Which app is good for free song download?
With the rise of music streaming services, it’s easier than ever to find and listen to music online. However, sometimes you may want to download songs to your device for offline listening. There are several apps that allow you to download music for free, each with their own pros and cons.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the most popular free music download apps for iOS and Android devices. We’ll look at what features each app provides, such as library size, sound quality, and offline listening. We’ll also examine the limitations of each service, like ads or restricted number of downloads. Our goal is to help you find the best free option for downloading music based on your needs.
YouTube
YouTube has an enormous music catalog with over 80 million official songs, albums and live performances from artists all over the world (https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9076559?hl=en). You can even find rare or obscure recordings that may not exist on other services. One of the biggest advantages of YouTube is the ability to download songs at no additional cost through YouTube Music.
YouTube Music allows you to download songs at various audio quality levels, from low 48kbps AAC up to high 256kbps AAC (https://www.reddit.com/r/youtubedl/comments/11qkpwj/how_to_download_best_audio_quality_for_selfusage/). 256kbps AAC offers excellent audio quality comparable to other high fidelity services. Downloaded songs can be played offline and are stored locally on your device.
Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services, offering both free and paid subscription options. The free tier allows users to stream Spotify’s entire music catalog on-demand, but with advertisements between songs. One major limitation of Spotify’s free service is that it does not allow any offline downloads of songs. Listening requires an internet connection at all times.
For offline listening capabilities, users must upgrade to Spotify Premium. Premium members can download up to 10,000 tracks across 5 different devices “Listen offline” – Spotify. Downloads expire after 30 days unless you reconnect to the internet to verify your Premium subscription. Many Spotify users have requested an increased download limit or unlimited offline downloads as a Premium feature, but the 10,000 song cap remains in place “10000 Song Download Limit” – r/spotify. Premium allows offline listening, but still places limits compared to purchasing and owning music files.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a popular free music streaming service that focuses on building a community around emerging artists, remixes, and podcasts (https://help.soundcloud.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003565708-Enabling-downloads-for-your-track). With over 200 million tracks available, SoundCloud caters to underground music scenes and allows artists to share, promote, and monetize their original content.
SoundCloud has a few options for downloading tracks. Basic users are limited to 100 downloads per track while SoundCloud Pro and Pro Unlimited users have unlimited downloads for their tracks (https://help.soundcloud.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003561488-Unable-to-enable-downloads-for-a-track). Artists can enable downloads when uploading tracks or playlists if their account is eligible (https://help.soundcloud.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003561728-Enabling-downloads-when-uploading-a-playlist). So while downloads are available, SoundCloud limits how many can be downloaded based on your account type.
DatPiff
DatPiff is an essential website for hip-hop fans looking to download the latest mixtapes. With an exclusive focus on hip-hop, DatPiff provides a platform for both established and up-and-coming rappers to share their mixtapes. Users praise DatPiff for its extensive library of mixtapes spanning mainstream and underground hip-hop. According to one Reddit user, “Datpiff is where underground rappers first release they’re music on, so its an official site.”
In terms of quality, DatPiff offers high-quality MP3 downloads up to 320kbps for free. As one reviewer on SiteJabber states, “I have been using DatPiff since high school. Used to download latest mixtapes and sell them to my friends. Always updated with the latest mixtapes. I highly recommend.” DatPiff is thus a go-to source for free, high-quality hip-hop mixtape downloads.
NoiseTrade
NoiseTrade is a unique platform that allows users to download free music in exchange for their email address. The site is affiliated with Paste Magazine and aims to connect artists directly with fans. Here’s how it works:
Artists and labels can upload their music to NoiseTrade and offer free downloads in exchange for email signups. There is no limit on the number of songs or albums you can download. The artist gets your email address and can market to you directly. In return, you get legal, high-quality MP3 downloads completely free.
This model benefits both the artists, who gain a fan’s contact info and can sell merchandise or concert tickets, and the fan, who gets free music downloads. Everything is legal, since the artist has agreed to provide the free downloads. There are tens of thousands of songs available across all genres.
So if you don’t mind providing your email in exchange for free tunes, NoiseTrade is a great way to expand your music library at no cost. You can download as many songs as you want with no limits. Just be prepared for some emails from the artists after you sign up!
Free Music Archive
The Free Music Archive is a platform that provides free downloads of curated, high-quality, legal audio tracks. Their focus is on supporting and showcasing independent artists across many genres like blues, classical, country, electronic, hip-hop, folk, jazz, kids/family, pop, reggae, rock, and more.
All of the music on Free Music Archive is available for free downloads under Creative Commons licenses. This means you can freely use the tracks for non-commercial purposes as long as you properly credit the artists. The audio quality of the downloads is quite good, offering high-bitrate MP3 as well as lossless FLAC downloads.
In total, Free Music Archive offers over 100,000 tracks for download from thousands of independent artists around the world. It’s a great destination for legally obtaining free music with a focus on promoting independent creations.
Jamendo
Jamendo is an online music platform that offers free music downloads under Creative Commons licenses [1]. By default, all music uploaded to Jamendo is available for users to download for free. However, artists can choose to disable free downloads if they wish [2].
Jamendo has two main licensing models:
- The Jamendo License allows users to download and share the music for free, as long as attribution is given to the artist.
- The Jamendo Commercial License allows businesses and brands to use the music in commercial projects by paying a fee. Rates start at €30 per track.
By default, all music on Jamendo is available under the free Jamendo License. Artists can also choose to make their music available under the paid Commercial License in order to open up additional licensing opportunities.
Comparisons
When comparing the various free music download platforms, there are some key differences in strengths and weaknesses to consider.
YouTube has a massive library of user-uploaded content, making it easy to find almost any song. However, downloading from YouTube usually results in lower audio quality since videos are compressed. There are also concerns around copyright violations if downloading unauthorized content (source).
Spotify offers high quality audio and playlists for free users. The major limitation is you can only play songs in shuffle mode and cannot download for offline listening without a premium subscription. Spotify also lacks more obscure or independent music compared to sites like Bandcamp or Jamendo (source).
SoundCloud has a huge collection of remixes, mashups and lesser known artists. However, the free version has ads and limits how much you can listen to without paying. Downloading songs can also be difficult with limited options (source).
Overall, sites like Jamendo, NoiseTrade and Bandcamp offer the most flexibility for legal and high-quality free music downloads. But you’ll need to dig deeper for mainstream hits. YouTube and SoundCloud are better for remixes and indie music.
Recommendations
When it comes to choosing the best free music and song downloading apps, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Library size – Some apps like Spotify have huge libraries with millions of songs, while others are more niche.
- Quality – The audio quality can vary, with some apps offering high fidelity and others lower quality streams.
- Device compatibility – Make sure the app works on your phone, computer, or other devices.
- Offline listening – Some apps allow you to download songs for offline listening, which is useful if you have limited data.
- Advertising – Free apps often have ads, so look for ones with non-intrusive ads or ad-free paid options.
Based on these factors, here are my top recommendations for free music apps:
For the largest free streaming library – Use Spotify. With over 80 million songs, this app can’t be beaten for sheer variety and catalogue size.
For free offline listening – Try SoundCloud. You can download remixes, DJ sets, and other tracks to your device for offline listening.
To discover new and indie music – Check out NoiseTrade and Free Music Archive, which offer free songs and albums from rising and unsigned artists.
For copyright-free music – Jamendo has a library of free music licensed under Creative Commons that you can use for videos, podcasts, or other projects.
The best free music app depends on your specific needs. Evaluate which features are most important to you, and match them up with an app from this list to suit your preferences.
