I replaced YouTube Music with Metrolist to get a cleaner open source listening interface

Selecting a music streaming app is a complex decision. Platforms like Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music all offer a vast array of tracks, making availability less of a concern. Personal preferences in terms of price, features, user interface (UI), sound quality, and ethical considerations are key factors in making a decision.

I chose Tidal after switching from Spotify, although I struggled to justify a YouTube Premium subscription due to the cluttered YouTube Music app. The app pushed video content and podcasts prominently, and its recommendations for YouTube videos consumed significant space on the home screen. Additionally, it mixed YouTube playlists with regular ones, making the core reason for using the app (music) frustrating.

Metrolist changed my perspective. While Metrolist still includes music videos, YouTube playlists, video recommendations, and podcasts, it displays them less intrusively. Although the side-by-side comparison of home screens shows Metrolist's larger carousel, I prefer the streamlined experience Metrolist provides. I never enjoyed a music app's home screen; I use them primarily to listen to music, not scroll through recommendations.

Metrolist's main feature, allowing me to skip the home screen entirely, was a game-changer. It opens directly to my library without distractions, and I can customize the initial view to my preferences. Opening the app into a filtered list of albums, rather than playlists, is a dream come true for me. This single feature alone nearly convinced me to subscribe to YouTube Premium.

Metrolist is user-friendly, and I now regret every other music app for not including this feature. Even Tidal, my preferred streaming app, requires navigating through three screens to reach my albums, a process Metrolist simplifies. Metrolist's clean, uncluttered UI, reminiscent of Google's apps, is easy to navigate. However, it lacks distinctive aesthetics, feeling like every low-budget utility app I have used since Material You's launch.

Generally, Metrolist hides YouTube Shorts and video songs, but you can enable them if desired. You'll find toggles for various options, such as subscriber counts and artist descriptions, further decluttering the UI. Although Metrolist lacks custom assets, its simplicity is its strength. It's available as a direct-download APK file, which might concern some due to potential security risks.

However, Metrolist's GitHub page provides safe download links. While offline playback is a notable feature, it can be inconsistent and requires app refreshes or switching to Wi-Fi for downloads to function. Despite potential malware concerns, Metrolist makes a YouTube Music subscription unnecessary for me. I am contemplating a YouTube Premium Lite subscription, which lacks YouTube Music perks, but ultimately, I prefer supporting Tidal through a monthly subscription over Google, even with daily ads.

Metrolist has made YouTube Music functional again, but my choice of music app extends beyond its features.