View source for Comparison of digital music stores

{{short description|None}}

Digital music stores sell copies of [[Digital audio|digital audio]], for example in [[MP3]] and [[WAV]] file formats. Unlike music streaming services, which typically charge a monthly subscription fee to stream digital audio, digital music stores download songs to the customer's [[Engineering:Hard disk drive|hard disk drive]] of their device. The customer will have the copy of the song permanently on their disk, provided the track is not deleted by the customer, the disk does not get physically damaged, or suffers from being [[Data corruption|corrupted.]] Major examples of digital music stores include [[ITunes Store|iTunes Store]], [[Software:Amazon Music|Amazon Music]], Bandcamp and [[Company:7digital|7digital]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Getting into the charts - Meeting the chart rules|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/getting-into-the-charts/meeting-the-chart-rules/|access-date=2020-12-23|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>

Different platforms may offer a different selection of digital audio, for example, some may only sell music that is of a particular genre, or some may only feature independent content.

==Comparison of digital music stores==
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Store
! Tracks<br />(million)
! Geographic<br />restrictions
! Purchase platform
! FLAC
! [[Software:Apple Lossless Audio Codec|ALAC]]
! [[WAV]]
! [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]]
! [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]]
! [[MP3]]
! [[Windows Media Audio|WMA]]
! [[Software:Vorbis|Vorbis]]
! DRM
! Preview (seconds)
! Stream<br /> purchases
|-
| [[Company:7digital|7digital]]
| {{nts|81}}<ref>{{cite web| title=7digital| date=22 January 2020| url=https://www.7digital.com/about-us/| accessdate=2021-07-13|quote=...81 Million Tracks in Catalogue...}}</ref>
| {{bad|Yes}}<br /><ref>{{cite web| title=Music Start-Up Page| url=http://about.7digital.net/OurServices/Music-Start-Up| accessdate=2011-08-23| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820102248/http://about.7digital.net/OurServices/Music-Start-Up| archive-date=2010-08-20| url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Web, Android
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}} <!--DRM-->
| {{partial|{{ntsh|30}}30}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| [[Software:Amazon Music|Amazon Music]]
| {{nts|90}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_voicefte_1a1_w|title=Amazon Music Unlimited|website=Amazon|publisher=|accessdate=2022-10-14|quote = ...access to 90 million songs...}}</ref>
| {{bad|Yes}}
| Web, Android<ref name="amazon.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/dmusic/help/amd.html/ref=dm_gs_amd |title=MP3 Music Downloads: Install the Amazon MP3 Downloader |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-02-11}}</ref>
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|256}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|30}}}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| Bandcamp
| {{nts|18.1}}
| {{good|No}}
| Web
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{yes|{{ntsh|127}}Yes}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{ntsh|127}}Yes}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{yes}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{good|{{ntsh|999}}Full}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| Beatport
| {{nts|9}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beatportal.com/news/beatport-16-years-in-numbers/|title=Beatport: 16 Years In Numbers|date=16 January 2020|publisher=|accessdate=2021-07-13|quote = ...9 million tracks available on the Beatport store...}}</ref>
| {{bad|Yes}}<br /><ref>{{cite web| title=Restricted tracks at Beatport| url=https://knowledgebase.beatport.com/kb/article/000017| accessdate = 2009-04-07}}</ref>
| Web
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|120}}}}
| {{partial|Paid service}}
|-
| Bleep
| {{dunno|{{ntsh|0}}?}}
| {{good|No}}
| Web
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{good|{{ntsh|999}}Full}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| Classical Archives
| {{nts|1.17}}
| {{bad|Yes}}
| Web
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|60}}}}
| {{no}}
|-
| eMusic
| {{nts|17}}<ref>{{cite web | title = About eMusic | url = http://www.emusic.com/info/about/ |  date = May 2011 }}</ref>
| {{bad|Yes}}<br /><ref>{{cite web | title = eMusic.com Terms of Use | url = https://www.emusic.com/terms | accessdate = January 29, 2018}}</ref>
| Web<ref name="Emusic Help">{{cite web| title = Emusic Technical Help| url= http://www.emusic.com/help/technical.html| accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref>
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}}<!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|60}}<br /><ref name="Emusic Help" />}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| HDtracks
| {{dunno|{{ntsh|0}}?}}
| {{bad|Yes<br />US}}<br /><ref>{{cite web| title= HDtracks high resolution audiophile music downloads | url= https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=terms_condition | accessdate = 2012-09-24}}</ref>
| Web
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|30}}}}
| {{dunno}}
|-
| [[ITunes Store|iTunes Store]]
| {{nts|100}}<ref name="appl_Appl">{{Cite web
| title = Apple Music - Apple
| work = Apple
| date = 
| accessdate = 2022-10-14
| url = https://www.apple.com/apple-music/
| quote = ...over 100 million songs...
}}</ref>
| {{bad|Yes}}<br /><ref name="iTunes Store Terms and Conditions">{{cite web |title=Apple PR |url= https://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/ww/ |accessdate= 2011-02-13}}</ref>
| Windows, [[Software:MacOS|macOS]]<br />[[Software:IOS|iOS]], [[Software:TvOS|tvOS]]
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{yes|{{nts|256}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--AAC-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No<br /><small>(previously [[Software:FairPlay|FairPlay]])</small>}}
| {{partial|{{nts|30-90}}<br /><ref name="itunes music">{{cite web|title=iTunes Music Store |url=https://www.apple.com/itunes/store/music.html |accessdate=2007-03-12 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306104528/http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/music.html |archivedate=2007-03-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
| {{yes|iTunes in the Cloud}}
|-
| Jamendo
| {{nts|0.21}}
| {{good|No}}
| Web
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{ntsh|127}}Yes}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{yes}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{good|{{ntsh|999}}Full}}
| {{dunno}}
|-
| Juno Download
| {{dunno|{{ntsh|0}}?}}
| {{no|Yes}}<br /><ref>{{cite web| title= Release of Tim Hecker's 'Instrumental Tourist' as of 20 Nov 2012 (restriction information not detailed in generally available information)| url= http://www.junodownload.com/products/tim-hecker-instrumental-tourist/2076101-02/| access-date= 19 November 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040855/http://www.junodownload.com/products/tim-hecker-instrumental-tourist/2076101-02/| archive-date= 6 January 2014| url-status= dead}}</ref>
| Web
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|60}}}}
| {{no}}
|-
| Magnatune
| {{nts|0.01}}
| {{good|No}}
| Web
| {{yes}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{yes}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{yes}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{yes}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{good|{{ntsh|999}}Full}}
| {{dunno}}
|-
| mora
| {{nts|4.4}}
| {{no|Yes<br />Japan}}
| Web
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--AAC-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|30}}}}
| {{dunno}}
|-
| [[Company:NoiseTrade|NoiseTrade]]
| {{dunno|{{ntsh|0}}?}}
| {{good|No}}
| Web
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{good|{{ntsh|999}}Full}}
| {{dunno}}
|-
| ProStudioMasters
| {{dunno}}
| {{no|Yes}}
| Web
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no}} <!--AAC-->
| {{no}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|90}}}}
| {{no}}
|-
| Qobuz
| {{nts|100}}<ref name="Qobuz Subscriptions">{{cite web | title = Qobuz Unlimited Streaming Offers | url= https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/music/streaming/offers | publisher=Qobuz.com | accessdate = 2023-08-16 | quote=...Over 100 million tracks available...}}</ref>
| {{bad|Yes}}
| Web, Android, iOS<br />Kindle, Windows 8<ref name="Qobuz About Us">{{cite web| title=Qobuz About Us |url=http://www.qobuz.com/fr-fr/about | publisher=Qobuz.com | accessdate = 2015-09-21}}</ref>
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}} <!--DRM-->
| {{partial|{{ntsh|30}}30-60}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| Supraphonline
| {{nts|4.3}}
| {{good|No}}
| Web
| {{yes|24-bit}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{no}} <!--WAV-->
| {{no}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no|{{ntsh|0}}No}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{ntsh|30}}30+30}}
| {{dunno}}
|-
| Traxsource
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
|Web
| {{no}} <!--FLAC-->
| {{no}} <!--ALAC-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--WAV-->
| {{yes|16-bit}} <!--AIFF-->
| {{no}} <!--AAC-->
| {{yes|{{nts|320}}&nbsp;kbps}} <!--MP3-->
| {{no}} <!--WMA-->
| {{no}} <!--Vorbis-->
| {{good|No}}
| {{partial|{{nts|120}}}}
| {{no}}
|}

==Defunct retailers==

* MSN Music closed on November 14, 2006. Its DRM servers were originally scheduled to shutdown August 31, 2008, but they later relented and committed to keeping the DRM servers active through the end of 2011.
* Yahoo! Music Unlimited ceased operating on September 30, 2008. Users' purchases were transferred to Rhapsody.
* BuyMusic was a digital branch of Buy.com, launched around 2003, was later merged into the music section of Buy.com, and then shut down in late 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2003/08/07/the-taglines-for-apples-itun/7b136151-71aa-41c6-ad7e-d8d9ebfb2a51/ |title=The Taglines: For Apple's iTun ... |date=2003-08-07 |author1=Frank Ahrens |newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref>
* [[Company:Walmart|Walmart.com]] operated an online music store, but discontinued it in 2011.<ref name="Walmart Music">{{cite web| title= Walmart Music Downloads Questions| url= http://mp3.walmart.com/store/help/help.htm| accessdate= 2011-04-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110415124806/http://mp3.walmart.com/store/help/help.htm| archive-date= 2011-04-15| url-status= dead}}</ref>
* Puretracks operated an online music store, but discontinued it in 2013.<ref name="Puretracks">{{cite web| title=Has Canada's answer to iTunes gone silent?|date=25 September 2013 |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dashboard/puretracks-canada-answer-itunes-gone-silent-170347378.html|accessdate=2013-09-25}}</ref>
* [[Pono (digital music service)|Pono Music]] closed in July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/pono-is-probably-dead-long-live-xstream/| title=Pono is dead. Probably. Long live Xstream | website=www.cnet.com|date=2017-04-22| access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>
* [[Company:GhostTunes|GhostTunes]] closed on March 3, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=GARTH BROOKS IS OFFICIALLY CLOSING GHOSTTUNES|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/garth-brooks-closing-ghosttunes/|date=2017-01-25|accessdate=2018-06-30}}</ref>
* Microsoft's [[Software:Zune software#Zune Marketplace|Zune Music Marketplace]] was rebranded as [[Software:Groove Music|Xbox Music]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2012-10-15-xbox-music-hands-on.html|title=Xbox Music heads to Xbox 360 first tomorrow, PC / tablets on Oct. 26, WP8 soon after; we go hands-on|date=2012-10-15|accessdate=2021-01-14}}</ref> In 2015, Xbox Music purchasing was folded into the Windows Store and Groove Music app. The Windows Store was rebranded as [[Software:Microsoft Store|Microsoft Store]] in 2017, but then the Microsoft Store removed music sales from its store on December 31, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft will soon shutter its music store and streaming service, move users to Spotify|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/02/microsoft-will-soon-shutter-its-music-store-and-streaming-service-move-users-to-spotify/|date=2017-10-02|accessdate=2018-06-30}}</ref>
* [[Company:7digital#Other|Technics Tracks]], a reseller of 7digital's services in the UK and Germany, closed on June 30, 2018.
* [[Company:7digital#Clients|Onkyo Music]], a reseller of 7digital's services, closed worldwide on October 6, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Say Good-bye to Onkyo Music|url=https://www.samma3a.com/tech/en/onkyo-music-shutting-down/|date=2019-09-16|accessdate=2020-10-07}}</ref>
* CD Baby closed its retail store on March 31, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=What you should know about the retirement of the CD Baby store, and thank you.|url=https://retail.cdbaby.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039332132-What-you-should-know-about-the-retirement-of-the-CD-Baby-store-and-thank-you-|accessdate=2020-10-07}}</ref>
* [[Software:Google Play Music|Google Play Music]] began to shutdown its music store in September 2020 and completed its shutdown worldwide by December.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube Music will replace Google Play Music by end of 2020|url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-music-will-replace-google-play-music-end-2020/|date=2020-08-04|accessdate=2020-10-07}}</ref>
* Acoustic Sounds shutdown its Super HiRez digital downloads service on December 31, 2020.
* [[Software:Tidal (service)|TIDAL]] closed its download store on October 20, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Purchasing Music in the TIDAL Download Store |url=https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003672089|date=2022-10-20|accessdate=2022-11-01}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Comparison of music streaming services]]
*[[Comparison of online music lockers]]
*[[Software:List of music software|List of music software]]
*List of Internet radio stations
*[[List of online music databases]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Music stores comparison}}
[[Category:Online content distribution]]

{{Sourceattribution|Comparison of digital music stores}}