Listening to music is one of the primary reasons many people purchase Google Home. This system allows you to play music via voice commands.
Do you need a music subscription for Google Home? Does the system require any monthly subscription or additional fees to access its music resources?
I will discuss the policies of Google Home and additional third-party music applications to bring you an in-depth explanation. Keep reading to find out!
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Do You Need A Music Subscription For Google Home?
Google Home supports music streaming devices with both free and paid versions. You can consider your needs to decide if a subscription is necessary.
Like on tablets, phones, and laptops, Google Home supports multiple streaming services like Youtube, Pandora, or Spotify. Most of these services have a free version for users with access to basic features and music lists.
Users can use the free version and access thousands of songs without paying any additional fees. Meanwhile, the music streaming services will offer a monthly subscription policy with additional features.
The Benefits Of Monthly Subscription On Music Streaming Services
Music streaming services can make money via multiple methods. Their main source of profit is from advertisements cast to the free users. When you use the service’s free version, you have to listen to or watch advertisements.
The ads can show up when you access the service or switch the songs. Some songs produced by artists are exclusive to users with a monthly payment.
In addition, free users can only download a limited number of songs, and the downloading speed is set at a minimum. Meanwhile, all these inconveniences are eliminated when you subscribe to the premium version.
The policies will vary based on the streaming service you choose. There are also monthly subscription versions with price ranges customers can consider.
The most common offers are zero advertisements and unlimited downloads. You don’t need to worry about the annoying ads showing up and interrupting your listening experience.
You can build your own music list and make Google Home play it via voice commands more conveniently. There won’t be any limited songs or low-speed downloading bandwidth.
When Should You Get A Music Subscription For Google Home?
If you want a flowing and uninterrupted music listening experience from Google Home, a monthly subscription should be worth it.
The subscription fee is low, but it will bring you tremendous convenience. I recommend you get a monthly subscription if you are a hard-core music lover.
Music Streaming Services With Monthly Charge To Consider
Here are some popular paid music streaming options with distinct offers and features. You can consider their services to pick a suitable one for your needs.
Spotify Premium
Spotify is one of the most famous music and audio streaming services worldwide. You can access up to 35 million songs of all genres and times with a minimal subscription fee.
Google Play Music
The minimum subscription fee for Google Play music is the same as Spotify, and it offers more than 40 million songs. It is also the most optimal music streaming service for Google Home, which shares the same ecosystem.
Methods To Access Free Music On Google Home
You don’t necessarily need a monthly subscription to access free music. You can access streaming services that provide thousands of songs of all genres.
There are accessible music sources available for Google Home with zero charges.
They feature monthly subscriptions for more features like zero advertisements, but you may not need them. The sections below will tell you more!
Free YouTube Music, Spotify, And Pandora
All popular music and audio streaming services like Youtube, Pandora, and Spotify allow users to use them for free. You can access millions of songs for free without paying any extra fee.
The only setback is the annoying advertisements and limited downloading. If you can cope with these inconveniences or don’t listen to music regularly, there’s no need for a paid subscription.
Bluetooth
You can cast music or audio from your phone to the Google Nest using Bluetooth. Then, you can control the next volume and switch the song using your phone.
The only compromise of this method is that you cannot control the speaker via voice commands. You can set up the Bluetooth connection by accessing the Google speaker’s settings in the app.
Audio Casting
This method is applicable to phones that run on Android version 4.4 and higher. It allows you to connect your Android smartphone to a Google Home speaker and play music.
First, open the settings on your phone and locate the “apps” section.
Second, choose “Google Play Service”. Press “Permission” and enable the Microphone.
Third, switch to the Google Home app and tap on the three-line icon in the screen’s top corner. Choose “Cast audio” and select the device you want.
Radio
There are multiple radio stations supported on Google Home. However, you cannot control or switch the audio content streamed on the channel.
However, it’s still an excellent option for busy people with no subscription fee.
News
You can tell the Google Home speaker to stream the latest news via voice command. It is an excellent way to start your day with casual to informative news without the need for a smartphone.
How To Fix Your Google Home Not Playing Music
Your Google Home may not play music when you cast the audio due to software or hardware malfunction. Here are some causes and solutions to tackle them.
Reboot The Nest
Rebooting the Google Nest can reset all its functions and solve the interruptions or errors in its software. To do it, simply unplug the power (or charging cable) of the Google Nest and wait for at least one minute.
After that time, plug the power cable back in and turn on the device. You can also reset Google Home using the Google Home app on your phone.
Check The Audio And Volume
You may accidentally turn off the device volume through the Google Home app or voice commands. The volume may turn down after rebooting the Google Nest.
So, you can use voice commands or the app to check and adjust the device’s volume accordingly. In addition, you should inspect the song list of the device.
If the list has a few songs and records, the Nest will stop playing after a while.
Check The Cache And Wifi Connection
The Google Home app may be full of memory and slow down the Nest’s functions. You can check the app’s cache in the settings and clear it.
A weak wifi connection will interrupt or make it impossible for the Nest to play the audio. Therefore, ensure that your wifi router is working well and there is nothing interrupting the internet bandwidth.
If all of these solutions don’t work, you should have your Google Nest inspected by the experts. Also, don’t forget to check for unfinished updates in the app.
Final Thoughts
It depends on your needs and preferences. Google Home supports streaming services that offer free and charged versions with a monthly subscription fee.
You can access more songs and features when using the charged version, such as no advertisement or unlimited downloading.
If you find these extra features unnecessary, it’s okay to use a free version.
With this interesting topic, do you have any questions? Are you choosing the paid version or the free version? Don’t forget to share with other readers in the comments section below.
Thank you for reading the post!
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