Deezer vs Spotify: Which is better for you? (2024)

Choosing between Deezer and Spotify can be challenging, as both are leading music streaming platforms with unique offerings. Whether you prioritize high-fidelity audio, extensive content libraries, or personalized recommendations, understanding the key differences between these services is essential.

In this blog, we’ll delve into a detailed comparison of Deezer and Spotify, exploring features, pricing, audio quality, and more to help you decide which platform best aligns with your music streaming needs. Whether you're a casual listener or an audiophile, this guide will help you make an informed choice.

Pricing and Subscription Plans

Selecting the right music streaming service often comes down to finding a plan that fits your budget and needs. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing and subscription options offered by Deezer and Spotify:
 

Key Highlights:

• HiFi Audio: Deezer continues to integrate HiFi audio within its standard Premium plan, offering high-fidelity sound without extra charges. Spotify, conversely, maybe offers HiFi quality as part of a separate, more expensive tier.
• Family Plan: Both Deezer and Spotify offer family plans that allow up to 6 independent accounts, making it convenient for families or groups of friends who want individual recommendations and playlists.
• Duo Plans: For couples or two users, both platforms offer Duo plans that provide a slight discount compared to two individual subscriptions. Spotify has a slightly higher price for its Duo plan.

Both platforms often feature promotional discounts, especially for new users. Both Deezer and Spotify periodically introduce special deals. Spotify often collaborates with other services, offering bundles that might include video streaming platforms (like hulu) or other digital services. Deezer, on the other hand, occasionally provides extended free trial periods or seasonal discounts.

Your choice ultimately depends on whether you value higher audio fidelity at no extra cost (Deezer) or a broader range of family and device integration options (Spotify).

Audio Quality

When it comes to audio quality, both Deezer and Spotify offer different options tailored to varying listener preferences, but there are notable distinctions:

Deezer:

• HiFi Quality: Deezer stands out with its HiFi tier, included in the standard Premium plan. It offers FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) streaming at 1,411 kbps, providing CD-quality sound that is a treat for audiophiles.
• Standard Quality: For users on the free or standard plans, Deezer streams at 128 kbps and 320 kbps, respectively.

Spotify:

• Standard Quality: Spotify’s Premium plan streams at 320 kbps using the Ogg Vorbis format, which is sufficient for most listeners but not lossless.
• Upcoming HiFi Tier: Spotify has announced a HiFi tier, expected to provide CD-quality, lossless audio, though it's not yet included in their standard Premium plan and will come at an additional cost.

Comparison Summary:

• Best for Audiophiles: Deezer currently has the edge with its built-in HiFi streaming.
• General Listeners: Spotify’s 320 kbps quality is excellent for most casual listeners.

User Experience Tip:

Both platforms allow you to adjust streaming quality based on your data usage preferences, making it easy to balance sound quality and data consumption, whether you're streaming on the go or enjoying music at home.

Content Availability

When it comes to content availability, both Deezer and Spotify offer extensive music libraries, but they cater to slightly different preferences and needs.

Deezer:

• Music Library: Deezer boasts over 120 million tracks, covering a wide range of genres and artists globally.
• Podcasts and Audiobooks: Deezer also features a growing collection of podcasts and audiobooks, though it’s less comprehensive compared to Spotify.

Spotify:

• Music Library: Spotify offers access to over 100 million tracks, making it one of the largest music libraries available.
• Podcasts and Audiobooks: Spotify excels in the podcast realm, with an extensive and exclusive collection, including popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience. Spotify also has a dedicated section for audiobooks, further broadening its content offering.

Key Differences

• Podcasts and Exclusives: Spotify leads with its exclusive podcast content, making it a go-to platform for podcast enthusiasts.
• Regional Content: Deezer often features localized content that can be more appealing to users outside the U.S., while Spotify provides a more uniform global catalog.

User Experience Tip:

If you’re a podcast lover or someone who enjoys exploring a wide variety of content types, Spotify might be the better choice. However, if your focus is on music and you appreciate regional or niche genres, Deezer could be a more suitable option.

Both platforms continuously expand their content offerings, so it’s worth exploring both to see which aligns better with your listening habits.

Music Discovery and User Experience

Music Discovery

Both Deezer and Spotify excel in music discovery, but they approach it differently:

• Flow by Deezer: Deezer’s Flow creates an endless mix based on your listening habits, offering a blend of favorite tracks and new suggestions tailored to your taste. It’s a unique way to experience both comfort and discovery simultaneously.
• Spotify’s Discover Weekly: Spotify’s Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daily Mixes are highly popular, leveraging AI and vast user data to create personalized playlists. Spotify also benefits from its massive user base, allowing for rich data-driven recommendations.

User Experience

• Interface: Spotify is known for its sleek, intuitive interface, with easy navigation between music, podcasts, and playlists. Its minimalist design and smooth transitions contribute to a seamless user experience.

• Deezer’s Design: Deezer’s interface is user-friendly, with a focus on music exploration and discovery. It’s slightly more customizable, allowing users to tailor their home screen to highlight preferred content.

Accessibility:

• Spotify: Available on almost every device imaginable, from smart speakers to gaming consoles, Spotify offers robust compatibility and an easy-to-navigate experience across all platforms.
• Deezer: While also highly accessible, Deezer’s availability is slightly more limited in terms of integration with certain smart devices compared to Spotify. However, it still covers the major platforms like mobile, desktop, and most smart home devices.

Summary

• Best for Music Discovery: Spotify leads with its AI-driven playlists and extensive user data, offering more dynamic and varied discovery experiences.
• Best for Customization: Deezer provides more flexibility in terms of interface customization, making it easier to tailor the platform to your specific tastes.

User Experience Tip:

If you enjoy discovering new music regularly, Spotify's algorithms and playlists might offer a richer experience. However, if you prefer a more personalized and customizable interface, Deezer's Flow and interface options could be more appealing.

Social Features and Compatibility

Social Features

When it comes to sharing music and connecting with friends, both Deezer and Spotify offer robust social features:

• Spotify: Spotify excels with real-time friend activity, allowing users to see what their friends are currently listening to, and offering the ability to collaborate on playlists easily.
• Deezer: Deezer also supports collaborative playlists and sharing but lacks the real-time friend activity feed that Spotify offers. However, it still integrates well with social media platforms for sharing favorite tracks.

Compatibility

Both platforms are highly accessible, but there are some differences:

• Spotify: Offers broader compatibility, including gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, and integrates with more smart devices, often with exclusive features on certain platforms.
• Deezer: Deezer is available on most major devices and platforms but doesn’t have the same level of integration with gaming consoles. However, it still supports offline listening on mobile and desktop, making it accessible for most users.

Summary:

• Social Engagement: Spotify is the better choice for users who enjoy seeing what their friends are listening to and collaborating on playlists in real time.
• Device Compatibility: Spotify’s broader compatibility, especially with gaming consoles, makes it more versatile, while Deezer still covers all the essential devices.

User Experience Tip:

If you prioritize staying connected with friends through music, Spotify’s social features offer a more immersive experience. However, if you’re looking for a straightforward, cross-platform solution that covers all the basics, Deezer is a strong contender.

Additional Features

Both Deezer and Spotify offer unique features that enhance the listening experience beyond standard streaming:

• Lyrics: Both platforms offer lyrics integration, but Spotify’s real-time, synced lyrics provide a more immersive experience, especially for karaoke lovers.
• Crossfade: Both services allow users to blend tracks with crossfade, which can be customized according to personal preference.
• Sleep Timer: Ideal for those who enjoy listening before bed, both platforms offer a sleep timer, though Spotify’s is more prominent in its mobile app.
• Equalizer: Deezer includes a built-in equalizer, allowing users to fine-tune their audio experience directly within the app. Spotify also offers this feature, giving users control over their sound preferences.
• Podcasts: Spotify has a clear advantage in the podcast arena, with a vast library that includes exclusive content, making it a one-stop shop for both music and podcasts.

Summary

• Best for Music Customization: Deezer’s built-in equalizer and lyrics features offer great options for users who want to tailor their listening experience.
• Best for Podcasts and Lyrics: Spotify is the go-to for podcast listeners and those who enjoy synced lyrics during playback.

User Experience Tip:

If you enjoy customizing your music experience, Deezer’s equalizer and lyrics options might be more appealing. However, if you prefer a platform that combines music and podcasts with advanced lyrics features, Spotify is the better choice.

Conclusion

Deciding between Deezer and Spotify comes down to what you value most in a music streaming service. Deezer’s inclusion of HiFi audio at no extra cost makes it ideal for those who prioritize sound quality, while Spotify’s vast content library and superior social features make it the go-to choice for those who enjoy a more connected experience.

If you’re still unsure which service suits you best, why not try both? With GoSplit, you can share subscriptions to Deezer or Spotify at a cheaper of the cost, allowing you to explore each service fully before committing. Start your low-cost trial today and discover which platform truly resonates with you!