I've tested Deezer for half a year. The software quality was horrible.

Had a lot of crashes, it often took many many seconds to change between the songs and often getting stuck, the buffering algorithm was nuts and eating a lot of bandwidth.

Everything on a standard Pixel. Full 5G coverage was available.

Alternatives?

Qobuz have the highest per stream payout rate for artists [0], and have the best audio quality of all streaming platforms (better even that Tidal imho). They have desktop, mobile and android auto (and presumably carplay) clients, and an equivalent to Spotify Connect whereby streaming can be switched to a different client.

Downsides are no native client (same webview approach as Spotify), not as strong recommendations (though slowly improving), good but slightly quirkier UI (also slowly improving). For me the trade offs are worthwhile.

[0] eg. https://resources.onestowatch.com/ethical-music-streaming-pl...

Tidal is the last streaming service I use, split between that and a jellyfin+arrs setup coupled with buying music from artists directly.

Fuck Spotify and their rotten leadership. Was amongst the early adopters (2009). I'm sure they won't care for the loss, and I won't miss th when they're gone.

Also, I know it's a bit niche, but Deezer does not have an equivalent of "Spotify Connect" protocol, which means that Network Integrated Amplifiers (like Onkyo A-50), CANNOT implement a player with good UX. Spotify is now king since they introduced lossless quality which is enabled by default in such amplifiers. The benefit is that there is no local streaming (e.g. Bluetooth) and no latency. The data come from Spotify directly to the amplifier and then your speakers.

So, Deezer that had a audiophile target audience, has effectively lost the game.

Tried Tidal? The one gripe I have with it is no remote control, as in using phone to change what's currently playing on the device connected to my sound system, without it thinking I want to start playing on my phone.

Apple Music pays artists better, too.