It has a selection that is nearly as big as Apple’s, and its prices are consistently better for MP3-formatted tracks at high-quality bitrates. The only drawback is that web albums can’t be synced to a portable device. Verdict: My new favorite music service lets you listen to your personal music collection from any PC and download tracks at unbeatable low prices. If you lose it, the terms of service are brutally clear: “Products may only be downloaded once after being downloaded, they cannot be replaced if lost for any reason.” But two iTMS alternatives are more kind-hearted and allow you to download purchases onto different PCs if necessary. Recovering previous purchases: If you buy an unprotected album from the iTunes Music Store, you’re expected to make a backup copy. Three of the services go much further, though, allowing you to listen to full tracks and albums on demand. Most of the services I looked at follow the iTunes model, offering 30-second samples that might or might not help you decide whether an album is worth buying. If you buy a track or an album, that transaction is complete. Sampling new tunes: None of the services I looked at include a guarantee of satisfaction. In no case was this a make-or-break feature, but the comparisons are interesting. The other services offer web-based interfaces, with small utilities to make the download experience easier. User experience: The three biggest services (including iTMS) have their own full featured music playback programs, which also offer access to the associated music stores. Click the image below to see the full comparison (and then click through to see the rest of the screen-shot gallery.) I’ve compared the price and selection data in an info graphic. Apple insists on using the AAC format every other service sold tracks in the more widely supported industry-standard MP3 format, usually at bit rates of 256K or greater. All of the tunes I found were available in non-DRM format. Only one iTunes competitor could match the iTMS selection on my shopping list, with the indie services at a particular disadvantage. Selection: Apple’s dominance is due in no small part to its ability to negotiate deals with record labels big and small. The exact amount of those savings varied greatly, however. All six services were less expensive overall than the iTunes Music Store. I did not evaluate any service based on the price of individual tracks. Three were on RIAA-affiliated labels, with the other four on independent (non-RIAA) labels. All but one of the albums had been released in the past year. Price: I assembled a shopping list of seven albums I was considering buying.
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