The most popular music streaming service
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Spotify is a free music streaming service with a vast collection of songs, playlists, audiobooks, speeches, poetry readings, artist radio, and more! It features algorithm-based recommendations, social media integration, on-demand streaming, and even has an option to play files located on your computer. The music app isn’t limited to Windows, however, as it is also available for download on other platforms including Android and macOS devices.
What is so special about Spotify?
Nowadays, many applications offer on-demand streaming. What makes Spotify special is the fact that it offers over 50 million songs that you can play from start to finish, without paying anything! The free music application for Windows also offers audiobooks, comedy shows, podcasts, radio stations, speeches, poetry readings, and a lot more.
That said, the catalogue of Spotify, while comprehensive, does have a few gaps. You may not find all songs or albums of an artist, and may even struggle to find some famous bands. But, to counteract this drawback, Spotify offers users an Artist Radio station, which makes finding similar artists or songs easy. Besides, you can also use this section to discover more information about your favourite musician.
Spotify features worth mentioning
Spotify excels in its user-centric features that enhance the music listening experience:
- Personalized Playlists: Create your own playlists or let Spotify curate them based on your listening habits.
- Social Sharing: Share playlists with friends or see what others are listening to with integrated social features.
- AI-driven DJ: A new feature where an AI DJ creates a radio station personalized to your tastes.
- Mood and Genre Filters: Easily find music that fits your mood or explore different genres.
- Lyrics Display: Sing along to your favorite songs with real-time lyrics right on the screen.
- AI Playlist Creation: Use text prompts to generate playlists, currently in beta testing in select regions.
Here is a detailed look at its main features:
Intuitive and user-friendly interface
Spotify’s free desktop application has a clean and simple interface with three navigation options - Home, Browse, Discover. The primary page consists of a horizontal list of recommended playlists unique to each user. The section below consists of a list of recently played songs, along with a bar using which you can control the playback.
Similar to Home, the Browse tab offers various options using which you can look for songs based on their popularity, release date, genre, and more. This section also includes music categories such as Hip-Hop, Indie, Rock, Pop, Summer, Chill, Dinner, that users can explore.
Spotify download also includes a Discover tab, which uses an algorithm to show recommendations. The more you listen to music using this section, the better it gets! At the top of the page, you get access to the Discover Weekly Playlist that not only includes songs that you have been listening to but also adds a list of new songs with the same vibe.
Access your favourite songs quickly
Spotify player for Windows features a small heart icon next to the name of any song, podcast, or audiobook, among others. To add any of these to your library (Your Songs), all you have to do is click on the heart icon, and the content will instantly get saved.
Listen to artist radio
Finding new music is easier with Spotify! This is because the tool also includes a Radio section that shows a variety of playlists. While some of these are new, others include songs similar to your favourite albums or artists. Moreover, if you’re listening to a particular song and want to discover a playlist with a similar style, all you have to do is click on the available radio icon.
Integrate with social media
Spotify download offers additional functionality that makes listening to music a lot more fun. If you complete Spotify login using your Facebook account, the right-side panel shows a list of your friends along with the music they’ve been exploring. Similarly, your music history gets broadcasted to your friends, which you can easily avoid by selecting the private session function.
Play local files
An advantage of using Spotify on your Windows instead of using Spotify web is that the former lets you play files stored on your computer. The program also supports a range of file formats, so you can listen to songs irrespective of whether they’re available in MP4, M4P, and MP3. The only limitation is that the desktop app isn’t able to play M4A files.
Is Spotify for free?
Yes, the basic plan of Spotify is completely free, but it has its limitations. The free version lets users listen to songs at 160kbps, comes with both banner and audio ads, and doesn’t offer download functionality. Other plans offered by the music streaming provider are Spotify Premium, Family Plan, Spotify Duo, Student Plan, and more. You can try any of these plans with the help of a free trial period.
What is the difference between Spotify and premium?
Spotify differentiates its service through two main tiers: the free version and the Premium subscription. The free version is quite generous but comes with limitations, especially on mobile devices where users must often listen in shuffle mode and can skip only a limited number of songs. In contrast, Spotify Premium allows users to play any song they want at any time, skip tracks without limitations, and enjoy music without interruptions from ads.
Is Spotify Pro better than free?
The Premium subscription offers substantial upgrades over the free service. The improvements include better sound quality, more freedom to choose and replay tracks, and access to exclusive content sometimes offered only to Premium members.
What is the best alternative to Spotify?
These days, there are numerous music streaming services available, all with their own unique set of features. However, some of the best alternatives to Spotify would be Apple iTunes Music, VLC Media Player, and KMPlayer.
Should I download Spotify?
If you’re looking for a powerful music player that helps you discover songs and podcasts, you should download Spotify. The free version of the app features playlist sharing, algorithm-based recommendations, on-demand playback, social media integration, and a lot more!
