Music is everywhere. While cooking, driving, studying, or simply relaxing after a long day.
But with hundreds of apps promising “free music,” it’s easy to get lost in the noise. So let’s keep this simple.
Here’s your clear, honest guide to the best free music apps for both Android and iOS. You’ll find details like when they were launched, how many users they have, what’s actually free, and whether you can download songs for offline listening.
Why free music apps matter today
Streaming changed everything. You don’t need to fill your phone with MP3s or spend hours searching for a music downloader anymore.
Apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, JioSaavn, and Wynk Music let you stream millions of songs for free legally and safely.
The trick is knowing which apps give real value in their free plan and which ones are worth upgrading for downloads and ad-free listening.
Quick tip before you look for Free Music
- If you’re just exploring new music or playlists, free plans are perfect.
- If you travel a lot or have patchy internet, look for apps that support offline downloads (usually in premium plans).
- Keep an eye on bundles Some telecom or streaming subscriptions include free music access at no extra cost.
1. Spotify
- Launched: October 2008
- Users: Over 700 million worldwide
- Free plan: Stream any song with ads, curated playlists, daily mixes
- Downloads: Only with Premium
- Premium price: ₹139/month
If you love discovering new songs every week, Spotify’s algorithm is unmatched. You can follow artists, create playlists, and share songs easily. On Android and iOS, the app is almost identical: smooth, fast, and always updated.
For free users, you can shuffle playlists and listen to most tracks with short ad breaks. If you want offline songs, you’ll need Premium, but it’s worth it for serious listeners.
2. YouTube Music
- Launched: November 2015
- Users: Over 100 million paid and free users
- Free plan: Stream songs and watch music videos with ads
- Downloads: Only for Premium users
- Premium price: ₹129/month
Think of YouTube Music as the upgrade of old-school YouTube playlists. It pulls both official albums and user-uploaded content, so you can find rare live performances and remixes.
Free users can listen while the app is open. To play in the background or download songs, you’ll need the paid plan. It works equally well on both Android and iOS.
3. JioSaavn
- Launched: March 2018 (rebranded from Saavn)
- Users: Over 100 million downloads
- Free plan: Stream with ads
- Downloads: With JioSaavn Pro
- Premium price: ₹99/month
JioSaavn shines with regional Indian music in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and more. The interface is clean, playlists are solid, and sound quality is decent even on the free tier.
4. Gaana
- Launched: April 2010
- Users: 150+ million
- Free plan: Unlimited streaming with ads
- Downloads: Only on Gaana Plus
- Premium price: ₹99/month
If you love film songs, Gaana is still one of the easiest options. Free users can stream everything but need data. For offline listening, the Plus plan unlocks downloads.
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5. Wynk Music
- Launched: September 2014
- Users: Over 100 million downloads
- Free plan: Stream songs and playlists; limited skips
- Downloads: With premium
- Premium price: ₹49/month
Wynk is fast, lightweight, and surprisingly good for data efficiency. It also has caller tune integration for Airtel users.
6. Amazon Music
- Launched: September 2007
- Users: 55+ million globally
- Free plan: Included with Prime (limited songs)
- Downloads: For Prime or Unlimited users
- Premium price: Included with Prime/Unlimited plan extra
If you already use Amazon Prime, you might not need a separate app Prime Music offers a decent collection for free as part of your membership.
7. Apple Music
- Launched: June 2015
- Users: 100+ million subscribers
- Free plan: None, but 1-month trial available
- Downloads: Available for all subscribers
- Premium price: ₹99/month
Apple Music focuses on high-quality audio and exclusive artist releases. On Android, it’s good; on iPhones, it’s perfect.
8. Audiomack
- Launched: February 2012
- Users: 10+ million downloads
- Free plan: Unlimited free streaming
- Downloads: Yes, free downloads available for many tracks
- Premium price: ₹89/month for ad-free
Audiomack is one of the few platforms where "free music download" actually means free. Many artists allow you to save MP3s directly, no tricks.
9. SoundCloud
- Launched: August 2007
- Users: 175+ million monthly listeners
- Free plan: Stream with ads, discover indie artists
- Downloads: Some tracks free, others locked
- Premium price: ₹99/month
SoundCloud is where upcoming artists share their first tracks. You’ll find new genres before they go mainstream.
10. Hungama Music
- Launched: 2013
- Users: 50+ million
- Free plan: Stream with ads
- Downloads: With premium
- Premium price: ₹99/month
It’s not as updated as it once was, but Hungama still has a solid Bollywood collection and radio playlists.
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11. Deezer
- Launched: August 2007
- Users: 9+ million
- Free plan: Ad-supported streaming
- Downloads: For Premium users
- Premium price: ₹149/month
Deezer offers “Flow” an endless personalized playlist, a great feature if you like discovering similar tracks.
12. TIDAL
- Launched: March 2015
- Users: ~6 million
- Free plan: Trial only
- Downloads: For paid users
- Premium price: ₹149–₹249/month
If you use high-end headphones and care about studio-quality sound, TIDAL’s HiFi plan is worth testing.
13. Bandcamp
- Launched: September 2008
- Free plan: Free to preview; many artists offer “name your price” downloads
- Downloads: Yes (MP3/FLAC)
- Pricing: Pay per album or song
Bandcamp is different You buy music directly from artists. Many independent musicians let you download songs for free or for a small contribution.
14. Qobuz
- Launched: September 2007
- Free plan: Sample tracks
- Downloads: Buy and keep files
- Premium price: Pay per album
Qobuz offers true high-resolution downloads. It’s more niche but excellent for collectors.
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15. Free Music Archive
- Launched: 2009
- Free plan: All tracks free under Creative Commons
- Downloads: Yes
- Premium price: None
It’s a hidden gem for free, legal MP3 music downloads. especially if you make content and need royalty-free tracks.
16. Mixcloud
- Launched: 2008
- Free plan: Listen to mixes and radio shows
- Downloads: With creator subscriptions
- Premium price: ₹99/month
If you love long DJ sets or chill radio sessions, Mixcloud is your space.
17. Pandora
- Launched: January 2000
- Free plan: Ad-supported radio
- Downloads: Paid only
- Premium price: ₹149/month
Pandora focuses on stations instead of playlists, perfect if you want background music that never ends.
18. Anghami
- Launched: November 2012
- Free plan: Stream with ads
- Downloads: With premium
- Premium price: ₹99/month
It’s an interesting alternative if you like international music mixed with trending hits.
19. Napster
- Launched: 1999 (relaunched later)
- Free plan: None
- Downloads: For premium users
- Premium price: ₹149/month
Napster now works as a paid streaming platform very similar to Deezer and Spotify.
20. iHeartRadio
- Launched: 2008
- Free plan: Stream live radio and shows
- Downloads: Paid users only
- Premium price: ₹99/month
Ideal if you like live radio stations and curated playlists rather than creating your own.
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Best Offline Music Apps/Music Players
When you're off the grid or just want to save data, the best offline music apps/music players are essential.
While most major services like Spotify and YouTube Music require a premium subscription for downloads, some apps are built for this.
From our list, Audiomack and Bandcamp are fantastic as they allow artists to offer free MP3 downloads directly.
Free Music Archive is another great source for downloading legal, free tracks that you can play on any offline player on your phone.
Best free music app for videos
If you're looking for the best free music app for videos, the clear winner is YouTube Music.
Its entire library is built on YouTube's massive video catalog, letting you switch between a song and its official music video with a single tap.
You can find official videos, live performances, and rare remixes all in one place.
Best free music app for global radio
For those who miss the feeling of tuning in, the best free music app for global radio is a must.
From our list, iHeartRadio provides you with access to thousands of live AM/FM stations from around the world.
Pandora, while more of a "station" creator, is also excellent for hands-off, radio-style listening.
For long-form DJ sets and curated radio shows, check out Mixcloud.
Best free music app for podcasts
Your music app doesn't have to be just for music.
The best free music app for podcasts is arguably Spotify.
It has become a massive podcast hub, allowing you to manage your music and your favorite shows in one app, for free. Mixcloud also hosts many talk-based shows and podcast-style mixes.
Android vs iOS: Free Music Apps Comparison
| App | Android | iOS | Free features | Offline downloads |
| Spotify | Yes | Yes | Ad-supported streaming | Premium only |
| YouTube Music | Yes | Yes | Ad streaming + videos | Paid only |
| Apple Music | Yes | Yes | Trials/previews | Paid subscribers |
| Amazon Music | Yes | Yes | Prime subset | Prime/Unlimited |
| JioSaavn | Yes | Yes | Ad-supported | Paid only |
| Gaana | Yes | Yes | Ad tier | Paid downloads |
| Audiomack | Yes | Yes | Free downloads for many tracks | Many artist-enabled downloads |
| Bandcamp | Yes | Yes | Previews & discovery | Download if you buy |
How we test free music apps
We have a clear process for making this list. This is how we check out free music apps:
- Value of the Free Tier: We signed up for the free version of each app. We check to see how annoying the advertising are, what limits there are (such only being able to shuffle or skip a few times), and how much of the music library is really free.
- Library and Variety: We look for a combination of well-known performers, independent bands, regional music (like Bollywood and K-Pop), and less well-known genres.
- Ease of Use: We test the app's discovery tools, including tailored mixes or radio, and make playlists.
- Extra features: like the ability to download files offline (even if you have to pay for them), video integration, podcast support, and options for sound quality.
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Final thoughts
If you just want free songs and streaming, start with Spotify, YouTube Music, or JioSaavn.
If you want real MP3 downloads, try Audiomack or Bandcamp. They let you save files without breaking rules.
And if you’re ready to invest a bit for offline and ad-free listening, even ₹49/month on Wynk or ₹99/month on JioSaavn makes a noticeable difference.
FAQs
Which is the best music app for free?
Spotify, YouTube Music, and JioSaavn are among the best free music apps in 2025. They offer vast libraries, personalized playlists, and offline options with minimal ads. Your choice depends on your region and listening preferences.
What music app is 100% free?
YouTube Music and SoundCloud offer completely free versions with no mandatory subscriptions. However, you may experience occasional ads while streaming. Both apps let you explore millions of tracks without paying.
What music app is 100% free in India?
Wynk Music, JioSaavn, and Gaana provide free access to most songs in India. They include regional tracks, Bollywood hits, and trending playlists at no cost. Ads may appear unless you upgrade to premium.
Is Jio Music free?
Yes, Jio Music (now JioSaavn) offers free streaming for all users. Jio SIM users get additional premium benefits for a limited period. You can listen to songs online without any charge.
Is Wynk Music free?
Wynk Music is free for streaming and downloading songs with an Airtel connection. Non-Airtel users can still use it with limited access or ads. It supports offline playback for selected tracks.
How to get JioSaavn for free?
You can use JioSaavn’s free version by simply signing up with your phone number. Jio users often get complimentary Pro access for a few months. After that, you can continue with the free ad-supported version.
