This music streaming service is completely unloved, but it has some of the best features

I’ve been using Deezer for a while now and I can’t help but feel it’s one of the most underrated music streaming services out there. Here’s why I think this underdog is a worthy rival to big names like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Tidal.

Deezer offers more songs than Spotify

One of the main advantages of streaming services is their massive music libraries, but what surprised me is that Deezer actually offers more songs than any of them. In fact, Deezer boasts over 120 million songs in its catalog, which is a substantial number compared to its competitors, most of which offer just over 100 million songs.

While Spotify and Tidal undoubtedly provide a wide variety of music, Deezer’s larger catalog means you have a better chance of discovering rare tracks, deep cuts, or even entire genres that might be missing from mainstream services.

As someone who enjoys diving deep into specific genres, especially niche or international music, I find that tracks are easier to source on Deezer. A quick genre search gives you options beyond the usual staples with different categories that include AFRO, Funk and Italian music as well as more obscure genres like Reggaeton, Forro and Schlager to name a few. Deezer is especially good for anyone who loves exploring beyond the top 40 hits and likes to find fresh and unique music.

Deezer provides excellent sound quality

As a musician and audio enthusiast, I consider sound quality to be a critical factor in choosing my preferred music streaming service. While many services offer high-definition streaming, Deezer goes above and beyond with its Deezer Hifi option, which streams music in FLAC (lossless) quality at 1,411 Kbps. This is a huge step up from the 320 kbps mp3 streams offered by Spotify, although it does require a high-speed internet connection to appear.

The clarity of Deezer’s sound is impressive, and the music has a noticeable depth when streamed at high quality through the active studio monitors I’m using for benchmark testing. With other streaming services, the audio can often feel a little flat, especially on quality headphones or speakers.

Deezer Hifi is comparable to Apple Music’s Hi-Res service in that you can hear nuances in the music that you don’t usually notice with lower quality streaming, especially subtleties at the higher and lower ends of the frequency spectrum.

You get interesting bonus features on Deezer

In addition to its huge catalog and great sound quality, I find that Deezer’s bonus features make it stand out from the music streaming crowd. While some services rely mainly on their music libraries and playlists to keep you engaged, Deezer adds layers that make it feel like a more dynamic and personalized platform.

One of the standouts for me is “Flow”. This is basically a personalized, endless radio station based on the music you’ve been listening to, but also offers new recommendations and hidden gems. Like the “Discover Weekly” section or Apple Music’s “For You,” it’s a great way to discover music that fits your tastes without doing a lot of work. However, I find it much more intuitive than the competition, and it’s conveniently categorized to instantly find music that matches your mood.

While I tend not to expose others to my singing, another quality feature of Deezer is the lyrics. It offers real-time lyrics for many songs, perfect for anyone who loves to sing or wants to learn song lyrics. The lyrics are displayed in sync with the music, making it easy to follow, and while it’s not as advanced as Apple Music’s Karaoke feature, which lets you turn down the voice track, it should be enough to suit most users.

In addition to podcasts, radio stations, and even a podcast-based radio service that can be a good way to discover something new on the go, Deezer also has dozens of great music quizzes. This is a fun way to relax and pass the time with solo player, multiplayer or party format.

Deezer is versatile for imports and offline listening

One area where Deezer really shines is its versatility, especially when it comes to importing your own music and listening offline. If you’ve already spent years building up a music collection, Deezer makes it easy to upload your personal library so you can access all your songs in one place alongside the song they’re streaming.

The process is seamless and I have found it to be very useful, especially since I have digitized vinyl music that is rare or no longer commercially available.

Deezer also offers offline listening, a must-have feature for me as internet connection can be spotty where I live. You can download entire albums, playlists or even your own stream, allowing you to listen to music anytime, anywhere without worrying about data usage or connection issues.

With Deezer’s intuitive interface, I find it easier to manage storage compared to Spotify and Apple Music. You can choose which songs to make available offline and ensure you don’t overload your device.

Who should subscribe to Deezer?

Deezer could attract more users if it were more affordable than the competition, as a single-user premium plan currently costs a dollar more per month than Spotify and Tidal at $11.99. However, I think it’s an excellent choice for certain types of listeners, including audiophiles, obscure music fans, and people who want flexibility.

If you care about sound quality, Deezer Hifi is up there with the best streaming services, and high definition streaming makes a noticeable difference when used with quality equipment. The lossless FLAC streaming option is perfect for anyone who wants to experience music at its most detailed.

Deezer’s international catalog makes it the best choice for those who love to discover diverse music from around the world. The platform is perfect for anyone looking to explore genres that aren’t always well-represented on other services.

Whether you’re importing your own music or downloading it for offline listening, Deezer offers excellent flexibility to help ensure your entire music collection is available even when the internet service isn’t.

While Deezer may not be as popular as Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music, it’s an incredibly robust platform with features that rival – and in some cases surpass – those offered by its larger competitors. Whether it’s the huge catalog, high-quality sound, or other features that make music discovery more enjoyable, Deezer is a service that deserves a lot more attention than it gets. If you value variety, quality and flexibility in your music streaming, I believe Deezer is worth a try.