Deezer vs. Spotify: Head-to-Head Comparison

By Adam Gorden Updated on December 25, 2024

spotify vs deezer

Spotify has long dominated the music streaming world, with over 600 million active users and 230 million paying subscribers as of 2025. It's synonymous with music discovery, personalized playlists, and an extensive library that appeals to a wide audience. Yet, Deezer - a French-based subscription service launched in 2007 - continues to make waves.

While Deezer's user base is smaller, its focus on delivering a premium service with high-fidelity audio, an expansive catalog, and curated playlists has earned it a loyal following. Its ability to carve out a niche in regions where Spotify's presence is weaker, such as parts of Europe and South America, has helped it grow steadily.

So, why are users comparing Deezer and Spotify? Does the difference really matter? Are Deezer's extra features worth choosing over Spotify's massive reach and polished app design? With both platforms offering similar core functionalities, the decision isn't always straightforward. That's where this comparison comes in.

We'll break down everything from their music libraries and personalized recommendations to pricing plans and device compatibility. By the end, you'll have a clearer idea of which service best suits your needs.

spotify to deezer
How to Transfer Your Playlists Between Spotify and Deezer

These are the top ways to help Spotify and Deezer users to transfer playlists from Spotify to Deezer or the other way around.

Part 1. Deezer vs. Spotify: Key Differences

Deezer vs. Spotify: Music Libraries & Personalization

Spotify's library is vast - over 100 million tracks. As a regular user, I've found their personalized playlists quite helpful. They've introduced me to some new artists, but let's be real: after a while, I started hearing a lot of the same recommendations. It's like Spotify thinks I only like a certain type of song, and no matter how many times I shuffle my listening, I'm stuck in the same loop. Still, when the algorithm gets it right, I'm always impressed.

deezer choose personalized recommendations

On the other hand, I've been using Deezer more recently, and it's felt like a breath of fresh air. The Flow feature is a standout for me. This feature, which generates an endless, tailored playlist, is often praised for its ability to introduce fresh music while avoiding repetition. I've had a few moments where Deezer introduced me to music that Spotify missed, and it's those little discoveries that keep me coming back.

Is Deezer Larger Than Spotify?

    No, Deezer isn't quite there in terms of catalog size, but if you're like me and crave a more diverse listening experience with fewer repeats, Deezer's approach to recommendations might just win you over.

Deezer vs. Spotify: User Interface & Experience

Both Deezer and Spotify offer distinct approaches.

spotify desktop main interface

Spotify has a sleek, dark interface that's incredibly user-friendly. I personally love how clean it looks, especially on mobile. It comes with sections like "Home," "Search," and "Your Library." But over time, I started feeling like it could use a bit more depth. I found myself coming across overwhelming podcasts instead of the recommended music content. It's intuitive, for sure, but sometimes it felt a little too simple - pushing podcasts too hard everywhere instead of focusing more on music.

Deezer offers a brighter, more engaging interface with sections like "Music," "Shows," and "Explore." Its layout is praised for being user-friendly and more expansive, with deeper categorization and a better desktop UI. The Flow feature adds an extra layer of excitement. It's not just about how things look, but how they make me feel when I'm using them. For me, Deezer's desktop app is more expansive, and it feels like there's more to explore. Sure, it might not have Spotify's level of polish, but I've found it more engaging overall.

spotify desktop audio quality streaming quality low

For audiophiles, Deezer's Premium tier offers lossless FLAC streaming at 16-bit/44.1kHz, making things even more satisfying. Users often describe Deezer's audio as "crisper and more detailed," and I can confirm that it feels noticeably better compared to Spotify's standard 320kbps. It's not that Spotify's audio is bad, but when you're used to HiFi, it's hard to go back.

Does Deezer Look or Sound Better Than Spotify?

    While Spotify gets the edge for a user-friendly, polished experience, Deezer offers a richer sound and a more engaging, expansive interface that kept me coming back. If you're into high-quality audio and enjoy a more dynamic listening experience, Deezer's your best bet.

Deezer vs. Spotify: Pricing Plans & Subscription Options

Deezer Free vs. Spotify Free

Both Deezer Free and Spotify Free are ad-supported plans with access to large music libraries, but they come with key limitations:

Deezer Free gives you access to over 90 million tracks, which sounds great on paper. But honestly, the restrictions can be a little frustrating. You can only skip a handful of songs per hour, and there's no offline mode. The playlists are shuffled, and as much as I'm OK with this randomized experience, I definitely like to have some control over what I'm listening to. And, of course, there's no offline listening - which is understandable on the free tier.

Spotify Free, on the other hand, lets you pick individual tracks on desktop, which I really appreciate. While it also limits skips and lacks offline mode, this option grants a little more control over your listening experience without having to pay for the premium version.

Does Deezer Offer More Than Spotify Free?

    Deezer Free holds up thanks to its broader catalog, while Spotify Free can be a bit more flexible.

Deezer Premium vs. Spotify Premium

When upgrading to Deezer Premium or Spotify Premium, both services offer what their free tiers won't: ad-free listening, offline downloads, and unlimited skips, along with unique features.

Personally, I found Deezer Premium to be a great value for the price. At $11.99/month, it offers an ad-free experience, offline listening, and 320kbps streaming. The ability to download music for offline listening has saved me countless times when reliable internet is an issue. And Flow, which is one of the things that makes Deezer stand out, makes exploring recommendations easier than ever. It's one of those features that makes Deezer feel like it knows me better than other services.

Spotify Premium at the same price also provides offline listening and unlimited skips. The music discovery features are, of course, top-notch with things like "Discover Weekly" and "Release Radar," which I always look forward to each week. Spotify also has the added benefit of seamless audiobook integration, which is a game-changer if you're trying to finish a whole book in a week.

Pricing:

Deezer Premium: $11.99/month (ad-free, offline, 320kbps audio)

Spotify Premium: $11.99/month (ad-free, offline, 320kbps audio)

Does Deezer Pay More Than Spotify?

    Deezer is now priced similarly to Spotify, but its free tier offers better audio quality and a slightly less intrusive ad experience. Both services are very competitive in terms of their premium features.

Deezer vs. Spotify: Device Compatibility & Accessibility

Both Deezer and Spotify offer broad device compatibility, but there are some key differences in how each service integrates with various devices.

Deezer is compatible with a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to smart speakers, TVs, gaming consoles, and car systems. I've found that Deezer "just works" across different platforms, which is a huge plus. It integrates well with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Sonos, so if you're someone who loves using voice control or has a smart home setup, Deezer delivers a smooth experience. I've been able to easily switch between devices without issues, and that convenience has kept me coming back.

Spotify, on the other hand, also supports a broad array of devices, including smartphones, desktops, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and wearables. What really stands out to me is its integration with third-party devices. From Apple Watch to Amazon Echo and Google Nest, Spotify really nails the cross-platform experience. My favorite feature is Spotify Connect - it lets me seamlessly switch between devices without interrupting playback like from my laptop to my phone or streaming on a smart speaker in the living room. It's a small touch, but it really elevates the experience.

Does Deezer Support More Than Spotify?

    If you're all about having a seamless experience across multiple devices, Spotify has the edge with its polished, cross-platform integration. Deezer does a great job too, but for users who constantly switch between devices or rely on third-party device syncing, Spotify definitely has a more fluid experience.

Part 2. Which is Better: Deezer or Spotify?

While both platforms have their strengths, Deezer stands out as a solid choice for audiophiles and anyone looking for a more customized and satisfying music experience.

By comparison, Deezer's HiFi audio is available on a range of devices, including smartphones, smart speakers, and high-end audio systems. While lossless audio formats like FLAC and ALAC have been available for a while, Spotify's commitment to HiFi is still in the works and remains one of the most anticipated features. However, it's still early days for widespread HiFi adoption.

For casual listeners, though, the difference in audio quality might not be as noticeable on mobile headphones or lower-end speakers as it is on dedicated home audio systems. For this reason, Spotify continues to be a go-to choice for many.

And if you're thinking of switching between Deezer and Spotify or simply want to back up your music library, tools like ViWizard Spotify Music Converter and Deezer Music Converter are great options for transferring and preserving your playlists.

spotify music converter
Spotify Music Converter

A brilliant Spotify music downloader designed to download and convert all Spotify music songs, playlists, albums, artists, and podcasts to MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, M4A, M4B losslessly, offering you a great experience to enjoy Spotify music offline on any player and device.

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