Versus is one of your favorite contents: the figures show it! For several months now, we’ve been taking the time to compare different streaming services. We aim to give you all the information you need to make the right choice. As consumers, we, too, are fond of this type of content, and you, as music fans, also need to know as much as possible to be sure you’re making the right choice! Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best?
Embark on this new Versus journey with us!
What’s the difference?
Let’s face it: Deezer and Qobuz are very different in status among streaming services. While Qobuz is still a niche platform, Deezer is one of the market leaders. However, these platforms have one thing in common: they come from the same geographical area, France. Even more singular: both services were born in the same year, 2007.
Deezer is growing fast. After being penalized by piracy at the beginning of its history, the company founded by Daniel Marhely soon established itself in a rapidly expanding market. In 2009, they set a milestone by offering a Premium version and integrating Universal Music and Warner Music song catalogs. A stamp of credibility that quickly opened the doors to exponential growth. In 2015, they entered the US market and consolidated their presence in France through partnerships with the country’s major brands. Podcast, audiophile version, ever-increasing editorial content, and a user base numbering in the millions: Deezer is now one of France’s leading streaming players. Behind Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and YouTube Music on a global scale, there’s no doubt that the French company’s recent investments could well establish it as a counterweight to the international giants!
Differences!
Qobuz, on the other hand, has experienced a more chaotic evolution, made up of buyouts, strategic reversals, and positioning out of step with its competitors. It’s hard to speak of “competitors” given that Qobuz is evolving on the bangs of other streaming platforms. For a long time, Qobuz suffered from Deezer‘s presence in the French market until the company was acquired by the Xandrie group, giving it a second wind.
By capitalizing on the audiophile market, Qobuz knows that its platform will not, in the short term, be able to compete with YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and the rest. But that doesn’t mean Qobuz is a “small” player – far from it! In 2019, its arrival in the American market continued its expansion and proved that addressing a niche market is wise. Five years later, Qobuz continues to win the approval of audiophiles of all kinds and is celebrated for its quality editorial content. More than enough to look the competition in the eye but without the financial means to match them.
Audio Quality – Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best?
Since its inception – or almost – Qobuz has based its expansion on its ability to offer the best possible audio quality on the market. And they’ve certainly succeeded, even if TIDAL offers an equivalent service and other platforms are trying to catch up.
Three audio formats are available. The most basic is the MP3 (320Kbps), and then there are two HD options: the “CD Quality” format (16-bit / 44.1kHz) and the “Hi-Res Audio” format (24-bit / up to 192kHz). The CD Quality option promises that you’ll be able to listen to your songs as if they came from a CD, which is a great leap forward compared to the MP3 format.
The Hi-Res Audio format, on the other hand, takes things a step further. It’s even better than CD quality since it’s equivalent to the quality musicians use in a studio with optimum acoustic qualities. However, if you want to take full advantage of these HD options, you must be well-equipped. Qobuz can be fully appreciated with top-of-the-range speakers or headphones, leaving the competition by the wayside!
But Deezer is not to be outdone, far from it. Deezer is right up there at the top of all the platforms chosen to appeal to the general public, not just audiophiles. With a “Hi-Fi” function that gets rave reviews from sound experts and Sony 360 Audio Technology that lets you listen to your albums as if the notes and vocal nuances were all around you, Deezer is a platform that doesn’t skimp on audio. And you’ll appreciate that!
Winner: Qobuz
User Experience & Algorithms – Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best?
Qobuz’s user-centric approach may not match Deezer’s algorithm and recommendation system. However, Qobuz’s focus on music and audio as the foundation of its platform is what keeps users coming back. The ‘Weekly Q’ playlist offers personalized recommendations and is just one example of how Qobuz puts its users first.
On this point, Deezer stands out, even if it’s not entirely up to Spotify’s level. Deezer bases its algorithm on its “Flow” functionality. Flow generates a continuous “flow” of songs based on your library. It allows you to browse endlessly among pieces that should match your tastes. Having tested it many times, it’s clear that Flow is effective and enhances the daily discovery of new songs and artists.
Ergonomics
Regarding ergonomics or user-friendliness, both Deezer and Qobuz have made significant strides. Qobuz’s interface is minimalist, with clear sections and buttons at the bottom for easy navigation. On the other hand, Deezer has recently revamped its interface, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Both services understand the importance of simplicity and efficiency in a world of music streaming that often prioritizes new features over ease of use.
Deezer and Qobuz understand that users are looking for simplicity and efficiency more than ever. This may seem paradoxical in a world of music streaming that constantly seeks to distinguish itself by adding new features. But this profusion of updates should never mar navigation. In this respect, Deezer and Qobuz are on the same wavelength.
Regarding user experience, Qobuz, via its Qobuz Club, plays on the notion of community. Here, you can exchange views with other users, just like on the popular music forums of the early 2000s. Likewise, via articles cataloged in the “Magazine” section, Qobuz functions like a music journal. This is what sets Qobuz apart from its competitors, including Deezer, whose strategy is based on digital. At Soundiiz, we’re delighted!
We also appreciate Deezer’s editorial content, most notably its Deezer Sessions. These are filmed formats showing artists in a minimalist atmosphere. Deezer tries to highlight the emerging music scene, and between its content and playlists, it does an excellent job.
Winner: It’s a tie!
Price & Subscription – Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best?
– (as of November 2024) –
On the price front, if you choose to be billed monthly, Qobuz offers a starting plan at a lower price than Deezer, at $10.83 per month, compared with Deezer’s $11.99. However, it’s important to note that these are the advertised prices, and the actual cost may vary depending on your location and any ongoing promotions. Qobuz also offers a one-month free subscription, compared with Deezer, which provides two months. We’ll need to go into more detail to understand the concrete differences between the two platforms. However, taken on an annual basis, in a single payment, Deezer is more attractive than Qobuz, at $9 for Deezer versus the $10.83 for Qobuz mentioned above. It’s up to you to pay attention!
Qobuz and Deezer offer Solo, Duo, Student, and Family versions for all their plans. However, Qobuz stands out with its Sublime plan, which delivers a premium audio experience that surpasses the Studio plan.
For $14.99 a month, Qobuz offers arguably the best audio quality in the market. Despite the relatively higher price tag, this is a worthwhile investment for audiophiles.
Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best? After analyzing the two offers, we found that Deezer is a better, more complete solution than Qobuz for a lower annual price. But be warned: if audio quality is your main concern, paying a few extra monthly dollars for the Sublime subscription may be wise. You won’t regret it.
Winner: Deezer
Catalogs – Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best?
– (as of November 2024) –
Deezer has a far more extensive catalog than Qobuz. It includes the music catalog and all the ancillary content, starting with podcasts.
You won’t find podcasts on Qobuz, and given their importance in millions of people’s listening habits, this absence can be a severe brake. As for Deezer, although its podcast section could do a little more, the service offers a satisfactory library. One small negative point: Deezer does not yet offer audiobooks. An area for future improvement!
The two services are equivalent in terms of the number of songs available. Qobuz, however, stands out for its catalog of songs with high-definition audio quality. In this respect, audiophiles could once again succumb to its charms!
In terms of editorial content, the two approaches are very different. Qobuz focuses on journalistic content, analysis and interviews, and album and artist highlights. On the other hand, Deezer focuses on videos, live events, physical events, and other initiatives, particularly highlighting emerging artists. This is undoubtedly due to their resources: Deezer has more financial leeway to organize physical events, produce video content, and multiply its appeals to a young, connected audience. Qobuz operates on a more traditional model, relying on written and analytical content, like a newspaper. Two different but complementary worlds. And we’d like to salute the groundwork laid by Qobuz in an increasingly digitalized world against the backdrop of the gradual disappearance of music media.
Winner: Deezer
Qobuz VS Deezer: which is the best?
After analyzing the two services, choosing takes a lot of work. Qobuz impresses with its audio quality, editorial content published by renowned journalists and authors, and ergonomic interface. However, its positioning in the audiophile segment and the absence of podcasts distance it a little too much from the general public, who are accustomed to the ancillary services offered by Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Deezer. For anyone wishing to change streaming platforms after having experienced the profusion of content and algorithms of the services above, Qobuz could be destabilizing. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try! On the contrary, Qobuz is an excellent, complete, and ergonomic streaming platform with few rivals in the audio quality segment. With Soundiiz and our Transfer function, you can quickly test Qobuz and see if it’s right for you!
On the other hand, Deezer is a comprehensive tool that should satisfy most music-streaming users. Still lagging behind its main competitors worldwide, Deezer benefits from a solid user base in France and continues to invest to go head-to-head with the market behemoths. Deezer has everything it takes to play in the big league, thanks to a high-performance recommendation system, ergonomics that improve year on year, and ambitious ancillary content. There’s nothing to complain about regarding audio: Deezer outperforms Spotify, for example, and has nothing to envy Apple Music, which has invested heavily in HD audio in recent years.
In conclusion, Deezer is a more complete and balanced platform. But once again, take advantage of the opportunity to try everything Qobuz offers! It’s an excellent service that differentiates itself from its competitors on several points discussed in this article.
Soundiiz: Transfer your playlists from one music service to another
We’ve been running Versus on our blog for several months, comparing the leading streaming platforms. We still need to complete our comparisons, but after several articles, you should know which platform best suits your needs. And this new Versus, between Deezer and Qobuz, has revealed some valuable new information!
You might wonder how to test the platforms we’ve taken the time to detail without losing your data. The answer can be summed up in one word: Soundiiz. If you’re like most users of streaming services, you’ve accumulated a lot of data over the years. Playlists, albums, artist likes, etc.: this data is a treasure trove you’d always want to win.
Many people choose not to change their streaming platform, even when it no longer suits them, because they don’t want to start over again. That’s why we designed Soundiiz. Our Transfer function is a game-changer, allowing you to seamlessly transfer all your data from one platform to another in just a few minutes—all without losing anything! This convenience will surely put your mind at ease.
So you can go from Qobuz to Deezer, from Spotify to Deezer, from Apple Music to YouTube Music, from TIDAL to Amazon Music, or any other way you choose! We don’t download any data—that would be illegal—during these transfers, but we work with metadata, enabling us to precisely identify artists and songs so that you can find them in your destination path.
Once you’ve made these transfers, you can manage all this data directly from your Soundiiz home page. You can modify, sort, and update it as you please. All these changes will then find their way directly onto your platform. It’s like having a personal data manager at your fingertips, empowering you to control your music experience.
To test Soundiiz, click here!
