Spotify and Pandora Aren’t Your Only Options
Use a free app to stream music from virtually anywhere. While many music services offer apps for Android and iOS, these are our favorites. You’ll be able to explore new artists and listen to the bands you already love. Online radio stations are great if you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for.
01. Stream Music Videos and Live Performances: YouTube Music
What We Like**
– Find content you won’t find anywhere else.
– Live recordings, concert footage, and interviews.
– Build unlimited playlists to share with friends.
What We Don’t Like**
– Premium account for ad-free music and offline listening.
– Need paid account to stream in the background.
YouTube Music provides a vast library of streaming songs and videos from popular artists as well as niche content creators. Its powerful recommendation engine adapts to your tastes, location, and activities. The smart search function helps you find songs even when you don’t know the title. You can enjoy music videos, live recordings, interviews, concert footage, and more.
The basic, ad-supported version is free, while YouTube Music Premium ($10.99 per month) offers ad-free listening, offline access, and audio-only mode.
Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)
02. Stream Your Favorite Music on Any Device: Spotify
What We Like**
– Works on many devices.
– Make an unlimited number of playlists.
– Easy to listen to playlists made by others.
– Excellent Apple Watch integration and features.
What We Don’t Like**
– Shows advertisements.
– Must create a user account to listen.
– Music downloads require a paid account.
Spotify lets you follow artists, sync music from your desktop, and create radio stations based on your interests. You can find music by browsing top lists, new releases, and playlists. Spotify allows you to add songs to your library and create and share playlists. Notifications alert you to new releases and updates to your favorite playlists.
The basic version is free, but Spotify Premium offers ad-free listening, offline access, and more.
Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)
03. Find Up-and-Coming Artists: SoundCloud
What We Like**
– Easy to find new music.
– Lots of content, constantly updated.
– Fast-forward through songs; a rare feature.
– Some music is free to download.
What We Don’t Like**
– You might have trouble finding well-known tracks.
– Requires a user account.
SoundCloud hosts a vast array of audio uploaded by users, including homemade audio and tracks from emerging artists. You can search for music, follow users, and create custom playlists. An account lets you save songs and access them across devices. Subscription options offer ad-free listening, high-quality audio, and offline access.
**Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)
04. Listen to Local Radio Anywhere: TuneIn
What We Like**
– Easy to use, even while driving.
– Includes tens of thousands of live radio stations.
– Includes podcasts.
– Provides a sleep timer.
What We Don’t Like**
– Can’t hear specific songs because it’s a radio service.
– Isn’t ideal if you want only a music player.
– Lots of ads in the free version.
TuneIn allows you to listen to local radio stations from anywhere. It’s a great app for traveling, with a car mode featuring large buttons and voice search. You can access podcasts and sports radio as well. TuneIn Premium offers commercial-free radio and fewer ads.
**Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)
05. Most Popular Music Streaming Service: Pandora
What We Like**
– Start stations based on artists.
– Pre-made stations for different moods, activities, and more.
– Lets you rate songs to fine-tune the music selection.
– Watch ads to skip and play unlimited songs.
**What We Don’t Like**
– A user account is required (it’s free).
– Shows advertisements.
– Limited skips with a free account.
Pandora allows you to enter an artist’s name to create a station that plays similar music. You can rate songs to improve recommendations and bookmark your favorite artists. Paid plans remove ads, enable offline listening, and allow unlimited skips.
**Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)
06. Commercial-Free Podcasts and Radio Stations: iHeartRadio
What We Like**
– Includes music, radio, and podcasts.
– Plays zero commercials.
– Works on a variety of devices.
**What We Don’t Like**
– Must log in before listening to music.
– There’s a daily limit for song skips.
iHeartRadio supports numerous devices and offers music, radio, and podcasts without commercials. You can create music stations, search for stations, and set favorites as presets. Paid plans offer unlimited skips and additional features.
**Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)
## The Best Free Music Apps for iOS and Android in 2024 07. The Successor to Slacker Radio: LiveOne
**What We Like**
– Stream music without a user account.
– Lots of pre-made stations are one tap away.
– Can adjust the audio stream quality.
– Skip up to six songs per day.
**What We Don’t Like**
– Occasional commercials between songs.
– Some features require a paid upgrade.
– Ads in the free version.
LiveOne offers pre-programmed streaming radio stations across various genres. You can create new stations and playlists, and save favorite songs. The free version includes ads and limited skips, while paid upgrades unlock more features.
**Download For:** [iOS](#) | [Android](#)