As a music lover who finally committed to Google Play Music with a three-month free trial on my new Chromebook, I discovered why it's worth the hype—after years of casual glances. Quick note: Google Play Music includes a free music locker and store, plus the premium All Access subscription. Features here focus on All Access unless specified otherwise.
Ready to see what makes it shine? Here are the top seven features.
Google Play Music delivers the ultimate flexibility: stream from its massive library, buy tracks from the store, or upload your personal collection to Google's cloud—all part of one seamless service. Purchases and uploads are free for basic users.
This versatility suits everyone. Google's on-demand library boasts over 30 million songs. Need something specific? Buy it for about $1 per song or $10 per album. Still missing it? Upload from elsewhere. Purchased or uploaded tracks stream just like the rest. Upload limit: 50,000 songs in MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, Ogg, or ALAC formats. Share library tracks with others (uploaded songs excluded for copyright). Free up your hard drive space!
All Access streams at 320 Kbps MP3—plenty crisp for most listeners. (What are audio compression and bitrates? How does audio compression work and how can it really tell the difference? How does audio compression work and how can it really tell the difference? In this article, we'll look at how does music compression work. and if it has any real effect on how music actually sounds. Read More) For context, Apple Music uses 256 Kbps AAC, Spotify 320 Kbps OGG. (10 Common Audio Formats Compared:Which One Should You Use 10 Common Audio Formats Compared:Which One Should You Use We may all be familiar with MP3, what about AAC, FLAC, OGG, or WMA? So many standards? Which ones should you care about and which ones can you ignore? Read More)
Audiophiles included, you'll be satisfied. On mobile, adjust quality to Low, Medium, High, or auto based on Wi-Fi/data.
Offline mode addresses the big streaming drawback. (One Of The Main Arguments Against Online Music Streaming The Pros And Cons Of Streaming vs MP3 Download The Pros And Cons Of Live Streaming Since MP3 Download I've Been A Long Time User Of Services streaming music, from Pandora to the now defunct online music El casillero Lala.com, and now as a monthly Rdio.com subscriber. If you have a computer and a... Read More) Download tracks for anytime access—without owning them permanently (requires active subscription).
No download limits, unlike Spotify's 3,333 per device. Perfect for travel or spotty signals.
Google Play Music excels in recommendations, rivaling Spotify and Pandora.
Ad-free, unlimited skips—no frustrations.
Podcasts in the same app? Convenience at its best. Browse dozens of categories; selection grows daily—challenging iTunes.
New to podcasts? (Top 12 Podcasts of 2016 You Need to Hear Top 12 Podcasts of 2016 You Need to Hear In this article we share the top 12 podcasts of 2016, all of which we recommend you listen to. Whether you're looking for inspiration, to discover something new or just need to be entertained. Read more.)
$10/month for All Access matches competitors. Family Plan: six accounts for $15/month ($2.50 each)—huge savings.
Each account supports 10 devices (one stream at a time). Share purchases via Family Library.
The bundle sweetener: YouTube Red ($10/month value) at no extra cost.
Many features match rivals. (Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Google Play Music:Which is the best? Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Google Play Music:Which is the best? While there are a plethora of music streaming services out there, there are three main ones that stand out above the rest:Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music. But which one is better? Read More) Overall, it's versatile—especially in Google's Android ecosystem. (Apple vs. Android:Buy the Ecosystem, Not the Gadget Apple vs. Android:Buy the Ecosystem, Not the Gadget You love your Android phone and want to buy a tablet. Everyone tells you that the iPad is the best tablet, and it really is the best; But you still have to buy an Android tablet. Read More)
Try it now: Google Play Music on the Web | Android | iOS
What do you think of Google Play Music? Better than Spotify or Apple Music? Share in the comments!
