Ranking updated
Best music apps in 2026
To listen for free, start with Spotify or SoundCloud; offline downloads and no ads come with a subscription in Spotify Premium, YouTube Music Premium, Apple Music or Deezer Premium. YouTube Music adds live performances, covers and remixes. To make music yourself, GarageBand on iPhone and BandLab are free studios, and Suno writes a whole song with AI from one line of text. Details below.
How we picked: a music app either plays music or makes it. For listening we checked each app’s own store description for what is free and what needs a subscription (offline, no ads); for making music, for what you can record and create without paying.
Free music apps and what a subscription adds
Spotify streams music and podcasts for free; Premium adds downloads for offline listening and audiobooks. SoundCloud Free plays independent and established artists, and SoundCloud Go or Go+ removes ads and adds offline. YouTube Music has personal mixes and music you will not find elsewhere, such as live performances and covers; Music Premium adds ad-free, background play and downloads. Apple Music is ad-free with synced lyrics and offline downloads, and Deezer Premium gives ad-free listening, offline mode and on-screen lyrics.
Making your own music
GarageBand turns iPhone and iPad into touch instruments and a recording studio with Live Loops and a free sound library. BandLab is a free mobile studio to record vocals, make beats and mix, with a drum machine, sampler and looper and collaboration with other creators. Suno makes a full song with AI from a text prompt, a hummed tune or a tapped beat, on a subscription.
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price | Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpotifyApp StoreGoogle Play | free listening and playlists | iOS, Android | free; Spotify Premium | with Premium |
| YouTube MusicApp StoreGoogle Play | live versions, covers and remixes | iOS, Android | free; Music Premium | with Music Premium |
| Apple MusicApp StoreGoogle Play | ad-free listening with lyrics | iOS, Android | subscription | yes |
| DeezerApp StoreGoogle Play | personal mixes and lyrics | iOS, Android | free to download; Deezer Premium | with Premium |
| SoundCloudApp StoreGoogle Play | new and independent artists | iOS, Android | free; Go and Go+ | with Go |
| GarageBandApp Store | a free studio on iPhone and iPad | iOS | free | making music |
| BandLabApp StoreGoogle Play | a free studio with collaboration | iOS, Android | free; Membership | making music |
| SunoApp StoreGoogle Play | a whole song with AI | iOS, Android | free to download; subscription | making music |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free music app?
Spotify and SoundCloud both play music for free; offline listening needs Spotify Premium or SoundCloud Go.
Which app lets me make music for free?
GarageBand on iPhone and iPad and BandLab on iOS and Android are free music studios; Suno writes songs with AI on a subscription.