Shazam is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.3. Shazam wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Qobuz on 1.
Music lovers who often hear a song and want to know what it is
Audiophiles and album listeners with good headphones or a hi-fi system
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Shazam | Qobuz |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Music & Podcasts | Music & Podcasts |
| Category rank | #5 of 10 | #7 of 10 |
| Developer | Apple | Xandrie SA |
| Pricing | Free | Subscription |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Shazam better than Qobuz?
Shazam is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.3. Shazam wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Qobuz on 1.
Which is cheaper, Shazam or Qobuz?
Shazam: Completely free, with no ads or subscription. Qobuz: Studio Solo is $12.99 a month, or $10.83 a month billed yearly; students pay $4.99. On value for money, Shazam scores higher.
Do Shazam and Qobuz work on the same devices?
Only Qobuz runs on Windows, Web.
Which is more private, Shazam or Qobuz?
Shazam scores higher on privacy (8.4/10). No tracking per its App Store label. Purchases, location, identifiers and usage data are linked to you; microphone and location access are optional. No ads, and history can sync via iCloud.
Strengths and weaknesses
Shazam
- Fast, accurate recognition even in noisy places
- Free with no ads and no account needed
- Built into iPhone Control Center and the Mac
- Not a full music player
- Adding songs to playlists works best with Apple Music
Shazam does one job better than anything else: it tells you what song is playing. Tap the button and it usually names the track in seconds, then shows synced lyrics and opens it in Apple Music, Spotify or another service. Auto Shazam can keep listening, offline matches are saved for later, and it now works inside ChatGPT too. It's free with no ads. Just don't expect a full music player.
Full Shazam review
Qobuz
- Hi-res lossless audio on every plan
- Rich credits, reviews and liner notes
- Buy downloads you keep forever
- No free tier, only a trial
- Catalog can be thin for lesser-known artists
- App Store label lists tracking identifiers
Qobuz is the streaming service for people who care how music sounds and who made it. Every plan streams lossless FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and the app is packed with credits, reviews, digital booklets and editorial writing. You can also buy hi-res downloads to keep. Qobuz Connect controls hi-fi gear from brands like Naim and Denon. There's no free tier, and some listeners find the catalog thin for lesser-known artists.
Full Qobuz review
