Free music to listen to online
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If you’re looking for ways to listen to music online for free, there are a variety of great resources available. In this article, I’ll take a close look at what I’ve found to be 15 of the best places to access free music online. I’ve visited each of the websites listed below and listened to a couple of songs on each to check for quality and to see what’s available. Where To Listen to Free Music OnlineThere are tons of websites and apps that offer free music downloads, free streaming services and free internet radio. Unfortunately, not every way to find music online is completely free or legal. Some apps or websites may require paid membership while others provide access to pirated content. Still, there are several ways to find free music online that are completely legal including the resources listed below. Here, you’ll find 15 different apps and websites that provide access to free music online. In the table below, you’ll see a list of those resources. I’ve included information on whether music is available to download or stream (format), if it’s available on an app or a website (platform), the average app rating on the App Store and/or Google Play and what I’ve found to be the best use for each channel.
When you visit one of these websites or download the app, you may have to create a free account to continue. Still, you shouldn’t have to enter any payment information to gain access to the content. Below, you’ll find detailed information on 15 different places where you can legally listen to music online for free. PandoraBest For: Current top hits Pandora is a popular internet radio service that lets users create personalized stations and listen to trending music. To use Pandora, you will have to create an account using your email address and a password. While there are paid memberships available, you can sign up for free to stream music. Once you’ve logged in, you can search for songs and artists or click on “Browse” to check out popular stations. As you find music you like, you can save songs to your collection and build personalized playlists based on specific songs/artists. Unfortunately, the free version of Pandora does include advertisements and puts a limit on how many times you can skip songs. And you can’t download any specific tracks to your computer or phone. Still, this is one of the best resources available for listening to popular licensed music — completely free.
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iHeartRadioBest For: Live radio stations iHeartRadio is a great website or app for listening to live radio stations. You can find local stations or check out stations from around the country. You can also listen to custom radio stations, podcasts, playlists and news. You won’t have to create an account in order to begin listening on iHeartRadio, but you can make one for free to save stations, podcasts and playlists. Whether you decide to create an account or not, you won’t be able to download music from iHeartRadio. When you first visit the website or open the app, you can choose a live radio station to begin streaming, choose an artist on which to build your own station around or find a podcast. you will hear ads occasionally on all platforms unless you decide to get a paid subscription.
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LiveOne.comBest For: Live performances and music news On LiveOne, you’ll mostly find big artists, bands and songs along with interviews and news. While you won’t be able to stream all songs on demand for free due to licensing restrictions, you will be able to create a station of similar tracks/artists from nearly any song. When you use the LiveOne website or app, you can choose from events, music, videos or podcasts. There’s also a tab labeled “My Library” where you can save and share your favorite music if you create a free account. To get started, you can browse stations, genres and original shows in the “Music” tab. You’ll find top charts, playlists and custom stations in this tab. For more entertainment, the “Events” tab provides access to exclusive performances, interviews and music news. Once you’ve found a song, show or series that you’d like to check out, just click “watch” or “listen.”
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SpotifyBest For: Connecting with friends If you’re looking for free music online, you’ve most likely come across Spotify already. This resource is great for streaming popular hits while discovering new favorites. You can keep track of what you’ve recently played, “favorite” songs, add friends, find custom-built playlists or choose a radio station based on an artist, a genre or even your mood. When I checked out Spotify, I saw a big selection of well-recognized artists and songs as well as independent musicians. In addition to music, Spotify offers podcasts, charts and playlists of its most-played songs and information on local upcoming concerts. Unfortunately, Spotify isn’t available in a regular web browser. Instead, you’ll have to visit the site and download the Spotify software or download the Spotify app. You’ll also have to create a free account in order to access any of Spotify’s features. Still, this whole process is free, simple and relatively fast.
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Amazon MusicBest For: Prime members Amazon is an online retailer for nearly anything, but it can also be a resource for free music online, whether you’re a Prime member or not. Amazon Music is a streaming platform and an online music store that offers exclusive perks to Prime members and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers. But even if you don’t belong to one of those programs, there are tons of songs that you can stream and download for free. You can search for free music on Amazon’s website and click “Get Song Free” next to eligible tracks. Additionally, you can open Amazon Music’s web player or app to stream popular playlists and stations. Unfortunately, you’ll have to be a Prime member or Amazon Music Unlimited subscriber to listen to most of these songs offline.
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YouTubeBest For: Watching music videos YouTube is usually the first resource I check if I’m looking for free music online. Most artists and companies upload the newest music tracks and videos to YouTube, and tons of independent streamers have uploaded free music over the years. Now, you can just enter a song title, artist name or keyword to find what you’re looking for. In addition to specific songs that you may be looking for, YouTube is also full of playlists and internet radio stations. I like to search for “lo-fi music” and listen to a live stream for background noise. In addition to streaming and radio, some songs are available to download from YouTube. You can find free music online by visiting YouTube’s website or download the YouTube app for your iOS or Android device.
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JamendoBest For: Finding new independent music Jamendo offers a variety of independent music and several ways to listen. You can search for songs, artists or keywords from the home page, check out featured tracks in any genre, explore music communities or listen to a mood-specific radio station. When I visited the website, I saw a big focus on pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop and indie music. Jamendo is available as an app or online, but the app doesn’t get great ratings on the App Store or on Google Play. Still, the website is easy to use, and you don’t have to create an account to stream music. When you first visit the website, you may be asked to choose between Jamendo Music, Jamendo Licensing or join as an artist. Jamendo Music is what most listeners should select. From there, you can browse through the selection of independent music, stream music online and download the songs you love. You can create a free account to create playlists, follow artists and more.
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SoundCloudBest For: Building a library When you first visit SoundCloud, you’ll have the option to create a free account. While an account isn’t required to stream free music online, you will need to be logged in to download any songs. With an account, you can also get personalized suggestions, follow artists and connect with friends. The SoundCloud app is highly rated on both Google Play and the App Store, and the website is pretty simple to use. From the home page, you can search for artists, bands or songs, check out the top charts or browse by genre. Once you’ve found a song you’d like to listen to, just click “Play.” When I scrolled through the available selections, I saw tons of mood-themed playlists, pop hits and well-known artists. All of the songs on SoundCloud are available for free streaming, and some are available to download. There’s also a selection of songs that have a “Create Station” button. If you click it, it starts an internet radio station for you based on the selected song.
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ReverbNationBest For: Finding local artists ReverbNation focuses on the independent music industry by helping upcoming artists connect with fans. When you first visit the website, you can click “Join as a Fan” to get started. You’ll just need to enter your email address, name and ZIP code to create a free account. Once you’re signed in, you can click on the “Discover” tab to find featured collections, trending tracks, music videos and more. Once you’ve found a song you like, you can click play to stream it instantly or click the download button on the media player by the track to save it. In addition to finding songs and albums you enjoy, you can use the “My Library” tab to create and save playlists, “favorite” songs and follow artists. “Crowd Picks” is another great way to discover new music while the “Shows” and “Charts” tabs allow you to keep up with live events and up-and-coming artists in your area.
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SoundClickBest For: Instrumentals SoundClick is a music-based social community that lets users stream, download, sell and license music. Of course, that means not all of the music on SoundClick is free or downloadable. To the right of each track’s title, you’ll either see a price or a download button (free). If you don’t see any buttons, that means your only option is to stream that track. SoundClick maintains a chart of its top songs in each category, which makes it easy to find new music based on the genres you enjoy. You’ll find a great selection of acoustic/instrumental music as well as hip-hop, alternative, classical, country, jazz, metal, pop and rock music among other genres. Unlike some resources on this list, you don’t have to create an account in order to stream or download music. Still, you can create a free account to customize playlists, follow your favorite artists and connect with other SoundClick users.
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Last.fmBest For: Finding popular music Last.fm is another great resource that allows listeners to explore, stream and download free music online. From the website’s home page, you can check out popular artists and tracks. Lower on the page, you’ll find several interesting tools that let you to explore what’s popular worldwide and listen to popular music based on time period and genre. In the upper-right corner of the website, you can also choose “Music” or “Charts” to browse top tracks and artists. You can also find music there categorized by genres and tags. When I visited the website, I found music from nearly every category including electronic, rock, jazz, R&B, rap and country. Once you’ve found a song you’d like to listen to, you can click “Play” to begin streaming. Unfortunately, not all songs are available to stream or download for free. If it isn’t, you’ll see links to purchase the song instead.
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AudiomackBest For: Rap, hip-hop, R&B Audiomack is available as an app or website. You can search for specific artists/songs or access trending charts to see what other Audiomack listeners are into. When I checked out this resource, I found mostly hip-hop music but also playlists that included R&B and urban music. While you can listen to music completely free on Audiomack, you’ll have to create an account if you want to build playlists or follow accounts. Fortunately, you can make one for free by entering your email address and creating a password. While you can’t download music files from Audiomack, you can save songs in the iOS and Android apps for offline listening. It’s worth noting that, if you’re streaming online, you’ll have a 30-second limit after a song starts before you’re able to skip it or choose a new song.
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NoiseTradeBest For: Supporting independent artists With NoiseTrade, you can preview samples of tracks without having to sign in, but to listen to the full song or download any files, you’ll need to create a free account using your email address and a password. Once you’ve signed in, you’ll be able to click “Play” or “Download” next to each available song or album. On the homepage, you’ll see notable artists, trending tracks, new songs and more. When you click on a band that you’re interested in, you’ll see their tracklist along with a brief description and links to the artists’ social media pages. Additionally, you’ll see a list of similar artists and a link that lets you tip the artist if you enjoy their music. You can scroll over the “Music” tab at the top of the screen to choose different genres. In addition to music, NoiseTrade also offers books and comedy routines that you can stream or download. Unfortunately, NoiseTrade isn’t available on the App Store or Google Play. But the website is easy to use, and you’ll find tons of free music you can download to your computer (and then add to your smartphone if you want!).
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CC TraxBest For: Background music (electronic, dub, techno, ambient, etc.) CC Trax is an especially great resource if you’re looking for background music to listen to while you’re working or relaxing. While CC Trax isn’t available as an app for either iOS or Android devices, the website is really simple to use and allows you to instantly play or download music. Additionally, you’ll find music videos and a “Streaming” tab with pre-built playlists ranging from two to nine hours long. The featured genres on CC Trax include electronic, dub, techno, house, downtempo and ambient. You can check out featured tracks on the homepage or browse by license type, genre or tag. While you won’t be able to type your own search terms, the tag search feature is a great way to narrow down your results and includes descriptors like “contemplative,” “dark,” and “easy listening.”
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JangoBest For: Creating stations based on artist or genre Jango is available as an app or website. You won’t have to create an account to get started; instead, you can instantly start streaming music for free. While you can’t stream specific songs on demand, you can create stations based on artists or genres that you like. Top stations include “Today’s Top 100,” “Billboard # 1 Hits” and “Summertime Workday” among others. You can listen to recommended stations, create custom stations and even combine your favorite stations. You can expect to see a few advertisements with Jango since it’s free. Still, according to the website, ads are kept to a minimum. If you connect your account with Facebook, you’ll only see one commercial per day. Additionally, there aren’t commercial ads on the mobile apps.
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Final ThoughtsUltimately, each of these resources is great for finding free music online in a completely legal way. If you’re looking for a radio experience, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify or Jango are the best resources for you. LiveOne is another great source for stations as well as music news. If you’re a Prime Member, Amazon Music has a lot to offer, plus you’ll have access to additional features. To hear a specific song, I recommend looking it up on YouTube. If you’re more interested in branching out and finding something new, be sure to look into Jamendo, Last.fm, ReverbNation or SoundCloud. For background music while you work or relax, check out the pre-built playlists on CC Trax or SoundClick. Audiomack is a great place to find new rap, hip-hop and R&B music. And consider visiting NoiseTrade to find, follow and support independent artists that you like. No matter where you decide to listen to free music online, just make sure you’re doing it legally and safely. While you may have to disable your ad blocker online or enter your email address to create a free account, you shouldn’t have to enter any payment information to access free content. What are your favorite websites/apps for finding free music online? Let us know in the Clark.com Community! More Ways To Find Free Entertainment: |
