Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Best music apps for your smartphone (iPhone, Android, or Windows)

If you lump them all together, there are probably no fewer than a zillion different music apps on Google Play, the App Store, and Windows Phone Store combined. Those aren't exact figures, but based on Digital Trends' own independent research, we estimate that the number is somewhere between a zillion and a jillion. So as a smartphone user, you have access to just about any type of music program imaginable, from Internet radio apps to guitar tuners, and everything in-between. But unfortunately your smartphone has a limited amount of space, so you've got to be choosy. You can't download the entire zillion apps (yet), so we've dug up the best music apps available for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone.

It should be noted, however, that the number of music apps available varies greatly from store to store. Apple's App Store easily has the most, followed closely by Google Play — but the Windows Store is currently anemic when it comes to music apps. As such, you'll find that the following list features proportionately more iOS and Android apps than those for Windows Phone.

Here are picks for the best music apps for your smartphone, whether you're looking to simply listen to music or create it. Additionally, check out our top picks for the best Best iPhone Apps, Best Android Apps, and Best Windows Phone Apps if mere music apps are not enough.

This article has been updated since it was originally published on March 19, 2013 to reflect changes in the music app space. Staff writer Brandon Widder contributed to this guide.

Songza

iOS | Android| Windows Phone

Free

In the case of Songza, the mood sets the music. The app showcases high-quality audio spanning numerous genres and allows you to choose from a variety of curated stations based on the time of day and specific scenario, whether it's working out, driving, or cooking.

Rdio

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

Touting more than 20 million tracks and unlimited streaming, Rdio offers everything from classic hits and tending new releases from all your favorite artists. You can also follow artists and prominent taste marker, or curate a special playlist with friends.

Google Play Music

iOS | Android

Free

As expected, Google Play Music grants you full access to your online music collection on the go. The app is clean, lined with handpicked playlists and custom radio stations, and even presents smart recommendations based on your individual taste.

Shazam

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

Ever heard a song and wished you knew what it was called or who recorded it? Shazam detects songs and television shows in a matter of seconds, proving purchasing options, lyrics, and a convenient means of streaming the tracks via Spotify once recognized.

Spotify

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

Spotify is the king of streaming at $10 a subscription. The mobile app boasts the same functionality as its desktop counterpart, allowing you stream single tracks or entire albums and create custom playlists culled from an extensive catalog.

Amazon Cloud Player

iOS | Android

Free

Amazon may have been late to the game, but its streaming app is one of the best. It allows you to access your entire Cloud Player library, including uploaded songs and those you purchases on the site, and provides additional options for creating and editing playlists.

Vevo

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

MTV may be dead, but Vevo still offers a remarkable selection of premiere music videos within its app. You can also create genre-spanning playlists and steam live musical performances, or simply browse Vevo's handpicked selection of HD videos.

TuneIn Radio

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

TuneIn Radio grants you access to more than 100,000 live radio stations from around the globe. The app offers a bevy of local content as well, providing on-demand streams encompassing sports, news, talk shows, music, current events, among other offerings.

Listener

iOS

Free

More apt for playing music than discovering it, Listener provides an intuitive method of playing tracks housed on your iOS device. The app relies solely on gesture-based commands, meaning you merely need to swipe and tap to control audio playback.

Soundcloud

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

Soundcloud is a rabid community of musicians, bands, and the like. The app retains all the hallmarks of the full site, allowing you to search for new artists to follow, listen to songs in your feed, and even record and post your own audio on the go.

Pandora

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

Pandora is a mainstay of the streaming realm despite its dwindling user base. The service curates custom radio stations utilizing advanced algorithms based on a specific track or artist, delivering songs catered toward you that only get better with feedback.

Soundrop.fm

iOS | Android

Free

Soundrop picks up where Turntable.fm left off. The mobile app places listenes into genre and situation-specified rooms using Spotify, while encouraging them to add tracks, upvote songs, and chat among one another. Rooms are diverse — as are the people.

Beats Music

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

We prefer Spotify, but the like-minded Beats can't be ignored. A subscription to the fledgling streaming competitor costs $10, but you're granted access to 20 million songs. Options for listening, sharing via Facebook, and creating and editing playlists come standard.

Songkick Concerts

iOS | Android

Free

Keeping track of local shows isn't always easy. Songkick scans your music library for your favorite artists, conveniently alerting you and providing venue, line-up, and ticket information whenever a band you're following decides to play a show near you.

iHeartRadio

iOS | Android | Windows Phone

Free

Covering everything from country and hip-hop to pop and news, iHeartRadio makes streaming live AM/FM stations simple. Additionally, it lets you select music fit for your mood and build your own station from a catalog pushing more than 450,000 different artists.

The best apps for creating music

GarageBand

iOS

Free

The mobile GarageBand isn't so different than its desktop brethren. You can play and loop a variety of instruments, from cello to drums, using your iPhone's touchscreen display. You can even tweak the tempo, time signature, and chords in the process.

Musyc

iOS

Free

Featuring a realistic physics engine and Jonas Eriksson's attractive graphics, Musyc's foundation is solely based on the shapes you draw and the way they interact while bouncing on the screen, along with two effects channels and a coupled track mixer.

Magic Piano

iOS | Android

Free

The same team designed Magic Piano as the infamous ocarina app. The free song catalog is robust, encompassing everyone from Image Dragons to Bruno Mars, and you can learn tracks either by playing or watching videos. And new songs are added daily.

Caustic

iOS | Android

$10

Rack-mounted synthesizers and samplers inspired Caustic, and as such, it's a bit technical. However, you can choose, play, and customize 10 synths ranging from drum machines and modular devices to multi-harmonic pads and 8-channel vocoders. Again, it's technical.

DJ Studio 5

Android

Free

Turntables that fit in your pocket are hard to come by. With DJ Studio 5, you can mix, remix, scratch, loop, pitch, and record your music using two virtual turntables> Hell, you can even save and post the final mixes to SoundCloud when you finish.

PocketBand Pro

Android

$10

Equipped with an arsenal of mixing synths, drums, audio recordings, and samplers, PocketBand Pro lets you create high-quality tracks as a sequence of loops. Think of it as a stripped-down digital audio workstation, one with an emphasis on collaboration.

Did we miss any of your favorite music apps? Be sure to tell us about them in the comments below!

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