Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and Deezer compared on offline downloads — limits, audio quality, smart downloads and what Prime already covers.
Flights, the underground, dead zones or simply keeping the data bill in check: offline listening still matters, and every major streaming service handles it by letting you download your library to the phone. The real differences are in the conditions — how many tracks, at what quality, and whether downloads are included in something you already pay for. The 4 apps below cover the serious options, from the universal reference to a high-fidelity alternative with song recognition built in. The 4 apps in this guide were chosen for mature, legal offline modes rather than downloader tools, which sit outside the law and tend to be nests of ads and risk.
Spotify Premium downloads up to 10,000 songs per device with one tap per playlist — the most polished and widespread offline mode of any service.
Spotify is the most popular music streaming app in the world, with millions of songs and podcasts, and its offline mode is the benchmark: Premium lets you download up to 10,000 songs per device, one tap on a playlist or album and it is there for the flight. The case for it is really the engine around those downloads — personalised recommendations and playlists such as Discover Weekly and Daily Mix remain the reference in the category. The free tier exists but means ads and shuffle-only mobile listening, downloads require Premium, and there is still no lossless tier included even for paying subscribers. If you want one service that just works everywhere, this is it.
YouTube Music Premium fills your phone on its own with smart downloads of the music you play most, and reaches remixes and live versions rivals lack.
YouTube Music's offline pitch is its smart downloads feature: switch it on and the app automatically downloads the music you play most, so the phone is stocked for a dead zone without you managing anything. The catalogue is what genuinely separates it — beyond official tracks it reaches the whole YouTube library of remixes, live versions, covers and rarities that simply do not exist in other apps, which makes it the natural home for anyone who already consumes music on YouTube. The free tier carries ads, background playback needs Premium, and as a pure music app the interface is less polished than Spotify's. For YouTube-native listeners who want hands-free offline music, it is the best fit.
Amazon Music lets you download with the Prime subscription you may already have, including offline shuffle listening to all-catalogue playlists.
Amazon Music offers millions of songs and podcasts, and its distinctive advantage is bundling: it comes with the Amazon Prime subscription many people already pay for, and that included music tier allows certain downloads at no extra cost, including offline listening to all-catalogue playlists in shuffle mode. The Unlimited plan unlocks the full library plus high-quality HD and Ultra HD audio. The honest caveats are that the Prime Music catalogue is limited compared with dedicated services, the whole library requires Unlimited on top, and the interface is somewhat cluttered. It is the sensible choice for an existing Prime member who would rather not fund yet another subscription.
Deezer Premium downloads your whole library with optional HiFi quality, and adds built-in song recognition for anything playing around you.
Deezer is the solid alternative to Spotify, with over 90 million tracks and a distinct take on discovery: Flow builds an endless mix that adapts to your taste rather than serving fixed playlists. Premium downloads your library for offline listening with optional high-fidelity audio, and a built-in song identifier — the same idea as a recognition app — catches anything playing nearby so you can add it on the spot. It is a strong pick for anyone who wants a huge catalogue, serious audio quality and a different discovery engine. Its weaknesses are scale rather than features: a smaller, less active music social network and recommendations that lag slightly behind Spotify's, plus a limited free mobile plan.
Pros
Over 90 million tracks
HiFi downloads and Flow endless mix
Built-in song identifier
Cons
Smaller music social network
Limited free mobile plan
Recommendations lag behind Spotify
Download price only. In-app purchases and subscriptions may cost extra.
Questions & answers
Can I download music for free with these apps?
Offline downloads are a paid feature in all four: they come with the Premium package that also removes ads and lets you pick any track. The partial exception is Amazon — if you already have Prime, the included music tier allows certain downloads at no extra cost. Apps that promise free music downloads from the open internet operate outside the law and are usually nests of ads and security risks, so they are best avoided.
How much storage do downloaded songs use?
It follows the quality you set: at normal quality a song runs around 3-4 MB, at high quality 7-10 MB, so a 500-song playlist takes roughly 2 to 5 GB. Every app lets you choose download quality; normal is enough for the commute, while high quality pays off with good headphones and space to spare. Streaming at home costs no storage at all, so download only what you actually listen to on the move.
Do downloads expire if I stop paying?
Yes — downloads are part of a rental, not a purchase. They are encrypted inside the app rather than stored as your MP3s, so when the subscription ends the downloaded music stops playing. The apps also ask you to go online at least once every 30 days to verify the subscription and keep downloads active, worth remembering on long stretches without a connection. While you keep paying, your downloads travel with you with no practical limit.
More related apps
App library · United States App Store. Prices and availability reflect the last check.
