Cheapest Music Streaming Services in the UK (2026 Comparison)
Thinking about taking out a music subscription, or just wondering if you’re paying more than you need to? You’re not alone.
These days, almost every major music streaming service charges roughly the same monthly fee. That makes it very easy to overpay for features you don’t care about — or miss cheaper plans that do exist.
This guide compares the cheapest music streaming services in the UK, looks at student and family plans, and shows which services actually offer the best value and best sound quality in 2026.
Music streaming prices in the UK – quick comparison
Service | Individual | Family | Student | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
£10.99 | £16.99 | £5.99 | ❌ | |
£10.99 | £16.99 | £5.49 | ❌ | |
£12.99 | £21.99 | £4.99 | ❌ | |
£11.99 (£10.99 Prime) | £19.99 | £5.99 | ❌ | |
£11.99 | £19.99 | £5.99 | ✅ | |
£10.99 | – | £5.49 | ✅ | |
£10.99 | £16.99 | £5.49 | ✅ | |
£12.99 | £21.99 | £5.99 | ✅ |
Prices are correct for the UK as of 2026. Some services offer annual billing discounts, which can make a noticeable difference long-term.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5
Best for sound quality without paying extra
If someone asked me which music streaming service offers the best balance of price and quality in the UK, Apple Music would be right near the top.
I’ve used it on and off for years, mostly because it just works. The big selling point now is that lossless and hi-res audio are included as standard — no premium tiers, no upsells. If you’ve got decent headphones or speakers, it sounds noticeably better than Spotify.
It’s simple, reliable, and good value for what you get.
Apple Music
Why Apple works
✅ Lossless & hi-res audio included
✅ Strong family plan value
✅ Excellent Apple device integration
✅ Clean, no-nonsense app
Where it falls short
❌ No free tier
❌ Less social than Spotify
❌ Best features favour Apple users
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.5/5
Best pure hi-res audio streaming service
If sound quality is the only thing you care about, Qobuz is hard to beat.
Qobuz doesn’t bother with podcasts, audiobooks, social feeds, or algorithm tricks. It’s here for one reason: proper hi-res music, streamed and downloadable, without compromise.
With decent headphones or a DAC, it’s superb — cleaner and more natural than Spotify, and even a touch more “audiophile” than Apple Music.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not for casual listening. But if you care about mastering quality, liner notes, and bit-perfect playback, this is the grown-up option.
Qobuz
Why Qobuz works
✅ True hi-res audio (up to 24-bit / 192kHz)
✅ No compressed streams anywhere
✅ Downloadable purchases (rare now)
✅ Excellent editorial & liner notes
✅ Annual plans reduce the real cost
Where it falls short
❌ No free tier
❌ Smaller catalogue than Spotify
❌ App feels functional, not flashy
❌ Zero interest in podcasts or extras
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.4/5
Best sound quality and cheapest for students
Tidal is all about audio quality — and it delivers.
If you care about how music sounds and have the kit to notice the difference, Tidal is excellent. The student plan is also the cheapest way to get hi-res audio in the UK.
It’s probably overkill for casual listening, but great if sound matters.
Tidal
Why Tidal works
✅ Excellent sound quality
✅ Cheapest student plan
✅ Strong artist focus
✅ Clean interface
Where it falls short
❌ No free tier
❌ Smaller podcast offering
❌ Overkill for casual listeners
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.3/5
Best if you already pay for Amazon Prime
Amazon Music Unlimited makes the most sense if you’re already paying for Prime. If you’re not, it’s harder to justify.
The catalogue is huge, sound quality is excellent, and it includes lossless audio at no extra cost. The app has improved a lot, but it still feels less intuitive than Spotify or Apple Music.
The single-device plan (£5.99 per month) is a genuinely cheap option if you mostly listen through an Echo.
Amazon Music
Why Amazon works
✅ Cheaper for Prime members
✅ Lossless & hi-res audio included
✅ Single-device plan is very cheap
✅ Big catalogue
Where it falls short
❌ App still feels clunky
❌ Confusing Prime vs Unlimited setup
❌ Not great if you’re not a Prime member
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.2/5
Best value if you pay annually
Deezer is one of those services people overlook — unfairly.
On the surface, pricing looks similar to everyone else. But if you’re happy paying annually, Deezer quietly becomes one of the cheapest full-featured music subscriptions in the UK.
It doesn’t shout about itself, but it does the basics very well.
Deezer
Why Deezer works
✅ Cheaper with annual billing
✅ CD-quality audio included
✅ Simple, no-nonsense app
✅ Free tier available
Where it falls short
❌ Fewer integrations than Spotify
❌ Not as strong on recommendations
❌ Less brand recognition
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.1/5
Cheapest paid music streaming service
SoundCloud is a bit different from the rest — and that’s not a bad thing.
It’s brilliant for remixes, indie artists, and unofficial uploads. The student pricing is cheap, and it’s the lowest-cost paid option overall.
For mainstream chart music, it’s weaker — but that’s not really the point.
Soundcloud
Why Soundcloud works
✅ Cheapest paid plan
✅ Huge indie & remix catalogue
✅ Good student pricing
✅ Free tier available
Where it falls short
❌ Mainstream catalogue weaker
❌ Audio quality inconsistent
❌ Not ideal as a sole service
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⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.0/5
Best if you already use YouTube a lot
YouTube Music shines where others fall down — live performances, remixes, and obscure uploads.
If you already spend a lot of time on YouTube, this feels like a natural extension. If you don’t, it’s less compelling.
It’s good value, just not exceptional.
YouTube Music
Why YouTube Music works
✅ Access to rare & live versions
✅ Good student pricing
✅ Integrates with YouTube Premium
✅ Huge content variety
Where it falls short
❌ No lossless audio
❌ Music discovery isn’t great
❌ App feels secondary to YouTube
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3.8/5
Best free music streaming service
Spotify is still the easiest music streaming service to recommend if you don’t want to pay anything.
The free tier is genuinely usable, and the app is slick, familiar, and works everywhere. That said, Premium pricing has crept up and sound quality hasn’t improved to match rivals.
I still use Spotify occasionally, but mainly out of habit rather than value.
Spotify
Why Spotify works
✅ Best free music option
✅ Excellent playlists & discovery
✅ Works on almost every device
✅ Familiar, polished app
Where it falls short
❌ No lossless or hi-res audio
❌ Premium now expensive
❌ Worse value than competitors
Best quality music streaming services in the UK
If sound quality matters, there is a real difference between services.
Service | Max quality | Lossless / Hi-Res |
|---|---|---|
Apple Music | 24-bit / 192kHz | ✅ |
Tidal | 24-bit / 192kHz | ✅ |
Qobuz | 24-bit / 192kHz | ✅ |
Amazon Music Unlimited | 24-bit / 192kHz | ✅ |
Deezer | CD quality | ✅ |
YouTube Music | ~256kbps | ❌ |
Spotify | 320kbps | ❌ |
SoundCloud | Variable (often ≤256kbps) | ❌ |
Note: SoundCloud quality varies by track and uploader. There is no lossless or hi-res tier.
Cheapest vs best quality – quick decision guide
If you just want the answer:
• Cheapest free option: Spotify
• Cheapest paid option: SoundCloud Go+
• Cheapest student plan: Qobuz (£4.99/month)
• Best sound quality: Qobuz
• Best overall value: Apple Music
• Worst value in 2026: Spotify Premium
FAQs
What is the difference between Prime Music and Amazon Music Unlimited?
Prime Music includes around 100 million tracks, but much of it is shuffle-based and limited. Amazon Music Unlimited removes those restrictions, allows full on-demand listening, and enables offline downloads.
Do you have to be a Prime member to purchase Amazon Music Unlimited?
No, you don’t. However, the subscription is more expensive for non-Prime members.
What happened to Apple Voice?
Apple Music Voice was discontinued at the end of 2023. It was a cheaper, Siri-only plan that limited playback to voice commands on a single device.
What is the cheapest music streaming service in the UK?
If you want a paid subscription, SoundCloud Go+ is currently the cheapest option. For students, Tidal offers the cheapest high-quality streaming at £5.49 per month. Spotify remains the best free option.
What is the best music streaming service in the UK overall?
For most people, Apple Music offers the best balance of price, sound quality and features. It includes lossless and hi-res audio at no extra cost and is cheaper than Spotify’s Premium plan.
Which music streaming service has the best sound quality?
Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music Unlimited all offer lossless and hi-res audio in the UK. Spotify and YouTube Music do not currently support lossless streaming.
What’s the cheapest family music plan in the UK?
Apple Music and Tidal both offer good-value family plans at £16.99 per month for up to six people. Spotify’s family plan is more expensive at £21.99.
Hi, missing qobuz on your list. Thanks.
Thanks Chris. I have updated my review