While many streaming services provide the option to download songs and albums offline, others simply stream everything directly from their servers. Either way, there are a number of options available for music that you can enjoy without an internet connection.
Clarify what “offline” really means
If you’ve spent time looking at the free apps available to stream music, you’ve noticed one thing: streaming services will tell you they allow for “offline listening,” but that still means you need access to an internet connection periodically.
In contrast, truly “connection-free” playback is simply playing back files stored locally on your device. That doesn’t require Wi-Fi or even a cellular data plan — just the app.
Deezer
If your current Deezer plan includes downloads, you can save eligible songs and albums inside the app for offline listening. The free app alone does not mean the account has offline music access. All you need to do is find a song or album within the Deezer app and tap on the Download toggle in the bottom-right corner. That will enable Deezer to store a local copy of the file. Once done, downloaded content will automatically appear within the Library tab of the app.
It’s worth noting that Deezer enables downloading tracks offline even when you’re not using your phone! You’ll still be able to listen to downloaded files using a smartwatch like Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Garmin.
Offline Music Player and MP3 Player
When looking for apps that let you play locally stored music without an internet connection, the Offline Music Player and MP3 Player app is an excellent choice. It provides all of the functionality needed to play music from files on your phone and includes a number of extra features that you may appreciate.
In fact, this Android app has 50M+ downloads with over 418K reviews, earning it a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 (as of March 2024) on Google Play. With 30 million users worldwide, the app is certainly well known. This particular version of the app plays back all formats (such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, etc.) offline. In addition, you’ll also get equalizer controls, the ability to create playlists, a widget, and more than just lyrics for each track — there are also song avatars!
It’s worth noting that the app does include some ads, though they’re not particularly intrusive. There are also in-app purchases available to remove the ads altogether. One Reddit user pointed out that this was an ideal solution for playing their own files from their computer on their phone, if they needed to travel somewhere and didn’t want to risk being unable to connect to a WiFi network or data signal.
Amerigo Music / Offline Music Player: Mp3 & Video
The Amerigo Music / Offline Music Player: Mp3 & Video app lets you manage and play your music offline on an iPhone. The app isn’t limited to just storing audio — you can store and playback video, too. It’s also free, although you’ll have to pay for access to the full feature set using in-app purchases. The paid options and prices shown in the App Store can change by country and date, so check the current in-app purchase listing instead of relying on a fixed price.
The app received a rating of 7.5K ratings, earning it 4.3 stars out of 5 (as of March 2024) on the App Store. Among the features offered by the app are playlist creation, a list of liked songs, AirPlay streaming, and control your car/stereo via Bluetooth. There’s even support for creating a personalized avatar! Unfortunately, one minor downside to this app is that you cannot reorder songs within an existing playlist.
Bandcamp
For those who prefer to purchase music directly from artists, Bandcamp offers both lossless and lower-bitrate versions of songs and albums. What’s nice about Bandcamp is that it gives artists direct control of what music they offer and how much they charge for it, while at the same time giving listeners the opportunity to download the files. Files downloaded after a purchase can be kept and played locally as long as you retain them and follow the purchase terms; keep a backup rather than assuming any online account will provide access forever.
Bandcamp doesn’t require you to use a streaming service; rather, it’s a source of files you can purchase, store, and play whenever you want, without ever connecting to the internet. While Bandcamp does offer a selection of music for streaming, you’ll need to purchase music on Bandcamp to get a permanent copy that you can store and play back on your own devices. You’ll find that Bandcamp allows you to purchase music in a variety of lossless formats including FLAC, WAV, ALAC, and others.