and it'll tell you the name of the song and the artist.
The country's streaming service also has a better user interface, although that comes down to personal preference. It pays artists more than Spotify, so it's a better option if you want to support artists who follow you, especially those just starting out.
Spotify, on the other hand, has a Crossfade feature that lets you create a seamless transition between songs. It also comes with a Gapless mode which tries to remove the pause after a song ends and a new one begins. Then there's integration with Google Maps and Waze. This means that while browsing you can play, pause or skip tracks without leaving the app.
These are smaller differences that won't be a big factor in deciding which service to subscribe to for most people, but they're always good to keep in mind.
Who's the winner?
So David defeats Goliath? Yes and no. In terms of popularity and market share, Deezer is no match for Spotify. It would need to grow its subscriber base of over 120 million users to beat it, which isn't likely to happen anytime soon.
But when it comes to audio quality, music discovery, and general usability, Deezer comes out on top. At least for some. In my opinion, it has better music discovery features, audio quality is better, but it's expensive, and it's packed with extra features like SongCatcher. Moreover, the service is also cheaper as long as you opt for an annual plan. If any of these things appeal to you, I have no problem recommending Deezer over Spotify.
The difference between Spotify and Deezer is not huge.
However, Spotify is still a brilliant service and it also has some advantages over Deezer. The main one is the selection of podcasts. There are more available, some popular and exclusive ones coming to the service soon. There are also a few extra features on board that I really appreciate like Crossfade and Google Maps integration. If those things are more important to you than the best audio quality and all the other bells and whistles you get with Deezer, Spotify is the way to go.
If it was my money, I would go to Deezer. However, keep in mind that the overall difference between the two is not huge. I'd be happy with either, as most people would in my opinion.
It should be noted that both services offer a free trial for their premium service. You can use Deezer for free for 30 days, while Spotify lets you use all of its features for three months without spending a penny. So, if you're still not sure which one to choose, try both first to see which one is better for your needs.
These are the main differences between Deezer and Spotify, although there are also smaller ones. If we missed any of the main ones, let us know in the comments.
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