The Cheapest Apps for Streaming Music on Your Phone

Spotify recently announced that it is finally giving users open access to its mobile app, joining the ranks of other services that offer free (albeit ad-supported) streaming music on the go. But with so many options these days—including Pandora, iTunes Radio, and Rdio—what’s the best and cheapest way to listen to music on your smartphone or tablet?

Spotify Mobile Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone What You Get For Free: On your tablet, the Spotify app works just like it always has on your desktop: You can choose to stream specific tracks when you want to listen to them. The smartphone app, however, only lets you choose your music by playlist or album. Then, using a “Shuffle Play” feature, it picks the song that will play from within that list.

At least Spotify has also announced that Led Zeppelin’s catalog is now exclusively available on the service, making amends for this annoying limitation. What You Get as a Subscriber: If you’ve heard one too many ads (they come mandatory with the free version), finally opting for the premium experience can get your Spotify music library on all your devices. You can also download tracks onto your smartphone, allowing you to listen offline as well. Cellphone storage just became a much bigger issue.

Monthly Cost: Monthly Cost: $10 Who it’s for: Currently, it’s the best option available for someone looking for a free streaming service and who finds themselves jumping from one mobile OS to another. It’s also worth noting that Spotify’s third party app offerings are excellent.