Most of us enjoy listening to music while travelling, walking, or in our free time. For that, you need a music app that can handle live streaming, song search, downloads, and playlists.
Whether you are an iPhone user or an Android user, your app store offers dozens of music apps, available as both free and paid options. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music are among the most popular. Each app claims to be the best music app for smartphones. The experience changes based on device, budget, and listening habits.
In this guide, we pick the 8 best music apps for Android and iOS. They have been downloaded millions of times and contain thousands of songs across various languages and genres.
- Best Music Streaming Apps for Android and iOS
- 1. Spotify: Best music app for playlists and discovery
- 2. Apple Music: Best choice for iPhone users
- 3. YouTube Music: Best for videos and rare tracks
- 4. Amazon Music: Strong value for Prime members
- 5. Audiomack: Stream trending music and download tracks
- 6. FabTune Online Music Player: Play local music and stream songs
- 7. Shazam: Never miss a track and identify any song easily
- 8. SoundCloud: Discover new music from artists around the world
- Final thoughts
Best Music Streaming Apps for Android and iOS
Music streaming apps dominate how people listen to songs on smartphones. These apps remove the need to store files locally and offer access to massive catalogues.
Here’s a list of the most downloaded music apps for smartphones,
1. Spotify: Best music app for playlists and discovery
Spotify is one of the most popular music apps for Android and iOS. It offers an extensive music library including global hits, regional tracks, podcasts, and independent artists.
The ability to create, share, and import playlists is the strongest feature of Spotify. The app generates daily mixes, genre-based lists, and mood playlists that match your listening habits.
The free version contains ad-based streaming with reduced music quality. Premium plans remove ads and allow offline listening.
Spotify works well on both Android and iPhone, with smooth syncing across devices. Users who enjoy discovering new music through playlists often rate Spotify as the best music app for smartphones.
2. Apple Music: Best choice for iPhone users
Apple Music fits naturally into the iOS ecosystem. iPhone users will get direct integration with Siri, Apple Watch, HomePod, and CarPlay. The music catalogue matches or surpasses that of most competitors, offering strong coverage across various genres and languages.
The app supports high-quality audio, including lossless and spatial audio, on supported devices. Apple Music also works on Android, offering a similar core experience.
Apple Music doesn’t have a free plan with ads, but the subscription includes offline downloads, unlimited skips, and curated playlists. This app is often preferred by users who focus on audio quality and Apple device integration.
3. YouTube Music: Best for videos and rare tracks
YouTube Music combines official music releases, live performances, remixes, and covers uploaded to YouTube. This gives you access to content that isn’t available on other platforms.
YouTube Music is often chosen by users who enjoy music videos or alternative versions. The free version allows streaming with ads and limited background playback. Paid plans unlock offline listening and background playback.
The app works on Android and iOS. Music discovery relies heavily on search behaviour and viewing history.
4. Amazon Music: Strong value for Prime members
Amazon Music offers competitive features for users with an Amazon Prime subscription. Prime members get access to a large music catalogue without extra cost.
The interface focuses on voice control through Alexa, playlist browsing, and personalized stations. Offline listening and higher-quality streaming require an upgraded plan.
Amazon Music performs reliably on Android and iPhone. Users who already use Amazon services find this music app convenient and cost-effective.
5. Audiomack: Stream trending music and download tracks
Audiomack is a top-rated music streaming and audio discovery app. It empowers both listeners and creators, offering unlimited, free access to emerging music across various genres, including hip-hop, R&B, EDM, and Afrobeats.
Users can download tracks and albums for offline listening, and create personalized playlists without a subscription. Independent artists can upload their own music, build a followers list, and engage with fans.
Audiomack’s focus on discovery and independent talent makes it ideal for users seeking both mainstream hits and underground sounds across Android and iOS devices.
6. FabTune Online Music Player: Play local music and stream songs
FabTune: Online Music Player is another Android music app designed for flexibility and support of various file formats. It functions as both an online streaming service and an offline MP3 player, enabling users to browse their local music files alongside streamed tracks.
The app supports all popular audio formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, APE, etc., ensuring high-quality playback. A built-in equalizer with bass boost and reverb effects enhances the audio output, while a clean and intuitive interface simplifies navigation.
FabTune also provides access to podcasts, audiobooks, curated playlists, and more. You can search for music by lyrics, create and share custom playlists, and download songs for offline listening. Its extensive genre categories and multimedia features make it a versatile choice for Android users who want to enjoy local playback and streaming on a single app.
7. Shazam: Never miss a track and identify any song easily
Shazam is a powerful music recognition app that helps you instantly find songs playing around you or in other music apps. Using your device’s microphone, it listens to a short audio sample and tells you the song title, artist, and album in seconds.
The app also provides additional context, including lyrics, links to stream the track on popular services like Apple Music or Spotify, and information on upcoming concerts.
Shazam stores your song history for easy reference, and the Auto Shazam mode continuously identifies music in the background. Available on Android and iOS, it bridges the gap between passive listening and active music discovery.
8. SoundCloud: Discover new music from artists around the world
SoundCloud is a globally recognized music streaming platform that celebrates independent artists, DJs, and creators. With access to millions of tracks and podcasts, it is a great option for all types of music content.
Users can stream music for free with ads or upgrade to premium tiers, such as SoundCloud Go and Go+, for ad-free listening and offline playback. The app encourages community engagement—listeners can follow artists, like and repost tracks, create playlists, and comment directly on songs.
Artists can upload their own music to reach a global audience and monetize through royalties paid by fans. With personalized recommendations and rich discovery tools, SoundCloud connects you to new talent and trends across Android and iOS.
Final thoughts
Choosing the best music app for Android and iOS depends on your listening habits. Streaming fans typically prefer apps with a vast song library, high audio quality, and offline listening capabilities.
However, free users can’t download songs. They will also experience low-quality songs with ads. To remove restrictions, they should upgrade to a premium plan. Paid users can listen to their favorite songs in full quality without distractions.
All apps listed here are perfect for music fans. Select a music app based on your requirements, budget, and the songs you need.
