Introduction to Music Streaming on Google Home
As a user of Google smart speakers, I was curious to find out which music streaming service works best with these devices. I tested several services, including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music, to see how well they respond to voice commands.
Testing Music Streaming Services
I used my smart display to test the available options, looking at both their music catalogs and how well they responded to requests to play a variety of songs and podcasts. I searched for the same songs across all services during my test.
Results of the Test
YouTube Music had the most songs I searched for, with 6.5 out of 8 songs available. However, the service can be a mixed bag when it comes to playing exactly what you want. The free version of the service played an ad before almost every song I requested.
Comparison with Other Services
Apple Music had a good selection of songs and easily brought up playlists I’d made or presets from Apple. However, it struggled with podcasts. Spotify had a similar experience, with the free version not allowing song selection and the premium account working better with podcasts.
Conclusion and Warning
No matter what music service you pair with your smart speaker, you’ll almost certainly want the paid version. The free services often gave me little control over what was played, and the experience was frustrating at times. As a user, be aware of the limitations of the free versions and consider upgrading to a paid subscription for a better experience.