'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Deal: New subscribers can get up to 6 free months of Apple Music or Amazon Music Unlimited
For music-lovers who are looking to branch out of their Spotify roots, services like Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited are among the best alternatives and are currently welcoming new subscribers with months of premium music streaming on the house. Check out the deals below.
Also: Best AirPods deals available right now: February 2022
From the pioneers of the iPod and iTunes, Apple Music encapsulates the best music from artists around the globe to create a platform that both iOS and Android users can enjoy. Right now, new subscribers can get three free months of the premium music streaming service simply by signing up, or six free months with the purchase of an Apple-owned audio product (AirPods, HomePod mini, or Beats). Afterwards, you can opt into the following plans:
- Apple Music Voice Plan for $4.99 per month
- Apple Music Student Plan for $4.99 per month
- Individual Plan for $9.99 per month
- Family Plan (up to 5 people) for $14.99 per month
Besides hosting an expansive catalog of songs and playlists, Apple Music allows you to upload up to 100,000 tracks from your personal music collections via the iCloud Music Library. For Apple users, you can also take advantage of lossless audio -- a feature that Spotify doesn't have -- which ensures that the music you listen to sounds exactly the same as it does from the original studio recording.
Another new subscriber-only deal, Amazon is currently offering four free months of Amazon Music Unlimited, which features over 75 million tracks and podcast episodes and ad-free listening. After the trial, you can opt into the following plans:
- Single device (Echo or Fire TV) Plan for $4.99 per month
- Student Plan for $4.99 per month
- Individual with Prime membership for $7.99 per month
- Individual without Prime membership for $9.99 per month
- Family Plan (up to 6 people) for $14.99 per month
Like Spotify, Amazon Music Unlimited is available on most, if not all, platforms. Those accustomed to Alexa voice commands can also take advantage of the assistant by saying phrases like "Alexa, play We Will Rock You." We recommend this service the most if you're an Amazon Prime membership, as you can take advantage of the discounted individual plan and save $2 every month.
Interested in more tech deals and reviews? Subscribe to the ZDNet Recommends newsletter and let our expert reviewers scour the internet for only the top products, services, and deals for you.