| Price | Subscription |
| Version | 5.8.12 |
| Category | multimedia |
| Developer | SIRIUS XM Radio Inc |
| Source | Windows, iOS, Android |
| Rating | (4.7) |
In comparison to the other music streaming services we’ve examined, SiriusXM offers the most diverse selection of subscription options. Although the company’s selections have been narrowed since previous evaluations, there are still a large number of choices. The Streaming Platinum plan, which is the most basic, allows you access to over 350 channels through the app, including original talk programs, sports, various celebrity DJ programs, Pandora stations, and SiriusXM in-studio performances. Monthly fees of $10.99 for Streaming Platinum are applicable to all major mobile platforms as well as internet radio players and personal computers.
Even though SiriusXM owns Pandora, which provides free content, there is no free tier on SiriusXM. Fortunately, SiriusXM offers a three-month free trial on a surprising number of its plans. However, you should be aware that signing up for a free trial requires a credit card, and that after the trial period has expired, you will be considered a subscriber and charged (unless you cancel prematurely). Also, bear in mind that no SiriusXM membership offers a real family package. Family discounts are available, however each account is unique and can’t be used by several people simultaneously in the same way that other platforms like Spotify allow.
To get started listening to SiriusXM on your PC or Mac, head on over to SiriusXM.com and click on the option that takes your fancy. If you don’t want to pay anything yet and are just curious enough to try before you buy, click on the first option. You will then need to register a few personal details including your email address, which a confirmation email will be sent to. Once you have received the email you will need to click on the verification link to activate your account and get started.
You can use the SiriusXM app to listen live on your smartphone. If you are a subscriber, then all you need is an account with access and log in details. Once logged into your account, go to ‘My Channel’ menu option from where there will be options for any customized channels that come under your subscription package.
The SiriusXM App enables you to listen live and on-demand, all your favorite channels with a single login across multiple devices whenever it suits you: at home, in the car or even when out and about. Listen online via browser as well as on the go with your iPhone and Android smartphones.
The official app delivers the best experience for listening on a smartphone, and it’s very easy to download and get started with. Simply open the Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS) app and search for ‘SiriusXM’. The first result should be the official app, which you will need to tap on to download. Once a few minutes have passed the app should be ready to use on your smartphone, simply tap it and log in to get started. If you haven’t created an account then the app will prompt you to register with a few personal details to get started. It will send you a confirmation link to your email address which you will need to tap on to activate your account.
Once you are logged in, you’ll be greeted with a vast array of categories and choices of live radio and recordings. Start swiping down to dive straight in and find something to suit your tastes, whether it’s chat, news or music. You can tap the categories at the top to narrow down the options present on the screen, or just start swiping down to browse what’s available.
Listening to SiriusXM on your Amazon Alex home assistant device is a piece of cake. First of all make sure you’ve got a SiriusXM login (if not, sign up first on another device following the instructions above). Once you have an account, simply enter your Alex’s settings app menu, enable the SiriusXM Skill from the Music & Audio category, and finally log in with your SiriusXM account. Now you can say ‘ok Alexa, play SiriusXM’ to get started and enjoy live radio in your home.
Even if you’re already a fan of live radio, SiriusXM offers a few more features that will have you coming back for more. TuneStart allows you to quickly and simply switch between stations, making it difficult to return to enjoying Spotify, Pandora or Tidal. Whenever you switch between channels, the TuneStart function begins playing the song from the beginning. The main pro of this is that unless you listen in at the conclusion of the track or in the middle of DJ chats, it’s practically impossible to jump right into a song. It’s possible to toggle this feature on and off, but it’s way too handy and makes listening gradually, but deeply, more enjoyable than to go without.
Another good feature is the ability to skip between stored tracks up to six times, which is a pleasant perk of the one-hour memory buffer. Many discussion channels, in fact, allow you to go forward at any time. A timetable is also provided by SiriusXM, so you can see what shows are yet to come. Favorite stations now have their own dedicated area so you can see what’s presently playing and pick it or something else. Finally, SiriusXM is a handy and user-friendly radio platform because of these qualities.
While we were just about as happy as you can get with SiriusXM’s overwhelming choices of channels and categories, its most noticeable weakness is its sound quality. Audiophiles will be disappointed with its inability to match Spotify or other premium music streaming platforms' high fidelity.
