If you’re in the market for a new music streaming service, it’s likely that Spotify has crossed your mind. As the reigning king of music streaming, it’s a familiar name. But should you be overlooking some lesser-known contenders? Deezer, for instance, is a strong competitor that offers a few unique advantages. In this comprehensive comparison between Deezer vs Spotify, we’ll break down the key differences to help you decide which one suits your musical preferences and needs.
Deezer vs Spotify Background
Spotify: The Pioneer
Spotify, a Swedish music streaming service, was introduced by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. Launched in Europe in 2008, it rapidly gained popularity and reached one million subscribers by 2011. Today, Spotify boasts a staggering 406 million users.
Deezer: The French Challenger
Deezer, a French music streaming service, had its debut in August 2007. Developed by Daniel Marhely and Jonathan Benassaya, it rose to prominence between 2009 and 2013. Deezer formed partnerships with telecom giant Orange S.A., expanding its reach across Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. As of July 2021, Deezer is available in 188 countries, though with a smaller user base of 16 million active users.
User Interface and Functionality
Both Spotify and Deezer impress users with their aesthetically pleasing interfaces. Deezer offers a vibrant and colorful design, while Spotify opts for a darker theme. Each platform has distinct sections to help users navigate through their libraries, including personalized recommendations and playlists. The actual music player may sway individual preferences, with Spotify featuring animated cover art.
Functionality-wise, both platforms are similar, allowing users to skip songs, like tracks, create playlists, and more. Spotify has an extra feature called “Behind the Lyrics” in collaboration with Genius, offering insights into the song’s meaning. Deezer, on the other hand, lets you view lyrics as they play, adding an interactive element.
Read more: Spotify Icons and Symbols
Music Discovery
Both Spotify and Deezer excel in music discovery. Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” playlist and “Release Radar” provide personalized music suggestions based on your listening history. In addition to algorithmically curated playlists, Spotify offers an extensive collection of editorial playlists.
Deezer matches Spotify with personalized daily mixes, recommending playlists and stations based on mood and current popularity. Deezer’s unique “Flow” feature offers an ever-evolving playlist based on your musical preferences.
Deezer vs Spotify Content
When it comes to music catalogs, there are few differences between Spotify and Deezer. Both offer over 90 million tracks, podcasts, and underground music. Deezer’s advantage lies in its availability across more countries than Spotify. Both platforms allow you to upload your files for local playback and download songs for offline listening.
Spotify boasts a larger podcast library, while Deezer adds new shows to its catalog continuously. Deezer’s unique feature is its ability to browse podcasts by duration, a convenience not found on Spotify.
Exclusive Artist Content
Deezer Originals include live EPs and exclusive content, while Spotify offers a similar feature called Spotify Singles. Additionally, artists on Spotify can make their playlists available for fans.
In terms of artist payouts, Deezer tends to pay artists slightly more per stream, but the difference isn’t substantial. Content-wise, Spotify has a slight edge due to its larger podcast library and more artist exclusives.
Audio Quality
The most significant difference between Deezer and Spotify is audio quality. Deezer offers a HiFi setting with lossless FLAC files, while Spotify’s HiFi tier, announced for 2021, is still pending. Deezer Free’s audio quality is 128kbps via MP3 files, while Deezer Premium provides 320kbps. You can also download audio files at different quality settings.
Spotify, in contrast, currently offers lossy audio file options (AAC and Ogg Vorbis). Spotify Free’s audio quality peaks at 160kbps, while Spotify Premium matches Deezer Premium at 320kbps. Both platforms allow users to switch between streaming and download quality settings.
Deezer vs Spotify Pricing
Both Spotify and Deezer offer free, ad-supported tiers and premium paid options. Deezer stands out with an annual plan that offers savings and includes HiFi quality with every paid plan. This affordability factor tips the balance in Deezer’s favor.
Read more: How Much Money Does Spotify Pay Artists?
Social Features
Spotify takes the lead with its robust social features, allowing integration with Facebook to connect with friends and share playlists. Collaborative playlists are a fun feature, enabling multiple users to contribute to a shared playlist. Additionally, Spotify integrates with popular dating apps like Tinder and Bumble.
Deezer also lets you follow friends and view their playlists but doesn’t offer live listening activity. While it provides options to share songs to various apps, Spotify’s social features are more comprehensive.
Additional Features
Deezer comes with a Shazam-like song identification feature within the app and music quizzes for interactive entertainment. Spotify offers a Crossfade feature to eliminate gaps between songs, integrates with Google Maps and Waze, and provides annual statistics through “Spotify Wrapped.” Deezer’s equivalent feature, “Stateeztics,” provides ongoing listening data.
Conclusion
Selecting between Deezer and Spotify ultimately depends on your priorities. If you value HiFi audio quality and can’t wait for Spotify HiFi, Deezer HiFi is the choice for you. On the other hand, if you seek extensive social features and collaboration, Spotify Premium is a strong contender.
Still, if neither platform entirely meets your preferences, it’s worth exploring alternatives like Amazon Music HD, catering to different listening habits.
Don’t forget to consider your unique needs and priorities when making your choice. The world of music streaming is filled with options, each with its own set of features and advantages. Enjoy your musical journey!
FAQs
Ques. Is Deezer available in as many countries as Spotify?
Ans. No, while Deezer is available in 188 countries, it has a smaller user base compared to Spotify, which is available in more countries worldwide.
Ques. Can I upload my own music to Deezer and Spotify?
Ans. Yes, both Deezer and Spotify allow users to upload their own music files for local media playback.
Ques. Which service pays artists more per stream, Deezer or Spotify?
Ans. Deezer tends to pay artists slightly more per stream, although the difference isn’t significant.
Ques. Is there a free tier available for both Deezer and Spotify?
Ans. Yes, both services offer free, ad-supported tiers, in addition to premium paid options.
Ques. Do Deezer and Spotify have social features for connecting with friends?
Ans. Yes, both platforms offer social features for connecting with friends, but Spotify’s social features are more extensive, including integration with popular dating apps.
