The Delicatessen
Qobuz review 2026
Qobuz deliberately skips the mainstream and delivers the purest audio on the market instead. Albums can be streamed – or bought as DRM-free hi-res files, complete with digital booklets and editorial context.
€15.99 / month
Visit provider Qobuz (external link, opens in new tab)Key facts at a glance
- Audio
- Hi-Res FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz
- Lossless
- Yes
- Dolby Atmos
- No
- Catalogue
- 100M+ tracks
- Payout model
- Pro-rata, top-tier payout
- Per stream
- $0.018–0.019
- Strength
- Download store for DRM-free hi-res albums
- Best for
- Audiophile collectors with high-end systems
How Qobuz ranks in the market
-
Price Rank 8 of 8cheapest service = rank 1
-
Audio quality Rank 1 of 8highest resolution = rank 1
-
Artist payout Rank 1 of 8highest payout per stream = rank 1
Our review
Qobuz caters uncompromisingly to audiophiles and doesn’t even try to win the mainstream. The French service delivers hi-res FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz without requiring special decoders. The monthly plan costs €15.99 – the most expensive in this comparison – or the equivalent of €13.99 a month when billed annually.
Its hybrid of streaming and download store is unique: albums can be streamed or bought as DRM-free hi-res files to keep forever, accompanied by digital booklets and editorial background articles. At around $0.019 per stream, Qobuz is also among the top payers for artists.
Our verdict: the best offer on the market for collectors with a quality system who listen to and want to own albums. If you want the algorithm to keep the music flowing, you won’t be happy here.
Features
- Offline downloads: Yes
- Synced lyrics: Yes since July 2026
- Podcasts in the app: No
- Audiobooks included: No
- Upload your own music: No
- CarPlay & Android Auto: Yes
- Sonos: Yes
- Stream to speakers & streamers: Yes Qobuz Connect
Changes at Qobuz
- Prices in the comparison updated
- Qobuz introduces synced lyrics
- Qobuz raises the price of Studio Solo
- Qobuz Connect launches
Qobuz head to head
Against every other service in the comparison – point by point, with a clear recommendation.