Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Yes—YouTube Music has matured into a credible mainstream service, and Google Play now lists more than 5 billion downloads. That milestone demonstrates enormous Android distribution, not 5 billion active listeners or paying subscribers. The service is most compelling for people already invested in YouTube and Google devices; listeners seeking the cleanest, most strictly music-first experience may still prefer another platform.
From a forced replacement to a credible service
YouTube Music inherited a difficult reputation. Google Play Music users were moved to a new product that initially felt less capable and less familiar. The transition was widely perceived as a replacement imposed on existing customers rather than a clear upgrade. Early shortcomings included missing or awkward workflows that Play Music users considered basic, including straightforward web-player casting, as documented in contemporary coverage (Chrome Unboxed).
Years of feature work have changed that assessment. YouTube Music now combines conventional releases with music videos, live performances, covers, remixes and other material that is difficult to find in an audio-only catalog. It supports personalized mixes, lyrics, audio/video switching, downloads, background playback and connections to phones, computers, cars, smart speakers, televisions and other devices. Google’s current product listing describes those capabilities and shows the app was updated on August 17, 2026 (Google Play listing).
Why the YouTube connection matters
A catalog that includes more than album releases
A song in YouTube Music can lead to an official video, a live session, a cover, a remix, a DJ set or a user-uploaded performance. That breadth is the service’s clearest distinction. It is valuable when an artist’s rare concert recording or alternate version matters as much as the standard studio track.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
The same breadth creates management problems. Official releases, uploads and alternate versions can appear together; duplicate tracks may be difficult to distinguish; and an artist’s discography may be incomplete in a particular territory. A large catalog is not automatically a clean catalog.
One subscription across YouTube and music
YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium. Google says the bundle also removes advertising from YouTube videos, enables background playback and offline video downloads, and extends benefits across YouTube, YouTube Kids and YouTube Music (Google Premium benefits). For someone who watches YouTube every day, the music service can feel like an included extra rather than a second subscription.
The arrangement is less persuasive for an audio-only listener who never uses YouTube video, or for someone who wants a clearly separated music identity. Music activity, artist follows and ordinary YouTube subscriptions operate within the same broader Google account, which some people find convenient and others find confusing.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Google-device integration
Android, Chromebook, Google Home, Chromecast, Google Maps and Waze users can benefit from having music and account controls in the same ecosystem. Car support still depends on the vehicle and connection method, so compatibility should be checked for the specific infotainment system rather than assumed.
What the 5B+ download figure proves—and what it does not
Google Play currently reports 5B+ downloads for YouTube Music and a 4.5-star rating based on millions of reviews (Google Play). The figure is cumulative installation scale. It is strong evidence that Google has distributed the app at extraordinary reach, particularly through Android’s global footprint.
Downloads cannot establish:
- How many people listen each month or week.
- How many retain the app after installing it.
- How many pay for YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium.
- Listening hours, market share or satisfaction compared with Spotify or Apple Music.
Some installations may come from replacing a phone, testing the app, restoring a device or receiving it through Google’s ecosystem. No publicly clear figure in the available product information converts 5B+ installs into standalone active users. It is therefore accurate to call YouTube Music broadly distributed, not to claim that it has 5 billion users or has overtaken its rivals.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Free YouTube Music versus paid access
“YouTube Music” describes different experiences depending on the account. Google’s support documentation distinguishes the ad-supported service from Premium (YouTube Music benefits):
| Capability | Free, ad-supported service | YouTube Music Premium |
|---|---|---|
| On-demand songs, podcasts and music videos | Supported | Supported |
| Queueing, repeat and unlimited skips | Supported | Supported |
| Samples and Music Tuner | Supported | Supported |
| Music without ads | No | Yes |
| Background music playback | Generally unavailable for music | Yes |
| Audio-only music playback | No Premium feature | Yes |
| Music downloads and offline listening | No for music | Yes |
Google notes that background play and downloads are available for most podcasts on the free service, with limitations. Creator-inserted podcast promotions may remain even for Premium members.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Plan structures include individual, prepaid, family, two-person and student options, but prices and availability vary by country, billing channel and eligibility. Google says family plans can cover up to six people, while two-person plans cover two; household rules apply. Student eligibility requires enrollment verification (Google plan information). Check the current checkout pages for YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium rather than relying on an old price.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
What still needs work
Account and library boundaries
Following an artist in YouTube Music uses YouTube’s broader subscription relationship. That unification can improve discovery, but it also mixes music follows with ordinary video subscriptions. Whether this is helpful depends on whether a listener wants one Google identity or separate music and video libraries.
Recommendations are personal, and inconsistent
Personalized mixes and radio are prominent features, yet recent Google Play reviews describe sharply different experiences: some users prefer the service to Spotify, while others report incomplete artist catalogs, radios that are too repetitive or too unfamiliar, and sessions that feel limited. These are individual reports, not a representative survey, but they identify the kinds of problems a prospective switcher should test with their own listening history (Google Play reviews).
Metadata and licensing vary
Territory licensing can affect whether an album, track or video is available. Google explicitly notes country differences in availability and requirements (country and device availability). Test several favorite artists before moving a personal library, especially if complete discographies and consistent album grouping matter.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Interface and playback friction
Individual reviews also mention intrusive queue or casting prompts, cramped screen layouts, freezing and perceived interface regressions. Those reports should not be treated as proof of a universal defect, but they are useful failure modes to watch for during a trial.
How it compares with other services
| If your priority is… | Most natural choice | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube videos plus music in one membership | YouTube Music with YouTube Premium | Music and video activity share one Google ecosystem. |
| Playlist-led discovery and social sharing | Spotify | Less access to YouTube’s informal videos, covers and live uploads. |
| Apple hardware and a traditional music library | Apple Music | Less centered on user-uploaded and video-adjacent material. |
| Alexa and Amazon devices | Amazon Music | Value depends heavily on the Amazon membership and hardware you already have. |
| Audio-quality-focused listening | Tidal | Far less of YouTube’s cover, remix and live-performance ecosystem. |
This is a needs comparison, not a ranking. YouTube Music’s advantage is the combination of licensed releases and YouTube’s enormous video ecosystem; Spotify’s is its music-first playlist and social workflow; Apple Music’s is Apple-device integration; Amazon Music’s is Alexa and membership context; and Tidal’s is an audio-focused proposition.
Who should choose YouTube Music?
It is a strong fit if you:
- Already pay for YouTube Premium.
- Use Android, Chromebook, Google Home, Chromecast or Google’s driving integrations.
- Regularly seek live performances, covers, remixes, DJ sets or obscure uploads.
- Want to switch between a song’s audio and video versions.
- Accept standard lossy streaming and algorithmic discovery.
Look elsewhere first if you:
- Need lossless audio or extensive sound-quality controls.
- Want podcasts or audiobooks to be the center of the service.
- Require exceptionally clean artist, album and version metadata.
- Prefer music and video subscriptions to remain completely separate.
- Need a family plan whose members do not share the required household and regional eligibility.
Practical verdict
YouTube Music has arrived as a capable, widely distributed service rather than the unfinished Google Play Music successor many users first encountered. Its strongest reason to exist is not simply that it has songs; it is that those songs connect to videos, performances, covers and remixes, while YouTube Premium can cover both music and video.
That does not make the 5B+ Play figure a user count or a competitive-market verdict. Before switching, test your most-played artists, recommendation radios, casting setup and car integration. For YouTube-heavy and Google-device users, the service is now a credible default. For listeners who value a pristine music-only library, highly predictable recommendations or audio-first features, Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal may still be the better fit.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
