COST: No monthly fee. We average .65 cents per download. RESTRICTIONS: Music can be played on up to five computers; unlimited transfer to iPod and CD or Burn play list to CD up to seven times.

This service has a small catalog, but is low-cost and is the least restrictive about what
you can do with purchases because it does not use digital rights management. No special player required; works with any Web browser. Also works with any digital player that supports MP3, including iPod.

COST: No monthly fee. We average  .60 cents per track; CDs $8.88. EXTRA: Service highlights independent artists.

This service has a small catalog, but is low-cost and is the least restrictive about what
you can do with purchases because it does not use digital rights management. No special player required; works with any Web browser. Also works with any digital player that supports MP3, including iPod.

COST: Napster Light- free searching and browsing; purchases at 99 c per track. Napster- $9.95 a month with unlimited streaming and downloads and multiple track Discounts. Napster ToGo- $14.95 a month, same features as Napster, plus unlimited downloads to portable music players. EXTRAS: 50 commercial-free Net radio stations.

Clean, attractive interface. This beta versions is a bit buggy, with occasional crashes.
Currently cheapest music rental pricing. Installation made changes to home page, placed
other applications on computer. Use Yahoo Music Engine to organize digital music library, rip and burn CDs, transfer to portable player, manage play lists, access music store.

COST: Free version allows you to stream 25 tracks per month, listen to 25 radio stations, purchase at 99 c per track. For $9.99 monthly: unlimited