In the ever-evolving music streaming landscape, lossless audio has become more adorable for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.
FLAC and ALAC are the most popular lossless audio formats across the music streaming service. As an Apple user, ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) would be your first choice, which is similar to FLAC.
Most of the lossless streaming services are paid, and few come with free (With Ads). While most streaming service providers come with lossless quality, spotify does not have this feature.
Short list of Lossless streaming services
- Apple Music (ALAC)
- Tidal HiFi (ALAC, FLAC)
- Amazon Music HD (FLAC)
- Deezer HiFi (FLAC)
- Qubuz (ALAC, FLAC)
What is lossless streaming?
Lossless streaming is a new audio format offered by select streaming platforms. Lossless audio formats like ALAC and FLAC allow users to listen to high-quality audio files without losing data.
Lossless formats use compression algorithms that preserve audio data the same as the original source. The bitrate of standard lossless audio is around 1411 kbps. Most of the leading music streaming service providers now support lossless audio formats.
Top 5 Lossless streaming services
1. Apple Music
Apple Music is an ad-free subscription-based music streaming service with over 100 million songs, it comes with only premium plans. It has more than 5 million tracks and 1.2 million recordings.
You can create playlists, download music for offline listening, and access the entire music library across all devices seamlessly through iCloud Music Library.
- Number of lossless songs:Â more than 75 million
- Max streaming quality:Â 24-bit / 192kHz
- Supported formats:Â AAC, ALAC
- Student plan:Â $5.99/month
- Individual plan: $10.99/month
- Family Plan: $16.99/month
2. Tidal HiFi
Tidal is a Norwegian-American music streaming service, launched in 2014 with over 110+ million tracks. This is one of the best lossless music streaming platforms available across the world.
It offers lossless HiFi sound quality, delivering CD-quality audio (16-bit/44.1kHz) and even higher-resolution Hi-Res MQA for supported devices and content.
- Number of lossless tracks:Â Over 110 million
- Max quality(HiFi):Â 16-bit / 44.1kHz
- Max quality (HiFi Plus): 24bit / 96kHz
- Supported formats:Â AAC, ALAC, FLAC
- Student plan: $4.99/month
- Individual plan: $10.99/month
- Family Plan: $16.99/month
3. Amazon Music Unlimited (HD)
Amazon Music Unlimited is a premium music subscription service, featuring 100 million songs in HD and millions of songs in Ultra HD. On September 17, 2019, Amazon Music HD launched a new tier of lossless quality music with more than 50 million songs.
Amazon Music has over 85 million users worldwide and most of the user comes from the US. You can enjoy music with ads on Amazon Music, don’t need to pay anything.
- No. of lossless tracks:Â Over 100 million
- Standard HD: Provides 24-bit/48kHz
- Ultra HD: Studio-quality 24-bit/192kHz
- Max streaming quality:Â 24-bit /192kHz
- Supported formats:Â FLAC
- Prime Member Price: $10/M
- Non-prime member: $10.99/M
4. Qubuz
Qobuz streaming service comes from the French region, launched in 2007. After June 2023, Qobuz offered over 100 million tracks. With a premium subscription, tracks are available at CD-quality and “Hi-Res” quality.
Now it’s available in 25 countries. This streaming service allows you to download music in 24-bit Hi-Res. Qubuz does not have any free plan with ads, they offer only one month of free trials for new users.
- No. of lossless tracks:Â Over 100 million
- Max streaming quality:Â 24-bit /192kHz
- Supported formats: ALAC, FLAC, WAV, WMA Lossless
- Individual plan: $10.83/month
- Family Plan: $17.99/month
- Subline plan: $14.99/month
5. Deezer HiFi
In the same year as Qobuz, Deezer also had a French music streaming. The streaming app gives you over 120 million tracks access worldwide and other audio content like podcasts.
With the display ads, you can access Deezer streaming services. For the premium services, you may need one of the student, family, or individual plans.
- No. of lossless tracks: Over 120 million
- Max streaming quality:Â 16-bit / 44.1kHz or 1411kb/s
- Supported formats: FLAC
- Free Use: With Ads
- Student plan: $5.99/month
- Individual plan: $11.99/month
- Duo Plan: $15.99/month
- Family Plan: $19.99/month
Other than these lossless streaming apps or platforms, there are many options available. Adagio and SoundCloud HiFi are a few of them that support lossless sound quality.
Lossless Coming soon with Spotify HIFI
While most of the streaming services support lossless format, as a leader spotify is yet to come. After years of waiting for Spotify HiFi to show up after an initial teaser in 2017.
Then, on 22nd February 2021, the company officially announced Spotify HiFi to the world at its ‘Stream On’ event. Now the question is when will Spotify HiFi come out and any date be revealed?
We don’t have any answers to these questions but there is a possibility that Lossless may come with add-on plans.
Why Choose Lossless Streaming?
This technology uses lossy compression methods that allow users to listen to high-quality audio files without data loss. But most of the time it requires a stable high-speed internet connection to play.
- Superior Sound Quality: Lossless streaming services deliver crystal clear audio quality. A 24-bit /192kHz FLAC can provide you with immersive sound quality that you never heard before.
- Enhanced Listening Experience: As we know lossless provides supreme sound quality. If you never heard lossless audio before, this can improve your listening experience.
- Advanced Technology: Lossless provides CD-quality audio, which sounds more clear than average audio files. Also, lossy compression methods allow users to listen to high-quality audio files without data loss.
- Cost Effective: Few lossless streaming services cost you around $10 to $15 for the individual which is worth it. As a family plan holder of any lossless streaming platform, it will cost you less than $4.
- Adaptation: As of now, most of the premium streaming services support lossless streaming and few are ready to launch.
Considerations Before Choosing a Lossless Streaming Service
- Audio Equipment Compatibility: Ensure your headphones, speakers, or sound system support lossless playback for enhanced audio quality.
- Subscription Plans: Most of the lossless streaming services require premium subscriptions. You may not access the higher sound quality with free access. As a student and family plan holder, it can be worth it.
- Internet Connection: Lossless audio files are larger than compressed formats, so you just need a stable internet connection. For basic lossless format, you may require 5-10 Mbps and hi-res quality may require 25Mbps or more.
- Regional Access: Few lossless streaming services are not available in all regions. So, check that your country has any streaming service that comes with lossless access.
Final Word:
Apple Music, Tidal Hifi, and Amazon Music are the most popular Lossless streaming services available for all. Spotify as a leading streaming service provider is unable to provide lossless features.
However, most of the lossless streaming apps are not freely available, you must have to pay or buy one of the available plans. As a Tidal HiFi user, I was satisfied with the lossless quality, and worth it.
I’m sourav, a music lover and sound enthusiast. After experiencing multiple sound qualities, I thought many people searching regarding this topic, but there is not enough detailed information on it. That’s the main reason why I created this blog.
