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The 2018 Phandroid list named Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Poweramp, Spotify, TuneIn Radio and YouTube Music. It was a mix of streaming subscriptions, radio services and a local-file player—not a like-for-like ranking. This is a historical guide to what each app offered then, with notes on what remains usable today. Google Play Music is discontinued, and the others have changed since 2018.
The original article presented category-style recommendations, not a measured first-to-tenth ranking: it did not describe controlled testing or a comparative scoring method. Its list and historical claims are documented in the 2018 Phandroid article.
At a glance: the 2018 Android music apps
“Free” in an app listing meant the app could be downloaded without paying; it did not necessarily mean unrestricted, ad-free or offline listening. The table separates the products by their main purpose. Where the historical article did not establish a detail, it is marked “not stated” rather than inferred.
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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 →| App | 2018 category | Best historical fit | Notable 2018 detail | Status now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Music | Streaming | Prime members | The article said Prime included more than two million songs, playlists and ad-free listening. | Active; plans and catalog have changed. |
| Apple Music | Streaming | Android users who wanted Apple’s catalog and curation | The article claimed more than 40 million songs, offline listening, curated playlists and radio. | Active on Android; current features and offers are listed by Apple. |
| Deezer | Streaming | Listeners prioritizing discovery | Flow recommendations and local playback were highlighted. | Active; offers and availability vary by region. |
| Google Play Music | Streaming and cloud library | People combining owned music with streaming | The article described local playback, purchases, subscription listening and a 20,000-song upload limit. | Discontinued; not a current app recommendation. |
| iHeartRadio | Radio and audio | Listeners wanting stations, sports or podcasts | Local radio and artist- or genre-based personalized stations. | Active; availability and content vary by market. |
| Pandora | Personalized radio | Lean-back, station-based listening | Stations adapted to likes and dislikes; less emphasis on choosing every track. | Active, with availability historically centered on the U.S. |
| Poweramp | Local-file player | People with music stored on a phone or SD card | Local playback, broad file support and sound controls; no streaming catalog. | Active as a local player, not a subscription service. |
| Spotify | Streaming | General-purpose streaming and discovery | The article emphasized a large catalog, popularity and paid listening features. | Active; plans and features have changed. |
| TuneIn Radio | Radio and live audio | Live radio, sports and spoken audio | Radio plus premium sports, commercial-free music stations and other content. | Active; rights and offerings vary by location and season. |
| YouTube Music | Streaming and YouTube music | Listeners seeking music beyond standard album releases | The article described a dedicated app for YouTube’s music library and said it was included with Play Music All Access. | Active, but the 2018 relationship with Google Play Music is historical. |
These descriptions reflect the original article’s 2018 claims, not current catalog counts or present-day plan terms. See the original list for its full historical descriptions.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Smart MP3 Music Player】The Android MP3 player come with an 8-core MTK chip to make the music player respond faster and run more smoothly. This bluetooth MP3 player comes pre-installed with many of the most popular online music Apps, including Spotify, Omnia, Deezer, Amazon music, Play store, etc.
- 【3GB RAM & 16GB storage】Our android MP3 player built in 3GB RAM and 16GB storage, supports to expand external storage up to 512GB, which can easily hold thousands of music, this can greatly satisfy your need to store more songs, videos, audiobooks.
- 【Bluetooth 5.0 & WiFi Function】This WiFi MP3 player supports wireless network connection, allowing you to download APP, listen music, videos playback online and surf the web. Feature with stable and fast two-way Bluetooth connection technology, which supports stereo and dual-channel audio for a latency-free connection to headphones, speakers or other playback devices.
- 【Android 13 MP3 Music Player】The Android MP3 player powered by the Android 13 OS and MTK 8-core processor, you can enjoy a seamless user experience, access a vast collection of apps, provides a much better experience in interface personalization, control performance and battery life. Pre-installed with many of the most popular Apps, including Spotify, Omnia, Audible, Amazon music, Play store, FM Radio, etc.
- 【Great Solution to Stream Music】Built-in powerful audio decoding chip and superb circuit optimization technology, which can better convert the source code into the most original sound, providing HIFI-level sound effects close to the original. Compatible with most music formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, APE, OGG, M4A, AAC, WMA, etc.
Which apps were full streaming services?
Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play Music, Spotify and YouTube Music were the list’s on-demand or catalog-based options. Their appeal depended on more than library size: the relevant questions were whether a listener wanted a paid catalog, how much control they wanted over individual tracks, whether they needed offline listening, and whether a service fit an existing ecosystem.
Amazon Music: added value for Prime households
Amazon Music was framed around Prime benefits. The 2018 article said Prime members received access to a catalog of more than two million songs, playlists and ad-free listening. That is a dated claim about the Prime offering at the time, not a current catalog figure or guarantee of what a Prime membership includes now. Amazon’s current service and plan information is at Amazon Music; the value depends on membership, selected tier and location.
Apple Music: a large catalog with curation
The article positioned Apple Music as a choice for Android users willing to subscribe to Apple’s service, citing more than 40 million songs in 2018 and highlighting offline listening, playlists and radio. The catalog figure is historical. Apple’s current feature page advertises lossless audio, Spatial Audio and personalized and curated listening, but current offers and availability should be checked directly at Apple Music.
Deezer: discovery-led listening
Deezer’s distinctive 2018 pitch was Flow, a personalized recommendation feature, alongside streaming and local playback. It suited listeners who wanted suggestions and an international-music focus rather than treating the service solely as a place to search for known albums. Deezer remains active, but plan availability and terms vary by country; its current U.S. offers page is Deezer’s offers page.
Rank #2
- No Setup, Just Play: Preloaded with Spotify, Spotify Kids, Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer, TIDAL, and YouTube Music; save time and enjoy your favorite songs, audiobooks, and podcasts the moment you power on
- Hear Every Detail, Feel Every Note: HiBy Music preloaded for lossless playback; customizable modes adapt to your style; pure, uninterrupted sound keeps you immersed in music you love
- Open Stories, Dive In: Audible, Libby, and LibriVox preloaded; enjoy rich sound, free library books, and classic tales anytime for an easy, immersive storytelling experience
- Clearer Sound, Smoother Play: 12nm CPU powers stable performance; hardware-level FLAC/APE decoding reveals richer details in every track
- Stay Synced, Play Seamless: Android 14 with Google Play keeps apps updated automatically; your playlists, favorites, and subscriptions follow you across phone, tablet, and player
Google Play Music: the all-in-one library that disappeared
Google Play Music was unusually broad for its time: the article described local playback, purchases, subscription streaming and cloud uploads for a personal collection. It reported a 20,000-song upload limit and a $10-per-month full-library plan as 2018 details. Neither should be read as a current Google feature or price. Google Play Music was discontinued in December 2020, according to The Droid Guy’s overview of Android music apps; YouTube Music became its successor, but the old combined product is no longer available.
Spotify: broad, general-purpose streaming
Spotify was the list’s general-purpose streaming pick, described as a mainstream service with a large catalog and paid features for expanded control and subscription listening. The 2018 article did not establish a controlled comparison proving it superior to other services. Its current plans differ from the historical offering. As observed on August 18, 2026, Spotify’s U.S. Premium page showed Individual at $12.99 per month after a promotional period; that is a dated U.S. signal, not a universal or permanent price. Check the current Spotify Premium plans for eligibility and terms.
YouTube Music: a wider, video-linked music ecosystem
The 2018 recommendation was a dedicated interface for YouTube’s music ecosystem, including material that could be harder to find in conventional catalogs. That can mean official tracks as well as live performances, covers, remixes and user uploads; these are not necessarily equivalent in rights status or recording quality, and availability depends on territory and rights holders. The article said YouTube Music was included with Play Music All Access, a historical arrangement. Today, YouTube Music’s help page explains offline downloads on Android, subject to plan and account requirements: YouTube Music offline listening help.
Which apps were radio services?
iHeartRadio, Pandora and TuneIn were better understood as radio or live-audio products than as direct substitutes for a fully controllable album-streaming service. Radio is useful when the listener wants a station, genre, artist-based mix, local broadcast or spoken audio; it may offer less control over the exact next track. Programming, sports rights and market access can differ by country.
Rank #3
- 【Android 9.0 MP3 Music Player】The bluetooth MP3 player come with an 8-core MTK chip to make the music player respond faster and run more smoothly. This bluetooth music player comes pre-installed with many of the most popular online music Apps, including Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Amazon music, etc.
- 【Great Solution to Stream Music】Built-in powerful audio decoding chip and superb circuit optimization technology, which can better convert the source code into the most original sound, providing HIFI-level sound effects close to the original. Compatible with most music formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, APE, OGG, M4A, AAC, WMA, etc.
- 【2GB RAM & 16GB storage】Our android MP3 player built in 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, supports to expand external storage up to 512GB, which can easily hold thousands of music, this can greatly satisfy your need to store more songs, videos, audiobooks.
- 【High-performance MP4 Player】This MP4 player with bluetooth and wifi is equipped with a 4" full-touch IPS screen and HiFi sound module, supports 720p, 1080p HD video playback, supported video formats are RM, RMVB, FLV, MP4, DAT, MKV, MPG, MOV, TS, and so on, can be played directly without conversion, which can bring you an unparalleled viewing experience.
- 【MP3 Player with Bluetooth & Wifi】This Wifi MP3 player supports wireless network connection, allowing you to download APP, listen music, videos playback online and surf the web. Feature with stable and fast two-way Bluetooth connection technology, which supports stereo and dual-channel audio for a latency-free connection to headphones, speakers or other playback devices.
iHeartRadio: stations, local radio and spoken audio
iHeartRadio combined local radio stations with sports, podcasts and personalized stations based on artists or genres in the 2018 description. It fit people who wanted radio-style listening or spoken content rather than building every listening session around a chosen album. Availability of local stations and other content depends on region and licensing.
Pandora: personalized stations
Pandora’s strength in the list was station-building: likes and dislikes shaped what played next. That made it a natural fit for passive listening and music discovery, but a weaker match for a listener who expected full on-demand control of every track. The service has historically been U.S.-centric, so readers elsewhere should check whether it is available in their market before treating it as an option.
TuneIn Radio: live broadcasts and sports
TuneIn brought internet radio together with sports and other spoken-audio content. The 2018 article described premium access to sports, commercial-free music stations, audiobooks and more; the specific rights and programming should not be assumed to persist unchanged. TuneIn still lists a Premium offering, but content can vary by territory and season. Consult TuneIn Premium for current availability.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhy was Poweramp different?
Poweramp was the sole entry focused on playing music already stored on a device or accessible local storage. It did not provide a subscription streaming catalog, so ranking it against Spotify or Apple Music on catalog breadth would miss its purpose. It was aimed at people who maintained their own files and wanted playback and sound controls without relying on a streaming service’s library. Poweramp continues to position itself as an Android player with high-resolution playback; see its official product page.
Rank #4
- The world's first Snapdragon 680 portable HiFi player JM21: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, built on a 6nm advanced process, features an 8-core Kryo 265 architecture with a clock speed of up to 2.4GHz. This results in a significant performance boost, lower power consumption, and smooth, seamless operation.
- Custom Android 13 open-source system: The deeply customized Android 13 open-source system offers smooth and seamless performance, allowing effortless control. It provides the freedom to install streaming apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and other applications as desired.
- Dual flagship DACs, CS43198, with a powerful 700mW output drive: The JM21 features a fully balanced audio architecture, powered by two flagship Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs paired with two high-performance SGM8262 operational amplifiers. Through audiophile-grade circuit design and tuning, the JM21 delivers a balanced output power of up to 700mW + 700mW, offering powerful drive and exceptional sound quality. It effortlessly powers headphones or large over-ear models with ease and authority.
- At just 13mm thin and weighing only 156g, the device offers a comfortable one-handed grip that completely frees your pinky. With an impressive 12.5 hours of battery life, it ensures uninterrupted listening wherever you go, easily lasting from morning to night. Every listening session is a pleasurable experience without worrying about battery life.
- The self-developed DAPS digital audio purification system, coupled with a fifth-generation FPGA and custom dual femtosecond crystal oscillators, ensures that both local playback on third-party music apps like FiiO Music and Apple Music, as well as output to an external USB DAC, maintain the original audio sampling rate. This guarantees lossless audio quality for a pristine listening experience.
A local-file player also shifts responsibility to the listener: music files must be obtained, organized and retained. Unlike a cloud library, local playback does not depend on a subscription catalog remaining available, but it does not supply discovery or a ready-made collection.
How to choose among the ten—historically
- Want a broad, general streaming service? The 2018 list pointed to Spotify.
- Already a Prime member? Amazon Music was presented as a way to add listening value to that membership.
- Want Apple’s service on an Android phone? Apple Music was the catalog-and-curation choice.
- Prefer recommendations and discovery? Deezer’s Flow or Pandora’s station model addressed that need in different ways.
- Want radio, sports or talk? iHeartRadio emphasized local radio and spoken content; TuneIn emphasized live radio and premium sports offerings.
- Have your own MP3 or FLAC collection? Poweramp was the local-player choice, not a streaming subscription.
- Wanted Google’s combined library and streaming service in 2018? Google Play Music filled that role then, but is discontinued.
- Look for less conventional performances and uploads? YouTube Music’s YouTube-linked catalog was the distinctive fit, with content varying by rights and source.
These are use-case matches to the historical recommendations, not a current ranking or claim that one app is universally best. Free access, on-demand control, offline downloads and prices were not interchangeable across services, and their terms have changed since 2018.
What changed after 2018?
The biggest change for anyone revisiting this list is Google Play Music’s discontinuation. YouTube Music remains active, but its present-day features, plans and offline access should not be confused with its 2018 relationship to Play Music. The surviving brands have also changed their plans, catalogs, free-tier limits, audio features and content rights. Historical catalog claims—such as Apple Music’s more than 40 million songs or Amazon Prime’s more than two million—are snapshots from the original article, not current counts.
Prices also need a date and market. For example, the Spotify figure above reflects the U.S. plan page observation on August 18, 2026, after a promotional period; it is not a 2018 price or a price for every country. Current audio claims and plan terms likewise belong to each service’s present offer, not retroactively to its 2018 app.
For local playback, Poweramp remains a distinct kind of choice rather than an obsolete streaming entry. For current feature checks, use the official pages for Poweramp, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, TuneIn and YouTube Music offline help; terms and availability may depend on location and plan.
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.
