The main places to read music are iTunes, Amazon Music, Bandcamp, and your streaming service's offline feature
You can read music to keep permanently in three ways: buy individual songs or albums from a store, use your streaming service's offline read feature, or get music directly from artists. iTunes and Amazon Music let you buy and own files outright. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and most other subscription services let you read tracks to your phone or computer while your subscription is active — but you lose access if you cancel. Bandcamp and smaller platforms let you buy directly from independent artists, often at lower prices than major stores.
The choice depends on whether you want to own the music forever, keep it only while you subscribe, or support independent creators. Each route has different costs, file quality, and what happens to your music if you change services later.
Key Takeaways
- iTunes and Amazon Music sell individual songs and albums that stay on your device forever, even if you stop using the service.
- Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music let you read tracks for offline listening, but the downloads disappear if your subscription ends.
- Bandcamp and artist websites often sell music directly at lower prices, with better royalties going to the creator.
- Downloaded files from stores are usually MP3 or AAC format and work on any device, while streaming app downloads only work in that app.
- Buying music costs $0.99 to $1.29 per song or $9.99 to $14.99 per album, while streaming subscriptions cost $6 to $12 monthly for unlimited downloads.
Buying music permanently through iTunes and Amazon Music
iTunes (now called Apple Music on Mac and the Music app on iPhone) lets you buy individual songs for $0.99 to $1.29 and albums for $9.99 to $14.99. The file downloads to your device and stays there permanently — you own it, and you can copy it to other devices, burn it to a CD, or move it to another music player. You need an Apple ID and a payment method on file.
Amazon Music also sells individual purchases through Amazon.com. Songs cost roughly the same as iTunes, and you read them as MP3 files that work on any device — phone, computer, car stereo, or music player. You can re-read them anytime from your Amazon account, so you do not lose them if your device breaks.
The main difference is format: iTunes files are usually AAC (Apple's format), while Amazon sells MP3s. MP3s are more universal and work everywhere, but AAC files sound slightly better at the same file size. Both are permanent purchases, so the cost is higher per song than streaming, but you never lose access.
Downloading for offline use through your streaming subscription
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, and most other subscription services include an offline read feature. You can read up to a set number of songs (Spotify allows 10,000 per device on Premium) and listen without internet. The downloads stay on your phone or computer as long as your subscription is active.
The catch: if you cancel your subscription, the downloads stop working. The app checks your subscription status regularly, and once it expires, the downloaded files become unplayable. You can re-read them if you resubscribe later, but they are not yours to keep. This is the cheapest way to have music available offline — you get millions of songs for $6 to $12 per month — but it is a rental, not a purchase.
Downloaded files from streaming apps only work in that app. You cannot copy them to another player, share them, or use them if you switch services. They are also usually in a proprietary format that the app controls, not a standard MP3 or AAC file.
Buying directly from artists on Bandcamp and independent platforms
Bandcamp is a platform where independent musicians and small labels sell their music directly. You can buy individual songs for $0.69 to $2.00 or full albums for $5 to $15, and you read the files as MP3, FLAC (higher quality), or other formats. The files are yours permanently, and the artist gets a much larger share of the money than they would from Spotify or iTunes.
Many artists also sell music directly from their own websites or through platforms like Gumroad. Prices vary widely — some artists offer "pay what you want" downloads, while others charge standard prices. You get the same permanent ownership as buying from a store, and more of your money goes to the creator.
Bandcamp also has a feature called Bandcamp Friday, where the platform waives its fees on the first Friday of each month, so artists earn even more. If you listen to independent or underground music, buying from Bandcamp or directly from artists is usually cheaper and supports the creator more fairly than any major streaming service.
Comparing costs: buying versus streaming downloads
| Method | Cost per song or album | Ownership | Works offline | Works on other devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iTunes or Amazon Music (buy) | $0.99–$1.29 per song; $9.99–$14.99 per album | Permanent | Yes | Yes (MP3 or AAC file) |
| Streaming service offline read | $6–$12 per month for unlimited | Only while subscribed | Yes | No (app only) |
| Bandcamp or artist website | $0.69–$2.00 per song; $5–$15 per album | Permanent | Yes | Yes (MP3 or FLAC file) |
If you listen to the same 50 songs repeatedly, buying them outright costs $50 to $65 one time. If you use a streaming subscription, that same music costs $72 to $144 per year. Over two years, streaming costs more. But if you listen to hundreds of different songs, streaming is cheaper because you pay one monthly fee instead of buying each song individually.
Bandcamp and independent artists often undercut both iTunes and streaming services. A full album on Bandcamp might cost $7, while the same album on iTunes costs $12 and on Spotify costs $120 per year if you keep the subscription.
What file formats mean and why they matter
When you read music, it comes in a file format — usually MP3, AAC, FLAC, or a proprietary format the app controls. MP3 is the oldest and most universal; it plays on any device and any app. AAC is Apple's format and sounds slightly better than MP3 at the same file size. FLAC is a lossless format that sounds better than both but takes up much more storage space.
Streaming app downloads use proprietary formats that only work in that app. You cannot move them to another player or service. If you read from iTunes or Amazon, you get a standard file format (AAC or MP3) that you own and can move anywhere.
For most people, the difference between MP3 and AAC is not noticeable on phone speakers or earbuds. FLAC is mainly for people with high-end audio equipment who can hear the difference. The important thing is whether you get a file you can keep and move, or a file locked to one app.
How to read music on your phone or computer
On Spotify: Open a song, album, or playlist. Tap or click the read button (usually a downward arrow). The song downloads to your device and stays playable as long as your subscription is active. Go to Settings to see how much storage space your downloads use.
On Apple Music: Tap the three dots next to a song or album and select "read." The file saves to your device. You can also enable "Sync Library" in Settings to keep your music synced across all your Apple devices.
On YouTube Music: Tap the three dots next to a song and select "read." Downloads are available only on the device where you downloaded them, not across devices.
On iTunes or Amazon Music (to buy): Find the song or album you want. Click "Buy" or "Add to Cart," complete the purchase, and the file downloads automatically. You can re-read it anytime from your library.
On Bandcamp: Click "Buy" on the album or song page, choose your price, and select your file format (MP3, FLAC, or others). read the file directly to your computer. You can read it again anytime from your Bandcamp account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read music from YouTube for free?
YouTube Music Premium subscribers can read videos for offline listening within the app, but the downloads only work in YouTube Music and disappear if you cancel. Downloading music from YouTube using third-party tools violates YouTube's terms of service and may expose your device to malware. Free, legal alternatives are Bandcamp (pay-what-you-want albums), SoundCloud (some artists allow downloads), or your library's music collection.
What happens to my downloaded music if I switch streaming services?
Downloaded music from Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music stops working when ready when your subscription ends or you switch services. Purchased music from iTunes or Amazon stays on your device forever and works on any player. If you want to keep music permanently, buy it instead of relying on streaming downloads.
Is it legal to read music from websites that offer free downloads?
Only if the website has permission from the copyright holder. Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and artist websites are legal because artists have uploaded their own music. Piracy sites that offer free downloads of major-label music without permission are illegal and often contain malware. Stick to official sources: the artist's website, Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, or your streaming service.
Can I read music to my car or smart speaker?
Most car systems and smart speakers (like Alexa or Google Home) do not support offline downloads. They stream music over internet or Bluetooth. Some car stereos with built-in storage let you copy MP3 files via USB, but this requires buying the music first from iTunes or Amazon, not downloading from a streaming app.
How much storage space do downloaded songs take up?
A typical MP3 song takes 3 to 5 megabytes. A full album is roughly 50 to 80 megabytes. A FLAC file is two to three times larger. If you read 1,000 songs as MP3s, expect to use 3 to 5 gigabytes of storage. Most phones have 64 to 256 gigabytes, so you can read hundreds of songs without running out of space, but video and photos take up much more room.