YouTube Music has carved out a significant niche in the music streaming landscape, yet there’s an underdog that deserves more recognition: Deezer. This French platform, while often overshadowed, offers a compelling alternative for certain users, particularly in the U.S. However, despite its strengths, there are obstacles that may deter potential switchers from YouTube Music.
What Deezer gets right
One of the standout features of Deezer is its streamlined design. The app presents a cleaner interface compared to YouTube Music, which can often feel overwhelming. Deezer’s Home tab is organized into ten sections, showcasing everything from favorite artists to curated playlists. In contrast, YouTube Music bombards users with over 25 sections, many of which can feel redundant and cluttered.
The visual appeal of Deezer is enhanced by its use of purple accents throughout the user interface, creating a more engaging experience. For users who appreciate aesthetics, these small details can significantly enhance usability. Moreover, Deezer excels in its lyrics feature, which includes a loading circle indicating when lyrics will appear—a thoughtful touch that is absent in YouTube Music.
At the heart of Deezer is the Flow feature, a personalized, endless mix of songs tailored to individual tastes. This feature adapts over time, improving recommendations based on user interactions. Users can even specify their mood or genre preferences, making it a versatile tool for music discovery. While YouTube Music offers a similar Supermix feature, it lacks the intuitive accessibility and customization that Flow provides.
Deezer also boasts unique features such as music quizzes, allowing users to engage with tracks in a fun and interactive way. Additionally, it supports lossless audio streaming, a premium feature not available on YouTube Music. Concert information is seamlessly integrated into artist pages, enabling users to stay updated on live performances, with filtering options for favorite artists enhancing the user experience.
Other smaller features, like the ability to dismiss specific songs or artists, contribute to a more tailored listening experience. Deezer’s Monthly Recap feature offers insights into listening habits, showcasing top artists and tracks over the past month, which is more detailed than YouTube Music’s three-month overview.
Where YouTube has the upper hand
Despite Deezer’s advantages, YouTube Music holds its ground in several key areas. Primarily, it excels in video content, offering a wealth of standard music videos and live performances that Deezer lacks. For users who enjoy visual elements alongside their music, this is a significant advantage.
YouTube Music’s Samples tab provides a music-centric twist on the popular Shorts format, allowing users to discover new music through short video clips. Additionally, while YouTube Music’s podcast feature is often criticized, Deezer’s implementation is even less robust, lacking a diverse library and informative episode descriptions. The absence of video podcasts on Deezer further diminishes its appeal in this area.
If it’s so good, why am I not switching?
For all its merits, the primary reason for not switching from YouTube Music to Deezer comes down to cost. In regions where pricing varies significantly, Deezer’s monthly fee of €11.99 (~) contrasts sharply with YouTube Music’s €6.49. The value proposition becomes even more attractive with YouTube Premium, which offers ad-free access to both YouTube and Music for just €7.99. Furthermore, YouTube Music provides a free, ad-supported tier, which allows users to explore the entire library, a feature Deezer lacks in certain locations.
In the U.S., however, the dynamics shift. Deezer offers a free plan, and its pricing aligns more closely with YouTube Music, making it a more appealing option for American consumers. Without a significant price disparity, Deezer’s offerings become increasingly attractive, especially for those seeking a dedicated music streaming service.
Ultimately, for users prioritizing a user-friendly interface, personalized music discovery, and additional features, Deezer is a worthy contender. Conversely, for those who value video content and the benefits of a bundled YouTube Premium subscription, YouTube Music remains a strong choice. The decision ultimately hinges on individual preferences and needs in the ever-evolving landscape of music streaming.
