2026-07-06 19:34:35 Save Money on Music-Streaming Services – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

Save Money on Music-Streaming Services

By U.S. News & World Report

As a musician, Dave Ruch was hesitant to sign up for a music-streaming service such as Apple Music or Spotify because of their reputations for not giving musicians a fair share of the profits.

“I’ve seen how it’s affected other musicians in terms of revenue,” says Ruch, who works as a musician and teaching artist in Buffalo, New York. “I just kind of didn’t want to do it for a while.”

But as revenue models have improved for musicians in Ruch’s eyes and streaming has become standard for music-listening, he decided that it was time to get on board. About nine months ago, Ruch started a $9.99 monthly subscription for Spotify, and he hasn’t looked back. “It’s a pretty great thing for the consumer of music,” he says.

Online music streaming, which allows listeners to play millions of songs over the internet, has replaced cassette tapes and CDs. Music aficionados can choose from a range of streaming options, including Amazon’s Prime Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, Pandora, Tidal and more.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

So, which service is the best for you? And how can you save money on monthly subscription fees? Here’s what to know.

Take advantage of free trials. Find the best music-streaming service for you by testing out a few options. Many of the platforms offer free trials for curious users who aren’t ready to sign on for a monthly subscription. If you’re questioning which service is right for your listening style, take a few months to sample different sites and find the best fit.

Just remember that if a trial asks for your credit card information, and you don’t want to continue past the free trial, then cancel your subscription before payments start. After canceling, check your credit card statement for any unauthorized charges.

[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]

Use free listening services. If adding another monthly bill to your budget is out of the question, some streaming services, such as Spotify and Pandora, offer totally free versions that support their music with advertisements.

Keep in mind that free services may offer a lower-quality listening experience, weighed down by pesky ads and limited song selection. Be prepared for the trade-off.

Think about your data. While free versions are, yes, free, many don’t allow for offline music streaming. If your cellphone plan limits data usage, keep in mind that paid subscription services that allow you to download music may save you a pricey, over-limit cellphone bill down the road.

Try a family plan. If you’re sharing a plan with your children, spouse or siblings, then a family plan can save you money. Many of these plans cost $14.99 per month — more than a traditional plan — but allow individual family members to maintain their own profiles and build separate playlists on a shared account.

For Christine Gallup, a mother of two teenagers in San Diego, paying for a family plan has had some unexpected cost benefits. Gallup and her husband were debating whether to employ the regular services of a maid or sign onto Spotify Premium’s family plan. Their solution: Having their teens pitch in on the housework in exchange for the upgraded account. She doesn’t regret the decision to pay at all. Spotify is as crucial to her family’s routine as Netflix is, Gallup says. “It’s something that we couldn’t do without.”

[Read: 7 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill.]

Use student membership. Cash-strapped students can save money on several of these subscription services, including Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal, with special student discount services. For example, the student discount service on Spotify is available to users at accredited colleges and universities. The discounted service lasts for 12 months and requires verification of student enrollment through a third-party service.

Below is the breakdown for several popular music-streaming services, including the prices for their various services and offerings. Prices are correct as of publication date.

Music-streaming service Free options? Monthly Subscription Fees Family Plan Student Plan
Amazon Prime Music Included with Amazon Prime Amazon Prime: $99/year N/A N/A
Amazon Music Unlimited 30-day trial

Prime members: $7.99/month, $79/year

Non-Prime members: $9.99/month

Prime members: $14.99/month or $149/year
Non-Prime members: $14.99/month

Up to six family members

 N/A
Apple Music 3-month trial $9.99/month $14.99/month $4.99/month
Google Play Music 30-day trial $9.99/month $14.99/month N/A
Pandora Free version

Pandora Plus: $4.99/month
Subscription through Pandora website: $54.89/year

Pandora Premium: $9.99/month
Subscription through Pandora website: $109.89/year

 N/A N/A
Slacker Radio Free version

Slacker Radio Plus: $3.99/month

Slacker Premium Radio: $9.99/month

 N/A N/A
Spotify Free version Spotify Premium: $9.99/month $14.99/month $4.99/month
Tidal 30-day trial

Tidal Premium: $9.99/month

Tidal HiFi: $19.99/month

Tidal Premium: $14.99/month

Tidal HiFi: $29.99/month

Tidal Premium: $4.99/month

Tidal HiFi: $9.99/month

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Save Money on Music-Streaming Services originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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