Our Picks Best catalog of digital music iTunes View details See at Apple View details Best for indie music Bandcamp View details See at Bandcamp View details Best for Prime members Amazon Music Digital Store View details See at Amazon View details Best prices for lossless music Qobuz View details See at Qobuz View details Best for dance music Bleep View details See at Bleep View details SOUNDBAR DEALS OF THE WEEK LG S40T 2.1ch Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer (2024 Model): $147 (save $53) Klipsch Flexus Core 200 3.1.2ch Bluetooth Soundbar With Dolby Atmos: $399 (save $101) Samsung HW-Q600C 3.1.2ch Soundbar With Dolby Audio: $318 (save $280) Samsung QS730D 3.1.2ch Soundbar With Wireless Subwoofer: $498 (save $300) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. Table of Contents When it comes to streaming music, convenience is often king. That's why most people are satisfied with listening to music via online platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. However, streaming music comes with its limitations. For one thing, you don't actually own any of the music that you listen to, meaning it can be taken away in a second if the license holder wishes. If you're someone who wants more freedom when it comes to music and to actually own the music you love, we suggest going a step further and canceling your subscription to these streaming platforms and doing something different. You can purchase either physical copies of your music or through a digital music store.Now, you might be confused about why we mention a digital music store. First, buying digital music, such as MP3s or FLAC files, has more benefits than you realize. Once you purchase these files, they can be stored on any device, meaning that it's yours to keep forever. Digital music stores also offer instant downloads after your purchase, and there's often a choice between different formats, such as MP3s or AAC to save space and money. But if space constraints aren't a concern, most sites also offer lossless FLAC or ALAC versions for a noticeable increase in quality. (They usually cost the same as MP3s.) Of course, if you prefer physical media and aren't too bothered about storage, you can buy CDs and rip the music the old-fashioned way.Regardless of whether you want to store just a single album or a variety of music throughout the ages, we've rounded up the very best digital music stores out there. Some of these names you'll recognize, such as iTunes and Amazon, but there are also some of our personal favorites that don't get the love we think they deserve, such as Bandcamp and Qobuz. No matter which you choose, many of these stores offer apps for both Android and iOS, allowing you to easily listen to the music you purchase. You can also use the music apps that come pre-installed on your phone. See at Apple Average cost per album:$10Maximum bit rate:256Kbps (AAC)iTunes may no longer be the star of Apple's lineup, given that Apple Music is the company's focus right now, but it's still one of the biggest digital marketplaces. iTunes still sets the standard for lossy music downloads, and its catalog should furnish all but your most obscure needs. Technically iTunes doesn't sell MP3s. Instead, it sells songs in its own AAC format, which can be read by almost every modern player.If you use MacOS Catalina or above you can access the marketplace from Music > iTunes Store. If you want to download lossless files keep in mind you will need a Music membership, but you won't be able to keep the music if your subscription ends. See at Bandcamp Average cost per album:$10Maximum bit rate:320Kbps, Lossless (up to 24kHz)With the support of many indie music labels, Bandcamp (now a part of Epic Games) is perhaps the best alternative to iTunes or Amazon, particularly if your tastes run to the more esoteric. The site enables you to download in whichever format you like (MP3, FLAC, Apple Lossless) and seemingly as many times as you like, without paying extra. In addition, the site runs regular Bandcamp Friday events, which give 100% of the proceeds to the artist. See at Amazon Average cost per album:$10Maximum bit rate:256KbpsIf you're an Amazon Prime member, Amazon Music makes a lot of sense. You get a (limited)streaming serviceand a music store to buy MP3s from, in addition to streaming andautomatic rips of physical discsthat you buy. The digital music homepageis fairly drab just a bunch of blocky buttons instead of cover art and includes prominent links toAmazon Music Unlimitedstreaming.Note that although Amazon scuttled its "digital locker" service that stores your MP3s, the MP3s you buy from Amazon will still be available for streaming and download. See at Qobuz Average cost per album:$10 (CD quality), $15 (24-bit)Maximum bit rate:Lossless (up to 24/192)If you're only interested in high-quality downloads and by this I specifically mean 24-bit hi-res