Best Music Apps of Current Time That Can Give You

Changing with the times seems only constant in the universe and the music industry has not gone not beyond that. In the 90’s and 00’s, it was all about vinyl and cassettes. It was ‘cool’ in popular culture. Now print of those classic media on your t-shirt is cool, maybe for the retro vibe. But with time, technology has come a long way and the listening habit has worked as a driver. In the meantime, the world saw an economic recession and the crisis henceforth. 

You can’t expect the market to be friendly also. The listeners had to pay a large sum while buying the music CDs and DVDs. But it was not always pocket-friendly. To gain a large revenue, the companies had to reach a large population. The music market resorted to introducing something that can be as handy as mobile phones. From there, music apps received the due interest. For making it pocket-friendly, there are both version-free and premium memberships. 

If the cases had been that much simpler, the large music streaming companies could’ve been the ultimate frontrunner. In the free versions even, there are multiple factors that have wrecked the market monopoly. In this article, you will also learn about the best music apps available in the market and the factors that have made music apps acceptable to a larger mass. 

What to Look For When Choosing the Best Music App Available 

Availability of quality materials in non-paid version

There is nothing called free lunch but you can avail the starters at least. But you can get more than starters when talking about the free music listening experience. There are stalwarts such as Apple Music or Prime Music from Amazon, on the other hand, Spotify and the other ‘Spotify-minded’ apps can give you free music listening experience to some extent. 

Number of ads 

The sole differences between paid and non-paid music apps are basically the music quality and the ads in the channel. When you realize that the revenue has to be collected from somewhere, you try to manage the ads while listening to music. But there are some apps that activate the paid membership after the closure of the trial period. You should be wary of such apps. 

Intruding effect of choices

If you are an occasional listener then you would preferably go for the free music apps whereas if music is on your daily list, then by perception, you will choose the paid version. This is financially justified also. Therefore, you should notice the qualities you’re receiving in the name of the paid or free version. In the article, these parameters of the music apps will also be discussed. 

1. Spotify 

1. When the name of the free music app is aired, in some way, there will be Spotify. This app is not completely free but you can avail almost every facility of this app for free. Just you have to be patient enough to suffer through their much-loathed ads. 
2. This app has a vibrant collection of music, podcasts, and stand-up comedies. These are just to name a few but the subcategories are huge. The streaming quality is also something to fall for, even in the free version. 
3. The user interface is also sleek. You don’t need any guide to move through various options on Spotify. Rather, Spotify provides you with suggestions based on your listening habit. Therefore, you don’t need to shuffle between the options too much. 
4. You can go on with your free version of the app after the trial version is over. You can avail of the premium version at any time. 

This app is very popular due to its over the top of facilities in the free version. 

Subscription rate

Talking about premium membership, you can get it by paying just 25 rs for a week. In the case of a family subscription, you have to pay 179 rs to keep activated 6 accounts. There is an offer in subscription for the students also. For international users, it is about 4.99 USD monthly after the trial period of 1 month. You can cancel your subscription at any time. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spotify.music&hl=en_US&gl=US&label=sp_cid%3A017ad31acdaeeaa08465a1dfd2c4bd3d&_branch_match_id=1171749100729199765&utm_source=Web&utm_campaign=DEFAULT&utm_medium=%2Fdownload%20page&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXLy7IL8lMq9TLyczL1g8xLPP2MPMussxMss9JTErNsS0uiE%2FOTFE1djQwNE9MMTZMTE5JTE1NTDSwMDEzTTRMSUsxSjZJSjFOAQAkLLCfUAAAAA%3D%3D

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spotify-discover-new-music/id324684580?label=sp_cid%3A017ad31acdaeeaa08465a1dfd2c4bd3d&_branch_match_id=1171749100729199765&utm_source=Web&utm_campaign=DEFAULT&utm_medium=%2Fdownload%20page&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBuwqAIBQA0K9pTU2tCCKaWhrb4z4URSlBl%2F6%2Bc0JrpS5C1PK26L8%2BxyeJYC%2Bk4zxTwC0DurzWclPkTu9STcBaATE4ByBnM1pQ7Hkgg6z5B0LHu59QAAAA

For Windows users: https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/spotify-music-and-podcasts/9NCBCSZSJRSB?hl=en-in&gl=in&cid=spotifyweb-windows10-store-direct&rtc=1

2. YouTube Music 

1. YouTube has inflicted double whammies for the apps like Spotify by introducing not only the streaming option YouTube but also YouTube Music. 
2. The advantage of YouTube music is you will have a lesser amount of ads. The collection is also huge. Further, ease of use is on the side of YouTube Music. You can find a varied collection of classical music to pop music without paying a single penny. 
3. The reach of YouTube has helped the music app to the zenith. There has been an argument over the sound quality and online downloading version. The streaming rate of YouTube Music has changed from 128 kbps to 256 kbps but the problem is still there. 

Quality

The streaming quality of YouTube Music still lags in the performance. 256 kbps bit rate has not saved the face overall. 

Membership option

Still, if you want to get a premium membership, you have to spend 10 USD a month. By this, you will get fewer ads and downloading on higher bit rates for offline listening. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=youtube+music&c=apps&hl=en&gl=US

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/youtube-music/id1017492454

3. JioSaavn

1. JioSaavn can provide you with a large variety of songs from various languages of India. The regional content of JioSaavn is worth a try. 
2. With the regional content, there are obviously content from international artists also on the platform. The lucid interface helps you to hop on various segments of the app easily. 
3. Another presentation that makes JioSaavn stand out is ‘Saavn originals’. These are basically podcasts from individuals from various ends or subjects of our cultural society. 

Quality and subscription rate

Overall, the JioSaavn app gives you quality products without paying a nickel. Still, if you don’t want disturbance from the advertisements, you can opt for the Pro version. In India, you can get it for as low as 99 rs. monthly and yearly, the price is 749 rs. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jio.media.jiobeats&hl=en_IN

For iOS users: https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/jiosaavn-formerly-jiomusic/id441813332?mt=8

4. Gaana

1. Gaana also offers you a large pool of regional content from the Indian background. Rich content from various regional languages will not let you be grabbed by boredom. The section on Indie-pop gives you a distinct experience. 
2. Gaana has introduced a voice assistant by which you can order to play any song or select any genre of your choice. 
3. Gaana also has the revenue model from the ads and it has a subscription offer to wade off the ads. 

Quality and subscription rate

Gaana app can be your choice if you want to install a less bulky app for your smartphone and you have to choose between JioSaavn and Gaana. A monthly subscription for this app is available at 99 rs. Whereas a yearly subscription is 299 rs. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gaana

For iOS users: https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/gaana-music-songs-radio/id585270521?mt=8

5. Wynk Music

1. Wynk Music was introduced by Airtel. This app may be bound to bring back memories of past times as this app is the first in the lot to launch the downloading option. Though for some reason only, it is available to Airtel users only. 
2. Having a background of Indian origin, the Wynk app also provides a great collection of regional songs. The streaming platform has majorly used the collection of 60 or 70’s Bollywood songs for increasing its popularity. 
3. Other parameters such as HD music streaming or personalized lists of songs are available on this platform. 

Quality and subscription rate

Most of the features of the Wynk Music app are available to Airtel service users. Such as you can’t stream unlimited songs on the Wynk Music app if your phone network connection is from another service provider except Airtel. The subscription rate for 1 month of a premium account is 49 rs whereas for a year it is 399 rs. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bsbportal.music&hl=en_IN

For iOS users: https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/wynk-music/id845083955?mt=8

6. Amazon Prime Music

1. Amazon Prime Music is included in the Amazon Prime subscription. So you can not expect any free streaming on the Amazon Prime Music platform. 
2. Amazon Prime Music has not reached that level where Spotify or YouTube music is stable. Further, Amazon Prime Music is not a separate entity, you can only get this if you subscribe to the overall Amazon Prime Video subscription. 
3. Amazon Prime Music has entered into the service lately and the catalog of the music is also low in number compared to Spotify. Still, the music quality in the app is at par with the quality Spotify offers. 
4. The user interface and the presence of Amazon Cloud have increased the quality of the service. 

Quality and subscription rate

The lack of a separate presence of Amazon Prime Music is a major flaw. The subscription rate of the Amazon Prime service is 9.99 USD monthly. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.mp3&hl=en&gl=US

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/amazon-music-songs-podcasts/id510855668

7. Deezer

1. Deezer is one of the first entries in the league of music apps in the world. 
2. The app has many constraints such as low audio quality or lots of ads in the free version but this streaming app has the largest collection ever among all the giants of this race. Even the app is constantly evolving its services such as it has added the service named ‘Tune My Music’. With this, you can import your favorite music from other platforms to Deezer. 
3. It has recently added 360 Reality Audio in its streaming quality that is at par with Dolby Atmos. 360 Reality Audio can be utilized using your home – speakers also. 
4. The Deezer app has added live performances from various international artists 

Quality and subscription rate

Recently, Deezer has decreased the subscription rate to 14.99 USD on a monthly basis. The app is available as pre-installed in Apple’s own HomePod and HomePod Mini. On Apple Watch also, you can download Deezer tracks offline too. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=deezer.android.app&hl=en&gl=US

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deezer-music-player-podcast/id292738169

8. Apple Music

1. Apple Music is already popular among iOS users. The platform has been used by several famous artists to release their albums directly. Therefore, you can expect quality material on the app. 
2. The app has a large collection of songs, podcasts, instrumentals, and shows. Lyrics of the songs are also available on the platform. 
3. Streaming from various radio stations is also available on the Apple Music app. 
4. The timeline of a free subscription is also longer – around 3 months. 

Quality and subscription rate

The premium subscription fee for the Apple Music app is 120 per month for any individual whereas, for students, it is 60 rs per month. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apple.android.music&hl=en

For iOS users: https://www.apple.com/apple-music/

9. Hungama

1. Hungama is famous for a varied collection that ranges from regional content to Bollywood songs from the 1970s or 1980s.
2. To increase its popularity, the company has introduced a point system where the users can earn points and from those, you can watch videos and all the other things available on this platform. 
3. Even the points can be used to get the Pro account that can be used to download premium content without spending bucks. 
4. You can get the lyrics of the songs as well from this platform. You can use the subscription on 5 different devices. 

Quality and subscription rate

You can get a purely Indian vibe from this app. The subscription fee is 99 rs monthly. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hungama.myplay.activity&hl=en_IN&pli=1

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/hungama-music-songs-radio/id414009038

10. SoundCloud 

1. In SoundCloud, you can also upload your own music. On this app, you can find music from emerging or newcomer artists. These factors have made the app distinct. 
2. As per available data, on SoundCloud you can find interesting material always as every minute, audio files of 10-plus hours are uploaded. 
3. On the iPhone, you can set your own customized playlist and share it with your peers on SoundCloud. 
4. On SoundCloud, you can set up your own account, create your own playlist, and access to every facility by getting a subscription. On SoundCloud, you can also avail the offline listening by using the premium account. 

Quality and subscription rate

SoundCloud is one of the most used platforms by upcoming artists. That is the reason you can get interesting and evolving materials on this platform. The mid-tier plan for SoundCloud is available for 4.99 USD monthly and the popular Go+ membership is available for 9.99 USD monthly. 

Download From

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.soundcloud.android

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/soundcloud/id336353151

11. iHeartRadio

1. This is mainly a radio app where you can get your favorite songs, tunes, podcasts, and genres in one place. 
2. This app can provide you with songs from across the global regions from the 80s and 90s and from various genres. 
3. You can set alarms and a daily schedule of listening to songs in the app. You can also set any radio station as your favorite and set an alarm based on that. 
4. You can get the lyrics of the songs as well as a large amount of information related to the songs in this app. 

Quality and subscription rate

The signup cost from the Google Play store is 4.99 USD monthly and from the iOS app, the signup cost is 5.99 USD per month. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clearchannel.iheartradio.controller

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/app/iheartradio/id290638154

12. TuneIn

1. TuneIn has been prescribed as one of the substitutions for iHeartRadio. In this very app also, you can search for any radio station in a particular region. 
2. You can also search for any particular song or artist in the search option and in the search results, you can get the list of radio stations that have played that particular song or that artist’s song in the region. 
3. You can avail push notifications from your favorite radio station on the platform and you can get updates from your favorite live matches and podcasts. 
4. You can connect your Alexa device to TuneIn radio also. 

Quality and subscription rate

TuneIn radio is a great substitute for other online radio or music apps. For Amazon Prime subscribers, the premium membership would cost you 7.49 USD for a month, or for non-Amazon Prime subscribers, it costs you 9.99 USD for a month. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tunein.player

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/app/tunein-nfl-radio-podcasts/id418987775

13. LiveOne

1. LiveOne is the reformed form of Slacker Radio. You can guess by that name if you haven’t already heard the name of Slacker Radio. 
2. In the trial version, you can get only the online radio service but with the subscription, you can get the music on demand or the offline radio service. 

Quality

If you want to feel Slacker radio, you should subscribe to LiveOne radio. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.slacker.radio

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/liveone-music/id298307011

14. Coke Studio

1. Coke Studio is already quite famous for its creations in the independent or regional music genre. In this app, you can find an exclusive range of such content. 
2. Coke Studio also has its YouTube channel but on the app, you can surf all those behind-the-scenes materials from the production house. 
3. You can also get details about the performing artists. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coca_cola.cokestudiopk&hl=en_IN

For iOS users: https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/coke-studio/id1033493336?mt=8

15. Pandora

1. This is another app that provides a great collection of artist-based radio stations. 
2. You can rate the songs of your choice and the app will show you the songs based on your preference or liking. 
3. You can get podcasts from various individuals and prefer any artist and add that artist to your favorite list. 

Quality 

This app has one shortcoming and that is the number of songs that you can skip every day is fixed. And in many countries, Pandora is also not available. 

Download From:

For Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandora.android

For iOS users: https://apps.apple.com/app/pandora-music/id284035177

In the list of apps, you can see a large number of apps that are from the radio background. The reason for the popularity of these apps is that it carries a great source of alternatives. With the change of your mood, you can always shift to new songs or channels. Spotify’s fame skyrocketed for providing a large pool of alternatives and that too, in a free version. Therefore, next time you have to tune in to a new music app, remember these factors and opt for any app from the above list.