The best apps available for streaming and downloading audio

The best apps available for streaming and downloading audio

With music streaming as popular as ever and the increase in people listening to podcasts, it’s handy to have an app on your phone that you can use to store all of your audio in one easy to access place. We’ve identified some of the best audio apps currently available to help you decide which one is best for your needs.

Spotify

Available for free with adverts or at £9.99 a month for unlimited streaming and downloads, Spotify is one of the most popular audio apps on the market.

It makes it easy for you to make playlists, listen to podcasts and browse personalised radio stations. Spotify also gives you a Discover Weekly playlist every Monday, offering 30 songs that it thinks you might like, based on your listening history.

You can download Spotify on the App Store and Google Play for free.

Apple Music

If you own an iPhone or another Apple device, Apple Music might be the best app of choice for you.

You can add your own music from your iTunes account, purchase new tracks from the iTunes store, or simply stream and download. Unlike Spotify, there’s no free version available, but the app does offer a variety of price plans, such as discount for students and family streaming.

Apple Music is available on all iPhones from £9.99 a month.

Amazon Music

One of the best for those who already have a Prime membership, Amazon Music offers over 40 million songs available for you to listen to with no ads.

If you have an Amazon Echo device, you can use Alexa with the service to play songs with a simple voice command. It can find songs by title, artist or year, and can even help you locate something that you might only remember the lyrics to.

Amazon Music is £7.99 a month, or included as part of the £79 a year Prime membership.

Deezer

Deezer might not be as popular as the other streaming apps mentioned, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t just as good.

Offering all the usual perks such as offline listening, personalised track lists and family plans, Deezer costs £9.99 a month, with a 30-day free trial available for new listeners.

With 53 million tracks to choose from and a selection of podcasts and live sports, you’re bound to find something to make your ears happy.

Radioplayer

Radioplayer is perfect for those who prefer listening to someone else’s collection of music to making their own.

Available for computers, mobiles and tablets, Radioplayer gives you the ability to listen to any radio station on the go, from BBC Radio 4 to Absolute 80s. There’s no cost involved with this app; all radio stations are free to listen to, and all you need is an internet connection to keep you plugged into your favourite music and podcasts whilst you’re on the move.

Radioplayer is free to download and well worth a listen.