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Streaming and downloads determine how you access music today, and free options work best when the app clearly supports offline listening or artist-enabled downloads with simple storage controls.
In this blog, you get an unbiased look at safe free music download apps, important rules, and practical steps to keep your device and library clean.
You will learn where offline listening is allowed, how free tiers differ from trials, and what to watch for in permissions. Continue reading to compare options you can use confidently.
Free options work when an app clearly supports offline listening, or you choose catalogs where artists allow downloading. If you want a broader overview, compare leading music streaming apps or see which music apps without ads suit your style.
Key takeaways
- Free options work when the app offers official offline saves or the artist allows downloads.
- Check permissions and policies before you tap Download.
- iPhone and Android both support offline listening inside compliant apps.
- Artist enabled catalogs and Creative Commons releases are reliable ways to grow a free library.
Best app to download music for free
1. Audiomack
Audiomack is a free music app with a large indie and hip hop catalog and an offline button for tracks, albums, and playlists. You can listen offline and follow artists who post new music first on the platform.
- Fast offline saves for individual songs and playlists
- Fresh mixtapes and singles from rising artists
- Catalog skews toward hip hop and Afrobeats
- Popular label releases vary by region
2. TREBEL
TREBEL is a free music app that allows you to download songs for offline listening, supported by ads. The service offers offline playback without requiring a paid subscription.
- Offline playback on free plan
- Large label catalog per publisher claims
- Ads and occasional wait timers
- Availability varies by region and label rights
3. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a creator platform where some tracks are available for offline listening with the app’s offline feature, and others allow artist-approved downloads on the web. Free users stream with ads, while offline saves require SoundCloud Go.
- Deep indie selection and remixes
- Artists control offline availability per track
- Offline saves need a paid plan in most cases
- Track availability changes by uploader settings
4. Jamendo
Jamendo offers free music under permissive licenses for personal listening, with clear download buttons on many tracks and albums. It is a good choice when you want completely free catalog access.
- Legal downloads under Creative Commons or direct permission
- Simple download flow on web and app
- Limited mainstream artists
- Metadata consistency varies by uploadz
Platform: Web.
5. Bandcamp
Bandcamp lets you buy music and download it for offline listening inside the Bandcamp app. Many artists also share free tracks or offer name-your-price releases. The mobile app supports offline playback of items in your collection.
- High quality files after purchase
- Direct artist support with occasional free releases
- Most downloads require purchase
- Library lives inside your Bandcamp account
6. Audius
Audius is a community-driven music app where artists can allow downloads, and you can save content for offline listening in the mobile app. It is popular for electronic, hip hop, and creator uploads.
- Artist enabled downloads and offline support
- Emerging producer scene
- Mainstream catalog coverage is limited
- App features still evolving
7. Amazon Music
Amazon Music allows Prime members to download All Access Playlists, while full song and album downloads require a paid Amazon Music plan. Offline playback is available in the app once items are saved.
- Easy offline for Prime curated playlists
- Large catalog with paid plans
- Prime plan limits offline to All Access Playlists
- Some release windows vary by license
8. Apple Music
Apple Music supports adding to your library and downloading for offline use within the Music app on iPhone. The download button appears on albums, playlists, and tracks.
- Clean offline workflow and library sync
- Lossless and Dolby Atmos on supported devices
- Offline requires an active subscription
- Family sharing rules govern device limits
9. YouTube Music
YouTube Music offers downloads for Premium users, along with Smart Downloads that refresh recent plays. Free users stream with ads.
- Smart Downloads maintain a rolling offline set
- Huge catalog, including live versions and covers
- Downloads require Premium in the US
- Music videos may have regional restrictions
10. Spotify
Spotify allows downloads for Premium users, limits the number of devices, and requires an online check every 30 days to keep downloads active. Free users can download podcasts only.
- Clear offline management by playlist and album
- Strong discovery to refill downloads
- Music downloads are Premium only
- Offline device limits apply
11. Deezer
Deezer supports offline mode for paid plans, allowing users to download albums and playlists to mobile and desktop apps. To play offline, enable the mode in settings.
- Offline across mobile and desktop
- HiFi tier for higher quality
- Offline is not available on the free plan
- Some users report device specific quirks
Platform: iOS, Android, desktop.
12. TIDAL
TIDAL offers offline mode on mobile, allowing downloads of albums, playlists, and videos. You control what is saved and can remove items to free up space.
- Lossless and high resolution audio tiers
- Offline toggle makes airplane travel easy
- No free tier for offline music
- Data sizes are larger on HiFi layers
13. Pandora
Pandora provides offline listening for Plus and Premium subscribers, offering automatic offline stations for Plus and on-demand downloads for Premium.
- Simple offline for stations on Plus
- More control on Premium
- Free tier does not support offline
- Station based flow may feel limited for albums
14. Napster
Napster supports saving tracks, albums, and playlists for offline listening in the mobile app. Downloads appear in your library for playback without an internet connection.
- Clear download control at album or playlist level
- Mature library tools
- Requires paid subscription
- Region availability varies
15. eSound
eSound provides a free music app with online or offline playback and a discovery feed. The Play Store listing highlights unlimited listening time and offline capability.
- Free playback with playlist tools
- Offline player mode for your saves
- Catalog and rights vary by source
- Occasional ads or prompts
Platform: Android.
16. Fildo
Fildo is described on its site as an Android app that streams audio and supports MP3 and FLAC playback with a downloader component. It is mainly distributed outside official stores.
- Lightweight app with fast search
- File playback flexibility
- Sideloading raises security and policy concerns
- App availability fluctuates by mirror
Platform: Android.
17. 4shared
4shared is a cloud storage app that lets you save files to your device for offline access and stream music within the app. It offers 15 GB of free storage and offline saving to your device.
- Offline save for personal files you upload
- Built in player for audio
- Public file search can surface unlicensed content you should avoid
- Ads in free tier
18. SoundClick
SoundClick is a long-running indie platform offering free MP3 downloads on selected tracks and a mobile app for Android. Many artists allow free downloads or streaming, with charts available to browse.
- Artist enabled free MP3 downloads on select releases
- Deep indie and beats catalog
- App is Android only
- Interface feels basic compared to big streaming services
Platform: Web.
How to choose a free music download app
Choose based on catalog type and how you plan to listen offline. If you want hits, start with a major service’s free plan and check if it allows offline saves; if you want live sets or indie catalogs, pick an artist-enabled source.
Decision points
- Catalog source such as label releases, artist uploads, or live taping communities
- Offline rules on free plan versus paid subscription
- Storage controls by playlist or album
- SD card support on Android
Safety check for free music download apps
Not every app offering free downloads is safe or permitted under platform rules. Confirm the app’s compliance with store policies and whether the downloads are authorized by the rights holder.
Apple prohibits apps that download audio from third-party sources without authorization, and YouTube does not allow downloading unless the service itself provides the option.
What to verify, step by step
- Store listing: Check for a clear offline feature and recent updates.
- Ownership: The app should host its own catalog or connect to a service that permits downloads.
- Download method: Buttons inside the app should trigger downloads without requesting unusual device permissions.
- Permissions check: Review permissions in system settings, then open the app and try the same action within the app. Play Protect can disable or remove harmful apps if it detects abuse.
- Policy fit: If the app copies content from other platforms, skip it. YouTube’s terms prohibit copying or downloading content unless the service authorizes it.
iPhone offline listening rules
On iPhone, an app must implement offline listening according to Apple’s rules, and you use the app’s own download button to save albums or playlists. Apple Music supports adding to your library and downloading for offline playback.
What you need
- A stable Wi-Fi connection for the initial saves.
- Enough storage for the audio files you choose.
Steps
- Add the album, playlist, or track inside the app.
- Tap the download icon, then confirm the item appears in the app’s Downloads or Library.
- In Settings, confirm the app has permission to use Local Network and Background App Refresh only if needed.
- Test playback in Airplane Mode to confirm the download completed.
Android offline listening rules
On Android, services set the limits for offline playback, and some require periodic online checks to keep downloads active. Spotify requires you to go online at least once every thirty days to maintain downloads.
What you need
- Wi-Fi for the initial downloads.
- Room on internal storage or an SD card if supported.
Steps
- Inside the app, choose an album, playlist, or track, then tap Download.
- Open the app’s Downloads section to confirm the item is saved.
- In Android Settings, Storage, verify where files are stored and how much space is left.
- Go online periodically, so the service can refresh licenses.
Conclusion
Free music downloads can be safe and useful when you pick the right app, follow platform rules, and use sources that grant permission for offline listening.
You now have simple rules to evaluate apps, platform specific steps, and legitimate catalogs to try. If you want more neutral audio advice, follow our SoundHub blog for updates on more such apps, and listening tips.
FAQs
1) Which is the best app to download music for free?
For most users, YouTube Music’s free plan streams with ads, while Audiomack or SoundCloud can offer artist approved downloads in specific cases.
2) Which music app is completely free to download?
No major streaming service offers completely free offline downloads in the “free” catalogs appear when artists or labels allow downloads, for example select tracks on SoundCloud or collections in the Live Music Archive.
3) What is the safest free music download?
The safest option is a first-party app with a clear offline feature, recent updates, transparent permissions, and good store reviews.
4) Can I use these apps on both iPhone and Android?
Most of the apps listed are available on both iPhone and Android platforms.
