With the rise of music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, many people are moving away from storing music locally on their devices. However, there are still benefits to having your own digital music library that you can access from anywhere. Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud allow you to store your music library online and stream it on all your devices. But which service is the best for music storage and playback? We compared the top options based on features, usability, storage space, and cost to help you choose the right one.
Key Factors to Consider
When evaluating cloud music storage and playback services, there are several key factors to take into account:
- Storage space: How much space do you get for storing your music library? Is it enough for your needs?
- File support: What audio formats are supported? Common formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV should be supported.
- Upload speed: How fast can you upload your music to the cloud? This will impact how quickly you can start listening.
- Playback features: Can you easily play your music online or download it for offline playback? Are there good mobile apps?
- Sharing options: Can you collaborate with others and share music easily?
- Cost: How much does the storage and service cost per month or year?
- Ease of use: Is the interface intuitive and easy to navigate and manage your music?
- Audio quality: How good does the music sound when played back? High bitrates are ideal.
- Platform support: Are desktop apps, mobile apps, web access available? Is it cross-platform friendly?
Keeping these factors in mind, let’s compare some of the top contenders for best cloud music locker.
Google Play Music (Soon to be YouTube Music)
Google Play Music, which will eventually transition fully to YouTube Music, is Google’s take on cloud music storage. Here are its key strengths and weaknesses:
Pros
- Integration with YouTube’s massive catalog of songs for streaming
- Ability to store up to 50,000 songs from your music library
- Ad-free music streaming
- Excellent mobile apps for Android and iOS
- Offline downloading for playback without internet
- It’s free if you don’t mind lower 128kbps audio quality
Cons
- Maximum audio bitrate quality is 320kbps unless you pay
- Uploading your music can be slow and tedious
- Transition to YouTube music is losing some features
- Lacks native desktop app, web interface only
Overall, Google Play Music provides a solid cloud locker solution for Android users who don’t mind the 128kbps default audio quality. But serious audiophiles will want to pay for higher 320kbps quality.
Apple iCloud Music Library
For Apple device owners, iCloud Music Library is a natural choice for cloud music storage and playback. Here are its notable pros and cons:
Pros
- Seamless integration with Apple Music streaming songs
- Adds DRM-free music to your Apple Music catalog
- iCloud syncing keeps music updated across devices automatically
- Up to 100,000 songs can be stored
- 256kbps AAC audio quality
Cons
- Only for Apple devices: Mac, iPhone, iPad
- Uploading library can be buggy
- No web interface for managing music
- Limit of 100,000 songs may not be enough for large libraries
Apple iCloud Music Library is great for those locked into the Apple ecosystem. But non-Apple users will want to look at other options.
Amazon Music Storage
For Amazon Prime members, Amazon Music Storage provides cloud storage for your music at no extra cost. Here are the highlights:
Pros
- Free for Amazon Prime members
- Store up to 250 imported songs with Prime
- Mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Fire OS
- Alexa voice assistant integration
Cons
- Storage limited unless you pay for more
- Uploading can be complex
- No desktop app for managing music
- Audio quality maxes out at 256kbps
Amazon Music Storage is great for Prime members who have small music libraries. But you’ll hit the storage limit quickly if you have a large collection.
Dropbox
While not a dedicated music locker service, Dropbox provides ample storage and easy sharing capabilities. Here are the main pros and cons of using Dropbox for music:
Pros
- Simple drag and drop uploading
- Apps for all major platforms
- Music plays directly in Dropbox interface
- Easy sharing of songs and playlists
- Up to 2GB storage free
- Advanced organization features for large libraries
Cons
- No built-in music playback features
- Paid plans can get expensive for large libraries
- Not designed exclusively for music
- Maximum bitrate still capped at 320kbps
Dropbox is a solid pick for those who want easy sharing and don’t need lots of bells and whistles for music playback.
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive tightly integrates with Windows 10 and Xbox Music for cloud music storage and streaming. Here are some of its pros and cons:
Pros
- Easy uploading from Windows/Xbox
- Xbox Music integration great for Gamerscore songs
- Automatically matches songs to OneDrive Music catalog
- 5GB free storage
- Desktop and mobile apps included
Cons
- Limited to 300 songs free
- No native Mac or Linux support
- Uploading can be slow
- Music playback interface lacking features
- Downgrades non-OneDrive Music songs to 128kbps
OneDrive is a good option for Windows/Xbox users but falls short for cross-platform accessibility and full-quality music playback.
Comparison Table
Here is a quick comparison table summarizing the key differences between music cloud storage services:
| Service | Free Storage | Max Bitrate Quality | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play Music | 50,000 songs | 320kbps (paid) | YouTube integration |
| Apple iCloud | 100,000 songs | 256kbps AAC | Apple ecosystem integration |
| Amazon Music | 250 songs | 256kbps | Alexa voice assistant |
| Dropbox | 2GB | 320kbps | Easy sharing |
| OneDrive | 300 songs | 128/320kbps | Windows/Xbox integration |
The Best Cloud Music Locker
So which cloud music service rises above the rest? After comparing the options, Google Play Music (YouTube Music) stands out as the best all-around choice.
Here are some of the reasons Google Play Music wins:
- Large free storage for even massive collections
- Ad-free music listening experience
- Best combination of features and audio quality
- Android and iOS support with dedicated apps
- YouTube integration useful for finding new music
- Relatively affordable paid upgrades
The main downsides are the slower uploading time and lack of native desktop app. But overall, Play Music hits the sweet spot combining large free storage, quality streaming, and app support across platforms.
Runners up options include Apple Music for those locked into Apple devices or Dropbox for simple sharing needs. But Google Play Music takes the crown when combining value, features, and audio quality.
The Bottom Line
Storing your music library in the cloud lets you stream it anywhere while saving local storage space. Google Play Music (YouTube Music) stands out as the best overall cloud music locker thanks to its generous free storage, audio quality, app support, and YouTube integration.
So if you’re looking to take your music collection to the cloud, Google Play Music is our top recommendation for most users’ needs.