We live in an age where everything is available at your finger tips. Gone are the days of going to your local record store(s) and hunting around for hours in order to get the tracks which you need for your DJ sets.

When first moving over to digital all music was download only, meaning that the files were physically downloaded onto your laptop/ computer for you to keep for as long as you needed them. Downloading is still very common practice to this day (2026) however in the last few years we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of streaming platforms which you can DJ with.

Here are some of the pro’s and con’s of each approach!

Streaming

The appeal of streaming is HUGE! You pay a subscription and in return you get access to thousands, if not, millions of tracks instantly! In most cases these are sometimes pre-arranged into playlists meaning you don’t have to spend a tonne of time building up a record collection. What makes things even easier is that more often than not, streaming platforms also can be accessed directly in your DJ software.

So what platforms can I use for DJing? See a few examples below and the list is separated into DJ specific and general platforms which can also be used.

DJ Specific Platforms

Beatsource
Beatport

General platforms (which can be used to DJ with)

Spotfiy
Apple Music
Tidal
Soundcloud

There may be others out there but these are some to get you started which all integrate with DJ software. So with this in mind why would you stream and why wouldn’t you?

Pros of streaming

You get access to a huge catalogue of music available to DJ with instantly as soon as you subscribe.
You save on hard drive space as you aren’t downloading the tracks - therefore this might save you money.
Music isn’t as timeless as it used to be (newer tracks), therefore you aren’t likely going to need a lot of these tracks in your collection forever.
Subscription services can be (not always) pretty affordable.
You can quickly react and play song requests which you weren’t expecting.
You can experiment with a greater selection of music.

Cons of streaming

The moment you stop subscribing to your platform, you can no longer play the music - you are only renting the tracks!
You need an internet connection. Dodgy wifi- forget it! Some services (beatsource) offer offline lockers however this will be on the most premium subscription plans and so be prepared to pay if you want this feature!
Music on streaming platforms is licensed. Music can come and go from these platforms so if you find a track you want to play disappear one day this is likely why.
Some platforms do not permit the use of STEMs. Spotify, Apple Music and some others do not permit the use of STEMs in your software.
You cannot record your mix directly in your DJ software. It’s not impossible however you will need to find a work around to do this.
Part of the fun of DJing is building your own collection of music! This has gone with streaming :(.

Downloading

Put simply, you find the tracks you like and you download the music file onto your laptop/ computer. You then have the file forever to DJ with (until you delete it). You can download from a number of different sources including record pools and online stores such as Amazon and iTunes. So what are the advantages/ disadvantages of DJing with downloaded files?

Pros of downloading

The music is YOURS to keep. It’s not going anywhere (unless you delete the file).
The music collection you build is YOURS! Not some playlist someone else has made, it’s your record collection and every DJ will be unique!
Downloads don’t cost a huge amount and can sometimes be free (compared with back in the day when DJ’s had to buy physical records).
Online/ Offline- internet doesn’t matter! The track is stored locally meaning you can use it wherever you are.
STEMs work regardless of where you got the track from.
You can record your mix locally in your DJ software.

Cons of downloading

You are storing files locally and so you are going to need storage space especially if you are downloading WAV files.
Whilst price can be an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage as downloading individual tracks can get pricey. Record pools are cost effective as you pay each month and can usually download a tonne of tracks however they don’t usually have absolutely everything which you need.
Building a record collection takes time! If you need music fast, this might not be the best option for you.
If you don’t intend to keep a track in your collection for long- it may feel like a waste downloading it.

Conclusion

When it comes to playing music there is no right of wrong approach- you need to do what is right for you. If you are playing in a home environment, close to an internet router just to let off some steam or perhaps at small house gatherings then streaming might be all you need. It’s cheap, it’s quick and you are up and running quickly.

However if you are taking DJing seriously and you want to play out to crowds, downloading really is the only option. You need solid reliability and streaming unfortunately doesn’t do that. Internet is not a guarantee, even in the venues you think you know best.

Yes streaming can save you for the odd request but it’s too risky to rely on for extended sessions when you are playing out to a crowd so remove that stress and you’ll enjoy your set a lot more! There is a reason all the pros download their tracks after all ;).

Streaming VS Downloading Music