Listening to music on the go is a beloved pastime for many. Whether commuting, traveling, or simply needing a soundtrack for life‘s moments, streaming songs from our mobile devices brings joy, inspiration and comfort. However, continuous streaming can get costly and isn‘t always possible in areas with spotty service. The ability to download music directly onto our phones is invaluable in these cases.
I‘ve compiled the top 15 music apps across Android and iOS that allow you to easily download songs, albums and playlists. I‘ll overview the key features of each, along with pros, cons and instructions for actually downloading music. Read on to determine which app best fits your needs.
Key Factors for Comparison
When evaluating music download apps, some key factors I assessed included:
- Library size – number of songs available
- Ability to download music for offline listening
- Sound quality of downloads
- Price to subscribe
- Ease of use
Based on these criteria, below are my top recommendations for downloading music across platforms.
1. Spotify
With over 70 million tracks and 3 billion playlists spanning every genre imaginable, Spotify reigns supreme for music downloading capability.
A premium subscription runs $9.99 per month and allows you to download as many songs, albums or curated playlists as you want for offline listening. Downloads are seamless – simply click the download icon next to any track, album or playlist to save for offline mode. Songs download quickly even over slower connections.
In my experience, Spotify‘s library can‘t be beat in terms of depth or variety. Discover weekly playlists actually introduce me to new favorite songs every week based on my listening history. I can also download podcasts which is a major perk.
The user interface is intuitive on both mobile and desktop. Playlists sync easily across devices which enables me to download tracks on my laptop then access them offline from my phone.
Overall for price, features and usability – Spotify remains my top choice. The sole downside is you must maintain the paid subscription to keep downloads, as local files cannot be transferred elsewhere.
How to Download Music on Spotify
Downloading tracks on Spotify takes just a click. Follow these steps:
- Open the Spotify app and log into your account
- Navigate to the song, album, playlist or podcast you wish to download
- Click the download icon next to the track or playlist name
- A green arrow will appear next to downloaded content. This means it is now stored locally on your device for offline listening!
2. Apple Music
As an iPhone user, Apple Music naturally integrates best with my device. A subscription provides access to a library of over 90 million songs, all available to download for offline access.
Priced at $9.99 per month, on par with Spotify, the interface also recommends new artists and playlists matching my taste. Smart playlists update automatically as my listening changes over time.
Downloading songs or albums is no different than on Spotify. Simply find the content and tap the download icon adjacent to the play button. There is no limit on the amount you can download given sufficient storage space.
While Spotify still edges out Apple Music in my book in terms of breadth of offering, for hardcore Apple fans, keeping your music ecosystem within native apps could be preferable. Lossless quality also launched last year for upgraded sound.
How to Download from Apple Music
Apple Music makes downloading music just as easy as its competitor:
- Open the Apple Music app and browse to the song, album or playlist
- Tap the download button (cloud icon with down arrow) next to the track name
- Navigate to Library > Downloads to play saved music in offline mode
3. Amazon Music
Included with an Amazon Prime subscription, Amazon Music grants access to 2 million songs that Prime members can download at no added cost. An additional 50 million songs are available for $7.99 per month if you upgrade to their Unlimited plan.
The app itself is straightforward to navigate. Download any album or playlist with a couple quick taps. There are also expertly curated playlists across many genres to discover new artists.
However, reports indicate Amazon‘s mobile app can be buggy at times. I‘ve noticed songs paused when switching to another app which is disruptive. But accessing downloads after the fact generally works well enough.
For Prime members especially, Amazon Music downloader is probably worth trying out since it comes bundled with other Prime perks. But the library size pales in comparison to category leaders Spotify and Apple.
How to Download Amazon Music
Here is the quick process to save Amazon Music for offline listening:
- Open the Amazon Music app and find a song, album or playlist
- Tap the download icon next to any track or playlist to save locally
- Navigate to Downloads folder to play saved music without an internet connection
Other Top Music Downloading Apps
Beyond the top apps already detailed, additional music platforms that permit song downloads include:
- YouTube Music – Download any video audio as an MP3 file. Stream official songs, albums, playlists and music videos from YouTube‘s expansive catalog after taking out a $9.99 monthly subscription.
- Pandora – Popular internet radio provider that serves up customized stations also lets you download up to 3 stations for offline listening. Paid Pandora Plus members can replay tracks and enjoy higher sound quality.
- SoundCloud – Download the latest tracks from both mainstream artists and undiscovered musicians when you sign up for their $4.99 monthly Go plan. Great source for remixes and niche genres.
- Tidal – Claiming over 80 million tracks, fan favorite for downloading lossless-quality music files when you purchase a $9.99 monthly premium membership.
While the above apps may suit more specific listening interests, for most users I recommend Spotify or Apple Music as best-in-class options. Both furnish endless libraries spanning all genres along with personalized recommendations. Seamless downloader capability makes taking your music on the go a cinch.
Key Takeaways
Listening to music offline by downloading to your smartphone or tablet is a major advantage while traveling, commuting or anytime internet connectivity is limited. I suggest these key tips when seeking a quality app:
- Prioritize larger libraries so you can find more niche content
- Ensure the app downloads formats compatible with your primary device
- Compare overall price beyond just the monthly streaming fee to get best value
- See if student and family pricing plans could offer savings
- Test downloading and interface before committing long-term
Based on number of songs, intuitive interfaces, download convenience and overall user experience – Spotify and Apple Music lead the pack. But explore all the various music app options to pinpoint your perfect match. The ability to access songs and playlists outside of WiFi coverage makes downloading a game changing feature for music lovers.
