Spotify vs. Deezer: Which Is Better?

Spotify vs Deezer
Spotify vs Deezer

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A comprehensive comparison between Spotify vs Deezer to know which platform is worth investing your hard-earned money in.

When you think of the “top” or “best” music streaming apps, the first that typically comes to mind is Spotify. With its undeniable global reach, massive content library, and slick aesthetics, it’s easy to see why.

However, Spotify’s popularity has recently taken a few hits. And more discerning music fans may be starting to look for alternatives as Spotify becomes more embroiled in controversy.

In 2020, the streaming service came under fire for stating that they refused to moderate content, even after transphobic comments were made on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Spotify also drew criticism for its new Discovery Mode tool, a feature designed to give artists better exposure on personalized playlists in exchange for an even lower royalty rate.

As you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with a lot of people. So, if you’re one of those looking to make a change, whether it’s for yourself or to better support the artists you love, it might be time to pick the little guy instead – in this case, Deezer.

Deezer, despite having a smaller user base, similarly has a lot to offer in terms of content and discovery features. But if you’re still skeptical, we’ve broken down those features and made a close comparison with Spotify, so that you can determine whether it’s time to jump ship or not. Let’s get into it!

The Overview

Spotify

Spotify logo
Spotify logo

Spotify is a Swedish music streaming service developed by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It was designed to address music piracy and provide a convenient way to listen to music. Spotify was first launched in Europe in 2008 and subsequently hit one million subscribers by 2011.

Today, Spotify is one of the most popular streaming services for music and podcasts. According to Spotify’s Q2 2021 performance report, the app saw a 22% growth in monthly active users and a 20% growth in paid subscribers from the previous year.

As of July 2021, Spotify is available in 184 countries. It’s also home to over 82 million tracks, 3.6 podcast titles, and 4 billion playlists.

Check out our in-depth Spotify review to read more about this service.

Deezer

Deezer Logo
Deezer Logo

Deezer is a French music streaming service that debuted in August 2007. It was developed by Daniel Marhely and Jonathan Benassaya after an earlier version of the app (Blogmusik) was shut down in 2006 due to copyright issues.

Deezer subsequently saw rapid growth and expansion between 2009 and 2013. It was during this time that Deezer debuted its new subscription scheme, including new desktop and mobile apps.

It partnered with French telecom service Orange S.A., which further drove up new subscriptions to the app. Deezer also launched in several countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East during this time.

As of July 2021, Deezer is available in 188 countries. However, its user base is significantly smaller at just 16 million active users compared to Spotify’s 406 million.

Deezer is currently home to 90 million music tracks, ​​160,000 podcast titles, and over 32,000+ radio stations.

Read our extensive review on Deezer to learn more about its features.

Pricing & Plans

Coupons for Spotify Premium (From:Unsplash).
Coupons for Spotify Premium (From: Unsplash).

Spotify and Deezer have almost identical subscription and pricing schemes. Here’s a quick overview of how much each of those plans cost:

PlatformFree PlanIndividualFamilyStudentOthers
SpotifyYes$9.99/month$15.99/month
£16.99/month (UK)
€17.99/month (Europe)
$4.99/month
£5.99/month (UK)
€5.99/month (Europe)
Premium Duo:
$12.99/month
£13.99/month (UK)
€12.99/month (Europe)
DeezerYes$10.99/month$17.99/monthNo separate plan, just a 50% discount on Deezer Premium.Deezer HiFi is incorporated into Premium and Family plans.

Premium plans on both platforms have the following features in common:

  • Over 80 million songs
  • Full access to all content
  • Ad-free on-demand playback
  • Up to 320 kbps audio quality
  • Option to import local files
  • Downloads and offline listening
  • Family plans have an option to create profiles for kids
  • Multi-device compatibility
  • 30-day free trial

While Spotify and Deezer have quite a bit in common, there are also key differences to take note of when choosing between the two services:

Additional HiFi tier

The most obvious difference is Deezer’s HiFi feature and Spotify’s lack thereof. Deezer offers 1411 kbps CD-quality audio, whereas Spotify’s highest overall audio quality setting is capped at 320 kbps.

However, that could all change soon. During their 2021 Stream On event, Spotify disclosed the coming of a new HiFi plan later this year. There have been no new updates since the initial announcement, but sightings of the new feature have surfaced on Twitter and Reddit, indicating that Spotify HiFi is well on its way.

Radio feature

Deezer subscribers can access over 32,000 local and international radio stations for sports, weather, or news updates. Spotify, on the other hand, doesn’t offer traditional radio on the app.

Price difference

In April 2021, Spotify implemented a controversial price hike for its subscribers in the US, UK, and Europe. In the UK, the price increase covers the Family, Student, and Premium Duo plans; whereas in the US and Europe, it only covers the Family plan.

Currently, the price for Spotify’s Family plan in the US is $15.99/month. However, this is still lower than Deezer’s Family plan, which is at $17.99/month.

Deezer Premium also come at even higher prices due to the inclusion of HiFi audio. However, you can opt to pay annually for a 25% discount.

Subscription perks

Subscribers of Spotify’s Student plan get discounted access to popular movie streaming services Hulu and SHOWTIME. In contrast, Deezer doesn’t offer any additional subscription perks at the time.

Additional subscription plans

Spotify offers an additional Premium subscription plan called Premium Duo. It’s a plan designed for two people to share and is great for those trying to save a buck or two. Deezer, on the other hand, only offers Premium and Family plans, and a 50% Student discount.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Deezer

Spotify does have an affordable Premium Duo option and discounted access to Hulu and SHOWTIME. But with Deezer, you get more features, such as access to thousands of radio stations and CD-quality audio.

Plus, it could be frustrating to know that the Spotify rates change highly based on where you reside. For instance, if you live in the UK, you’re going to be paying a bit more for Spotify’s Family, Student, and Premium Duo plans compared to those who live in the US, thanks to the price hike.

Amount of Music Content

Both Spotify and Deezer have massive music libraries with over 82 million and 90 million tracks, respectively. Both services are also licensed by all the major record labels, as well as independent distributors like Merlin. So the good news is that you definitely aren’t going to have any problems finding your music on either platform.

Spotify

Spotify’s music library can be found in the ‘Search’ section on both the desktop and mobile apps. The section looks pretty straightforward. It offers an overview of the different music genres and categories you can find on the app, making it easy for new users to get their bearings in the face of so much content to explore.

'Viral 50' playlists on Spotify.
‘Viral 50’ playlists on Spotify.

Playlists are truly Spotify’s specialty. And there are over four billion of them designed to fully flesh out all the music genres.

Each genre always has several playlists dedicated to new releases, popular hits, and viral trends. There’s also a ‘Charts’ section, which gives you the top 50 most popular songs from as many as 53 territories worldwide.

So, you’re definitely in good hands if you’re a mainstream music listener.

Indie playlists on Spotify.
Indie playlists on Spotify.

Spotify’s ‘Indie’ section is also noteworthy. Again, there are a lot of editorial playlists to choose from.

Some are curated by mood (Sad Indie), activity (Indie Workout), or era (Early Alternative); but many others offer less generic themes, like vaporware, pulp, and Terra Incognita. There’s also a category called ‘Fresh Finds’, which gives you a weekly wrap-up of the newest releases from independent artists.

Deezer

Similarly, Deezer’s library can be accessed through ‘Search’ on mobile, or ‘Browse’ on the desktop app. Listeners are greeted with the same ‘boxy’ summary of music genres and categories on the app, but much more organized since the different types of content are separated. I personally like it more because it allows you to quickly find the music you want.

'Charts' on Deezer.
‘Charts’ on Deezer.

There aren’t as many music genres highlighted in Deezer’s ‘Browse’ section, but the music curation is just as good as Spotify. Each genre has a ton of playlists to choose from and has entire sections devoted solely to new releases and mainstream hits.

Deezer’s ‘Charts’ section also shows the most popular songs from over 70 countries. It even goes a step further by showing you which playlists and albums are the most streamed.

‘100% Indie Artists’ playlists on Deezer.
‘100% Indie Artists’ playlists on Deezer.

Deezer’s ‘Indie’ section looks particularly extensive. Like Spotify, it has the typical editorial playlists that are focused on moods, eras, and activities.

But Deezer puts a newer spin on the genre by adding sections like ‘Midnight Mixtapes’, which showcases some favorite songs from the Indie artists themselves; and ‘100% Indie Artists’, which offers a comprehensive glimpse into an artist’s discography.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Draw

There isn’t really a glaring difference between Spotify and Deezer in terms of the amount of music content. As expected, both apps have different approaches to playlist curation, and the choice will be down to what your preferences are.

Ultimately, both still have massive collections and a great mix of mainstream and indie music to pick from, so you won’t go wrong with either platform.

Content Variety

In addition to music, Deezer and Spotify also offer a selection of non-music content, such as podcasts, audiobooks, radio, and more. Here’s a closer look at what each platform provides:

Spotify

Spotify is quite formidable when it comes to podcasts. With over 3.6 million podcast titles, Spotify is still consistently expanding its portfolio and improving its capabilities.

In 2019, it acquired several podcast production companies like Anchor, Gimlet Media, The Ringer, and Parcast to help boost its content. It also acquired Podz in June 2021, a newsfeed tool designed to improve podcast discovery on the app, making it easier for listeners to find new shows that they might like.

Popular podcasts on Spotify.
Popular podcasts on Spotify.

Thanks to its aggressive expansion tactics, Spotify’s podcast collection is overflowing with content. Podcast lovers will have a lot of genres to explore, and a wide range of shows to indulge in, including exclusives like Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Michelle Obama Podcast, Nas Talks, and Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy.

Audiobooks on Spotify.
Audiobooks on Spotify.

Spotify also has an existing collection of audiobooks that can be found in the ‘Word’ section. However, it’s mostly made up of classical literature selections and doesn’t really offer any modern titles.

A partnership with Storytel and the acquisition of Findaway is aimed to change this. The former is a Swedish audiobook streaming service hosts over 500,000 audiobook and Ebook titles, and the latter is a leading audiobook distributor.

Spotify Greenroom logo (From:Spotify).
Spotify Greenroom logo (From:Spotify).

Lastly, those looking for a live experience can make it happen through Spotify Greenroom, a live audio feature that allows podcasters to host live discussions that their fans can tune in and listen to. The feature, however, requires you to download a separate app, which might be inconvenient for some people.

Spotify Greenroom is available on both iOS and Android devices.

Deezer

Podcasts can also be found on Deezer, but its collection is significantly smaller at only 160,000 titles. Despite that, Deezer still manages to provide subscribers with a diverse selection.

Most of the popular shows found on Spotify, including those mentioned in the previous section, are available on Deezer as well. In addition, Deezer also provides a large selection of exclusive original foreign-language podcasts, which is something you don’t really see on Spotify.

Literature podcasts on Deezer.
Literature podcasts on Deezer.

Like Spotify, Deezer also offers audiobooks, but the feature is only available in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It’s definitely a huge miss for Deezer considering there’s a sizable audience for audiobooks worldwide.

It does, however, offer a ‘For book lovers’ category, possibly in an attempt to fill in the content gap in regions where audiobooks aren’t available. The section itself is decent enough, and mostly contains book club podcasts, poetry, and some classical lit audiobooks like Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Radio by Deezer.
Radio by Deezer.

One of Deezer’s more defining features is live radio, which is absent from Spotify’s feature line-up.

On Deezer, subscribers have access to over 32,000 radio stations where they can get their fill of the news, sports updates, and talk shows. This feature might’ve made up for the lack of audiobooks on the platform, but unfortunately, Deezer’s radio feature is also limited to a select number of regions.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Spotify

Overall, both platforms have diverse offerings. Spotify gives subscribers better ways to enjoy content with live audio and more efficient discovery tools. Deezer, on the other hand, provides a good variety of foreign language content and access to thousands of local and international radio stations.

Unfortunately, the limited availability of radio and audiobooks places Deezer at a disadvantage. And while Spotify doesn’t offer a radio feature, it outperforms Deezer by a mile with an extensive podcast library and audiobooks collection that’s available everywhere that Spotify is.

Stream Quality

Spotify offers five audio quality settings, while Deezer offers a total of four (including HiFi). Here’s the bit rate distribution for each quality setting on both platforms:

Audio quality settingSpotifyDeezer
AutomaticDepends on connectionN/A
Low / Basic24 kbps64 kbps
Normal / Standard96 kbps128 kbps
High / High Quality160 kbps320 kbps
Very High320 kbpsN/A
HiFiN/A1,411 kbps

Audio quality settings for Spotify (left) and Deezer (right).
Audio quality settings for Spotify (left) and Deezer (right).

Buffer time

At their highest audio settings, both Spotify Premium and Deezer Premium deliver 320 kbps audio quality. At that bitrate, both apps use up about 150 MB of data per hour. Both also deliver lag-free playback at 34 Mbps, which was my internet speed at the time of testing. And even on days when my connection was crappier than that, I was still getting smooth playback.

Internet speed during test run.
Internet speed during test run.

Deezer’s HiFi setting, on the other hand, streams at 1411 kbps, which can use up to 600-700 MB of data per hour. This not only puts your data plan to the test but could also cause laggy playback if you aren’t streaming on a strong connection. In my case, even with a connection speed of 34 Mbps and up, I was still getting noticeable buffering on some songs.

Audio quality

Spotify Premium vs Deezer Premium

In terms of sound quality, it’s good to know that Spotify Premium streams in Ogg Vorbis format, while Deezer Premium makes use of the MP3 format.

Both of these audio codecs are lossy, open-source formats and exhibit some differences in sound quality. Here’s a quick overview of the technical aspects that contribute to those differences:

Ogg VorbisMP3
Supports 2-256 channelsSupports 2 discrete channels
Smaller file size after compressionLarger file size after compression
Less audio data lost during encodingMore audio data lost during encoding
Compression bit rate varies depending on the fileCompression bit rate is fixed

Since less audio data is lost during compression, Ogg Vorbis technically provides better sound quality. It’s for this reason that it’s constantly compared to the AAC format, which is also said to sound better than MP3.

However, it’s also important to remember that sound quality isn’t solely about the audio format used. Good sound quality is influenced by several other factors, such as how good the original recording/mastering is, how your personal audio gear sounds, and how refined your hearing is.

The truth of the matter is that no one can definitively tell you what sounds good, except you.

That said, the difference between Ogg Vorbis and MP3 formats isn’t too drastic. Using my Sabbat E12 Ultras, I listened to the same songs on both platforms to make a side-by-side comparison of the sound quality. And at the end of the day, both Premium plans gave me decent enough sound quality for an enjoyable listening experience.

Spotify Premium vs Deezer HiFi

Deezer HiFi website page
Deezer HiFi website page

Deezer HiFi, on the other hand, makes use of FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), which is the default codec for high resolution music streaming. This “lossless” format means that no audio data is lost during compression.

The result? A highly accurate reproduction of the original audio file, with all its subtle dynamics preserved.

Deezer’s ‘High Fidelity’ audio quality setting naturally yielded a more noticeable difference compared to Spotify’s ‘Very High’ setting.

While revisiting some tracks from old Aion albums, I could definitely hear a noticeable difference, especially when paired with my ATH-M50x headphones.

On the track Yearn for Heaven, in particular, there was a more defined separation between all the instrumental layers, the higher notes sounded clearer and more resonant, and the soundstage more spacious.

I could even pick out instruments I initially wasn’t aware were part of the track. It was like listening to these songs for the first time all over again.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Deezer

Spotify Premium might offer slightly better audio quality than Deezer Premium for its standard audio settings. But Deezer HiFi understandably steals the show with its CD-quality audio option.

The choice between the two will depend on your personal stance regarding audio quality, though. If you aren’t particular about it, a Premium subscription to either platform will work just fine.

In contrast, if you prefer a more polished and pristine sound, or if you want to make the most of those pricey cans you just bought, then you’ll be happy with Deezer HiFi.

Music Discovery

Music streamers rely on good discovery features to find new music and new artists. For some, it can be a dealbreaker when an app can’t quite deliver on that front. The good thing is that both Spotify and Deezer have pretty good discovery features in place.

The question is, which one is better? Let’s find out.

User-based collaborative filtering diagram
User-based collaborative filtering diagram

Deezer approaches music discovery with the help of Collaborative Filtering. This basically gives you recommendations based on what people with similar tastes as you like.

In addition to this, Deezer also makes use of your likes, listening history, and general activity on the app to lock down your musical preferences.

Spotify, on the other hand, uses a hybrid algorithm consisting of three types – Collaborative Filtering, Natural Language Processing, and Raw Audio Modeling. The latter two types work by analyzing a song’s lyrics and melody.

When combined with your activity on the app, it produces a pretty powerful algorithm capable of giving you accurate recommendations.

With help from these discovery algorithms, listeners on both platforms can find new content in the following ways:

Discovery featureSpotifyDeezer
‘Search’ (Spotify)

‘Browse’ (Deezer)
New Releases
Mood
Charts
Discover
RADAR
New Releases
Curators
Mixes
Charts
Radar Weekly
Fresh Picks of the Week
Playlist RecommendationsRecommended SongsSuggested Tracks
Personalized MixesRelease Radar
Discover Weekly
Tastebreakers
Made For You (Mixes)
Only You
Flow
Monday Discovery
My Top ‘Month’
Daily playlists
Sunday Chill
Friday Releases
Artist RecommendationsFans Also LikeYou Might Love
Similar Artists

Based on this table, we can see that Spotify and Deezer seem almost evenly matched. Both share many similar discovery features, such as sections for New Releases, Charts, and mood playlists. Both even have similar ‘Radar’ playlists, which highlight fresh, up-and-coming talent.

Spotify's 'Search' (top) and Deezer's 'Browse' (bottom).
Spotify’s ‘Search’ (top) and Deezer’s ‘Browse’ (bottom).

Both platforms excel in music curation and do a good job in fleshing out the different music genres. It’s helpful because it allows listeners to digest the large music collections on both apps, making discovery easier.

Spotify, in particular, is really good at this not just because of the sheer amount of playlists it offers, but also because of how specific they can be.

If you’re looking for a morning playlist, you have a ton to choose from depending on your mood, like ‘Soft Morning’, ‘Wake Up Happy’, ‘Wake Up Gently’, or ‘Morning Rhythm’, to name a few.
Morning playlists on Spotify.
Morning playlists on Spotify.

I personally like Deezer’s slightly different approach to music discovery through ‘Mixes’. ‘Mixes’ are endless playlists customized by mood, genre, or era.

It’s nice because it liberates you from the decision-making process, allowing you to just pick a general category, press play, and sit back. And if you don’t like where your mix is heading, you can redirect the algorithm by simply choosing a different genre of songs to play.

'Mixes' on Deezer.
‘Mixes’ on Deezer.

There’s no shortage of personalized playlists on Spotify and Deezer either. Both apps have a ‘Made For You’ section containing playlists for new releases (Release Radar, Friday Releases), music discovery (Discover Weekly, Monday Discovery), and customized playlists based on tracks you’ve liked (Daily, Daily Mix).

Deezer's 'Flow' (left) and Spotify's 'Discover Weekly' (right).
Deezer’s ‘Flow’ (left) and Spotify’s ‘Discover Weekly’ (right).

As a longtime Spotify user, I’m well aware of the prowess of Discover Weekly and Release Radar. I’ve found a good number of songs and artists through the feature, though it’d be great if the recommendations weren’t limited to just 30 songs per playlist.

Deezer’s Flow, on the other hand, is a promising feature. It’s a continuous playlist that gives you a mix of tracks you’ve liked and new recommendations based on your favorites.

While I did enjoy using the feature, after several weeks I noticed that it took a little longer to calibrate to my tastes and often ended up playing more tracks from my library instead of new ones.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Spotify

Deezer undoubtedly has some pretty good discovery features, most of which probably require more time to calibrate. But those who want more accurate and responsive recommendations will be happier with Spotify, thanks to a hard-working hybrid algorithm that really analyzes your music choices and adjusts quickly.

Listeners may also have a more enjoyable listening experience with the extensive amount of playlists and different themes to explore on Spotify.

Curious to see how Spotify’s music discovery prowess compares to that of Qobuz? Check out our review to learn more!

Ease of Use

Spotify's 'Search' section (left) and Deezer's 'Browse' section (right).
Spotify’s ‘Search’ section (left) and Deezer’s ‘Browse’ section (right).

Spotify and Deezer have similar dark layouts with boxy content tabs. On the desktop app, Deezer manages to make everything look more streamlined with smaller tabs that take up less space. This means less scrolling around, making all the content easier to digest at first glance.

Moreover, while both apps are generally easy to navigate, Deezer also shines in terms of how organized and well-presented its content is.

For example, Deezer’s ‘Browse’ section is sorted by genre and category, with a separate portion just for podcasts. In contrast, Spotify’s ‘Search’ section feels sort of thrown together.

Main music genres like ‘Pop’, ‘Rock’, and ‘Jazz’ are mixed in alongside categories like ‘Tokyo’, ‘Comedy’, and ‘In the Car’ without rhyme or reason. Users new to the app may find this confusing, as I still sometimes do.

Podcasts on Deezer (left) and Spotify (right).
Podcasts on Deezer (left) and Spotify (right).

As for podcasts, both platforms have an overview of the general categories available on the app. Deezer, however, goes a step further by providing ‘Collections’, which offers more specific categories like ‘Scary Stories’, ‘Esports’, and ‘Testimonies’. It’s a convenient feature that allows users to immediately zero in on their favorite content.

You can even choose podcasts based on episode duration, which is perfect if you have a few minutes to kill, or if you want to listen to something longer.

Podcasts by Duration on Deezer.
Podcasts by Duration on Deezer.

On their desktop apps, both Spotify and Deezer have a stationary sidebar that lets you see all the main sections of the app and the contents of your library. However, Deezer doesn’t come with Spotify’s handy drag-and-drop feature that makes building playlists a breeze.

Meanwhile, both platforms have good functionality with drop-down menus that pop up when you long-press on a song, artist, or album on the mobile app. However, this feature seems to respond more snappily on Deezer, whereas on Spotify there’s a slight delay as the menu loads up.

'Now Playing' screens on Spotify (left) and Deezer (right).
‘Now Playing’ screens on Spotify (left) and Deezer (right).

I personally find the look of Deezer’s ‘Now Playing’ screen a lot more appealing. All the functions are grouped closely together, and I actually like having the menu button right in the center instead of up in the corner like it is on Spotify.

It makes accessing the functions you need a little bit quicker. You can also open your audio settings and sleep timer without leaving the window, which is another nice touch by Deezer.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Deezer

I was won over by Deezer’s attention to detail and intuitiveness, and how there’s an obvious focus on making it easier for the listener to navigate its library. There are categories and labels for every type of content offered, so you won’t ever feel lost while navigating the app.

Deezer also provides features that make it easier to locate or narrow down the kind of content you want, which is always a big plus.

Additional Features

Spotify Wrapped and #MyDeezerYear.
Spotify Wrapped and #MyDeezerYear.

When it comes to additional features, once again, Spotify and Deezer share many similarities.

Both offer song lyrics, a built-in equalizer, multi-device connectivity, and collaborative playlists. Listeners can also get a yearly wrap-up of how they listened to music with Spotify Wrapped and #MyDeezerYear.

If you make music, you’ll be happy to know that both platforms provide standalone apps – Spotify for Artists and Deezer for Creators – to help you manage your content, grow your audience, and monitor your progress.
Spotify Canvas (From:Spotify).
Spotify Canvas (From:Spotify).

On the flip side, there are a few features unique to each app. Spotify, for instance, provides a friend activity feed that lets you see what your friends are currently listening to.

Listeners can also check out ‘Storyline’ and ‘Behind the Lyrics’ for interesting bits of trivia about the artist or a song’s lyrics. This feature is often accompanied by Canvas, which are eye-catching, looping videos displayed on the ‘Now Playing’ screen.

Music recommendation filters on Deezer.
Music recommendation filters on Deezer.

Deezer offers some cool and unique features of its own, too.

Both apps provide recommendations within user-created playlists, but Deezer lets you filter your recommendations by ‘Suggested Tracks’, ‘Favorite Tracks’, and ‘Top Tracks’. Most of the suggestions are pretty spot on and perfect for those who enjoy creating themed playlists.

Another feature on Deezer is 360 Reality Audio, which Spotify doesn’t support. It’s a spatial audio technology that offers realistic 360-degree audio that enhances HiFi audio.

Deezer's in-app music transfer function.
Deezer’s in-app music transfer function.

An extremely useful recent addition is Deezer’s music transfer function.

The built-in feature is powered by Tune my Music. It lets you transfer songs and playlists from 16 different music streaming platforms, without needing to download extra apps or pay additional fees.

The whole process is as simple as selecting ‘Transfer your favorites’ in the app settings. It’s so convenient and even works perfectly for free plan users.

SongCatcher on Deezer.
SongCatcher on Deezer.

Lastly, Deezer also offers SongCatcher, a feature that helps you identify unfamiliar songs and lets you save them to your library. It’s a convenient way to find new songs without resorting to third-party apps.

Verdict: Which is more worth it?

Winner: Deezer

Deezer’s additional features are definitely more worthwhile if you’re looking for a better listening experience. Its playlist recommendations are pretty accurate and deliver great suggestions based on whatever playlist theme you have going on.

SongCatcher is extremely handy for music discovery and is a feature I find myself using often. The music transfer is also a clever little addition that’ll make it super easy to transfer all your music if you’re considering making the switch to Deezer.

Lastly, those looking for a more immersive audio experience and have the gear that can handle it can do so with 360 Reality Audio.

On the other hand, Spotify’s friend feed is a good way to find new music. But there’s only so much you can do with features like Canvas and Storyline, which isn’t even available for all songs on the app.

How Much Do Spotify and Deezer Pay Artists?

PlatformPay per streamStreams to get $1,000
Tidal$0.01376,924
Apple Music$0.01100,000
Amazon Music$0.004250,000
Spotify$0.0032312,500
Youtube Music$0.008125,000
Pandora$0.0013769,231
Deezer$0.0064156,250
Qobuz$0.04323,255

Streaming payout rates have long been an issue on music streaming platforms. Spotify is known for having one of the lowest payout rates in the industry at $0.0033 per stream. Deezer, on the other hand, offers almost double of Spotify’s rates at $0.0064 per stream.

But what makes Deezer entirely different is its User-Centric Payment System (UCPS).

UCPS allocates your subscription payments only to artists you listen to the most. In many ways, this gives users more control in the way they support artists.

In a study conducted by Centre National de la Musique (CNM) and funded by the French government, UCPS was shown to have a small but positive impact on genres and artists with smaller audiences.

It essentially evens out the playing field by redistributing the revenue so that lesser-known artists can earn more.

Deezer’s advocacy for diverse music streaming landscape.

Deezer also makes it a point to support artists and music genres that aren’t getting as much engagement. It does this by excluding fake artist accounts from royalty computations, to ensure only real artists benefit.

Support programs like Deezer x FAC Masterclass and Deezer NEXT also reflect this. The masterclasses help mentor artists “about streaming, marketing, social media, and PR”. While Deezer NEXT helps promote new artists in different markets or regions they’re specifically relevant to.

In contrast, Spotify has gained a lot of attention over the number of fake artist accounts on the platform, designed to boost streaming numbers using questionable methods. Many of which are backed by big labels, or created by uploaders who have learned how to game Spotify’s algorithm with clever SEO tactics.

To be fair, Spotify has its own artist support initiatives. During the pandemic, it launched the Artist Fundraising Pick. This allowed fans to send cash support directly to artists and their fundraisers. Spotify also donated $10 million to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund.

After the Joe Rogan fiasco, Spotify pledged $100 million to help “historically marginalized groups”. Unfortunately, the move felt more like a knee-jerk reaction to the backlash, especially because of the vagueness surrounding its intended beneficiaries.

Which Should You Go For?

Before we wrap up, here’s a summary of all the good things each platform offers:

SPOTIFY PREMIUMDEEZER PREMIUM
  • Free plan availability

  • 30-day free trial

  • Over 80 million songs

  • Additional subscription perks

  • Extensive podcast collection

  • More accurate song recommendations

  • More social features

  • Available in more countries

  • Free plan availability

  • 30-day free trial

  • Over 80 million songs

  • High-quality lossless audio

  • 32,000+ radio stations available

  • Intuitive, well-organized interface

  • Better content management functions

  • Better artist support

  • All in all, the difference between Spotify and Deezer isn’t drastically huge. So why is it that most people seem to prefer the former over the latter?
     

    One article states reasons we’ve heard before: variety and discovery. A survey conducted at Brigham Young University-Hawaii confirms this, with most students saying Spotify “has everything”, “suggests better music”, and is “easier to use”. For others, it’s mostly because a friend or relative is already using the app, as this thread on Spotify Community shows.

    Another possible reason why people go for Spotify is simply that it’s available everywhere. So, even though Deezer has a lot of great features, the fact that some of its content is region-locked is a big hindrance. However, if you happen to live in the areas that Deezer fully services, this app is definitely worth looking into.

    So, which app should you go for? As mentioned earlier, both apps have well-stocked music libraries, so there’s no need to worry about the amount of music available.

    However, those who enjoy traditional radio programming will certainly get more out of the thousands of local and international stations offered by Deezer.

    If you prefer features that focus on an enhanced listening experience, Deezer will have you covered with 360 Reality Audio support. And those who appreciate an intuitive and well-organized app will also be satisfied with Deezer’s simple yet functional interface.

    As for Spotify, there’s no denying that it does provide great content variety and music discovery. Those who rely a lot on an app’s music discovery capabilities will be more than satisfied with Spotify’s spot-on recommendations. Its massive collections of podcasts and audiobooks are also a big bonus for those who like mostly non-music content.

    As for sound quality, Deezer is an obvious choice for those who want an exceptional listening experience. But with Spotify HiFi already in the works, this will eventually no longer be a defining feature between the two, and you’ll have to consider the other available features to help you make a decision.

    As for artist treatment, both apps have made moves to support artists. Deezer, however, seems more clear on the direction they want to go and is purposeful in the steps they’re taking.

    Deezer’s goal of implementing UCPS is indicative of their belief in the value of music and music fans. It shows respect to all artists and music genres. It also shows respect for the individuality of people’s musical tastes. And though they haven’t yet succeeded with UCPS, the possibilities are exciting.

    Conclusion

    We hope this comparison review has been able to highlight all the ways that these two apps are similar. We also hope it serves as a reminder that sometimes the underdog is worth checking out too, despite what all those slick marketing schemes would have you think.

    But as with anything music-related, your choice will ultimately depend on your personal preferences and what works for you. Hopefully, this article has helped you gain a better understanding of that.

    How did you find our review? Was it helpful? If you’d like to share your experiences with both apps, please drop us a line or two in the comments section. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

    💬 Conversation: 48 comments

    1. Whoa … I’ve never read a better comparison review then yours! Thank you! I’ll choose Spotify. Hahaha

    2. great review thanks. For me the clear winner is Deezer. your article reassures my choice a few years ago when I opted for Deezer

    3. Deezer any day… the radio feature is unbeatable… great review btw… one of the best reviews I’ve ever read regardless of subject, we’ll done!

    4. Thanks. Helpful article.
      I think you have an error in your chart showing the rates paid to artists. Apple if paying $0.01 would require 100,000 plays to get to $1000 or are they paying $0.10?

    5. This is a fantastic review, well written, concise and very fair in my opinion. I learned a few things I didn’t know about both platforms, and overall has helped me come to a decision. Think I’m a Deeper guy! Thanks very much!

    6. Great detailed comparison. I don’t regret a bit having chosen Deezer, several years ago, over Spotify (or Apple Music). Top quality.

    7. Spotify has a good rundown on almost all artists, something not found on Deezer. Both have fairly good lyrics support, still a lot of songs dont have any lyric support. And Deezer has quite often the WRONG lyrics uggghh! And with no easy way to make corrections or even notify them about the problem. And to make this problem even worse the have an automatic lyric tracking feature that highlights what lyrics are being sung at that instant which is maddening when they aren’t the right lyrics. I am continuing my search of music streaming services but for now I use both Deezer and Spotify. Also kudos and much thanks to the author of this excellent and fair article.
      ljn

    8. One of the best music stream comparison I’ve ever read.
      I’m sticking to Deezer, even through Spotify has bigger userbase and better recommendation system, but Deezer Flow and the new Flow wheel is my go to. I’d prefer to “Just Press Play” to listen to my music instead on deciding what to listen to.

      Thanks again for the review.

      Cheers.

    9. Nice comparison.
      I notice some mismatches:
      The table with subscription costs mention some numbers, and the text and evaluation below mention different numbers. I wonder what is correct.
      There is the same issue in the table saying how they pay artists compared to the text and conclusions below.
      A big issue I have with spotify is regarding long titles – that is especially relevant for classical music. You search for the music, but in the results you can’t see the full title line, so you don’t know what is 1st or 4th movement – you don’t know where to start. And it would never continue with the same work in the “radio” playing.. it is so “single song” focused, there is no connection when something is composed to be played together.

      1. Hello Eskil! Hmm, I checked the text and can’t seem to find the discrepancy you mentioned? But yes, I totally understand what you mean about the long titles. It’s a pet peeve of mine too!

    10. OMG this is the post that gives us more view on what service to get. Thanks the team for this hard work

    11. Wow, what a helpful review. Fairly easy to follow and understand for an old techno dinosaur like myself. As my hearing isn’t too good, it was good to learn about the difference in their sound qualities. Thanks .

    12. Great review. I’m a Deezer fan, particularly for the radio station feature. However, Deezer have recently removed all the BBC radio stations, reducing its usefulness in the UK.

    13. Hi, best comparison I ever read on internet about anything really. Thanks very much.

      As a Deezer user myself for the past years reading the review confirmed my decision back then.
      However, I am now considering moving to spotify for the only basic point that in my humble opinion you are missing here: library and content limitations, a long time request by users to Deezer developers that remains unsolved and never heard. The 10.000 track limit in Spotify did already beat Deezer easy, but their recent elimination of all limits can definitely make many Deezer users take the step to move to Spotify.

      Deezer flow is a nice idea gone wrong to me. I stopped using it after one year getting the same songs over and over again. The Shuffle my music option works much better.
      Spotify is still missing the on screen synched lyrics when casting from a mobile to Google Chromecast, which was also important to me. This works really nice and good with Deezer.

      Sound quality wise, I am not sure how many of us could really honestly tell the difference between a 320 k ogg file and a flac file streamed by Deezer but that is another story.
      Thank you again

    14. I do love both apps. But, of course, I listen to Spotify and Deezer too. I started to use Deezer when I found its SongCathcer, a feature that helped me identify unfamiliar songs, and Deezer helped me with lyrics.

    15. An aspect this remarkably detailed comparison does not evoke is how Clients are handled when a payment incident occurs. Deezer immediately cancels your subscription, and does not resubmit charges to the Payment Card processor. Whilst you recover your playlists, you end up forced to subscribe again at a higher price. That is why started considering changing to Spotify.

    16. A very annoying feature of Spotify is its inability to sync “don’t play this track” between devices. (Imagine controlling your player from your laptop and you hear a track you don’t like. You must go to the player to mark the track as “not wanted”. Does Deezer have the same problem?
      Similarly, it can be very difficult (if not impossible) to mark a track as “not wanted”. It’s really easy to mark a track as a favourite, but how the hell do you mark tracks as “this makes my brain implode so don’t play it again”? How about Deezer?
      Another annoying feature of Spotify is the way that tracks are not properly normalised even though the normalisation feature is turned on. Does Deezer normalisation work properly?
      These 3 “features” are what made me look for an alternative to Spotify.

    17. For me, listening music at Deezer’s hi-fi quality is all I care. I read all the the review and and the sum of all of Spotify’s advantages together meant nothing compared to hi-fi.

    18. So basically you’re saying that Deezer is an evil, intolerant, non-inclusive company who only allow content conforming to certain political views and opinions held by the company? On the other hand, Spotify allows FREE SPEECH and is open to ALL, which is the foundation of our free, democratic Western society, the ability to share our views publicly, and having a forum where views can be challenged. This is an absolute no-brainer, I will stick with Spotify. Censorship is evil. If a song or podcast has offensive language such as the ‘f’ word then it should have a warning so that young people don’t accidentally hear it. But you do NOT ban it! Everyone should be entitled to share his views, no matter how repugnant. If you ban something that’s “offensive” then almost every modern pop act would be banned because I find most of them offensive.

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