Clark Howard

12 of the Best Places to Find Free Music Downloads

By Dallas Cox
By Dallas Cox
If you’re looking for ways to find free music downloads, there are tons of completely legal resources available. 
In this article, I’ll take a look at 12 of the best places to find legal and free music downloads. I’ve visited each of the websites listed below and downloaded a couple of songs from each to check for quality and see the type of content each site offers. 

Where to Get Legal, Free Music Downloads

When you start looking for free music online, it won't be long before you start coming across less-than-reputable websites. Some may actually require paid memberships or subscriptions while others provide access to pirated content. Still, there are several websites and apps that you can use to get free music downloads that are completely legal. Among them are Jamendo, SoundCloud, DatPiff and even YouTube.

If you're looking for free ways to download music that you'd normally have to pay for, you probably won't find it on this list. Instead, I've compiled 12 completely legal resources for finding free music downloads. In the table below, you'll see a list of those resources, the most popular genres available, what platforms each service uses and the app's average rating on Google Play and the App Store (if applicable). 

Website/AppGenresPlatformsApp Store Rating
SoundCloudPop, HipHop, R&BApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.5
ReverbNationAlt/Rock/Indie, Electro/Pop/Dance, HipHop/Rap/R&BApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.7
JamendoPop, Rock, Electronic, HipHopApp (iOS and Android) and Website2.5
SoundClickInstrumentals, HipHop, ElectronicApp (Android) and Website3.8
DatPiffHipHop, Rap, Urban, R&BApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.7
MusopenClassical, InstrumentalApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.8
Amazon MusicGospel, Christmas, ClassicalApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.6
Last.fmAll GenresApp (iOS and Android) and Website2.7
BandcampAll GenresApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.4
YouTubeAll GenresApp (iOS and Android) and Website4.4
NoiseTradeAlternative, Country, HipHop, Pop, R&BWebsiteN/A
Tribe of NoisePop, Rock. Electronica, Roots, Classic, UrbanWebsiteN/A

When you visit one of these websites or download the apps, you may have to create a free account to continue. But you shouldn't have to enter any payment information to gain access to the content. At most, you might have to disable your ad blocker if you're visiting the website. 

Below, you’ll find detailed information on 12 different places where you can find free, legal music downloads.

SoundCloud

Genres: Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.5 Stars

When you first visit SoundCloud, you’ll need to create an account to download music. You’ll simply enter your email address, password, age and display name. You’ll also be asked to select your favorite music genres to get started. While you can stream any of the tracks for free online, only some tracks are available to download. You can click the three dots below each track listing to see if there’s a “Download file” option.
This is a great site to check out if you’re looking to preview music online and download what you like. If you’re looking for a big selection of downloadable music that you can browse, simply type in “download” in the search bar at the top of the page to see all of the available free music downloads. 

When I scrolled through the available selections, I saw tons of mood-themed playlists in addition to pop hits and well-known artists. On the home page of the website, you'll find the top-rated featured playlists for several music genres including hip-hop & rap, R&B, new music and more. If you're looking for a mobile experience, the SoundCloud app is also available for iOS and Android devices.

Pros Cons
  • Stream and download music for free
  • Community of listeners
  • Big selection of both popular and new music
  • You have to create an account to download music
  • Not all songs are downloadable

ReverbNation

Genres: Alt/Rock/Indie, Electro/Pop/Dance, Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.7 Stars

ReverbNation focuses on the independent music industry by helping upcoming artists connect with a growing fanbase. 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 the download button on the media player by the track.
In addition to downloading songs and albums you enjoy, you can use the “My Library” tab to create and save playlists, favorite songs and subscribe to artists you’d like to keep up with. “Crowd Picks” is another great way to discover new music while the “Shows” and “Charts” tabs allow you to keep up with live events as well as up-and-coming artists in your area. 
Pros Cons
  • Great selection of independent music and local artists
  • Stream music and music videos in addition to downloading files
  • You have to create an account to stream or download music
  • Not a big selection of popular titles and artists if that’s what you’re looking for

Jamendo

Genres: Pop, Rock, Electronic, Hip-Hop
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 2.5 Stars

When you first visit the Jamendo website, you’ll have to choose from Jamendo Music, Jamendo Licensing or join as an artist. Jamendo Music is what most listeners should select. You’ll instantly be able to stream music that you see on the website, but you will need to create a free account if you want to download any files. 
On the homepage, you’ll see a convenient table tool that allows you to sort music based on “best-of,” “trending,” and “latest.” Additionally, you can specify which genres you’re interested in. While the top five genres include pop, rock and hip-hop, you’ll also find jazz, indie, classical, folk, R&B, country, blues and more. 
In addition to the featured music on the homepage, you can click the “Explore” tab to discover communities, playlists and latest releases. The “Radios” tab allows you to explore stations similar to what you’d see on Spotify. The “Selections” tab is also a great way to find new and trending music. Once you’ve found a song you’d like to save, simply click the download button next to the track’s title in the playlist or on the media player. 
Pros Cons
  • The website is user-friendly and easy to navigate
  • Great selection of independent music and upcoming artists
  • You don’t need an account to stream music online
  • You’ll need to create an account to download music
  • The app has low ratings due to usability and technical issues

SoundClick

Genres: Instrumentals, Hip-Hop, Electronic
Platforms: App (Android) and Website
App Rating: 3.8 Stars

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 the track title, you’ll either see a price, a download button (free) or no additional options (streaming only.)
SoundClick maintains a chart of the top songs in each category, which makes it easy to find new music based on the genres you enjoy. In the image above, you can see that I was browsing the hip-hop charts. You’ll also find a great selection of acoustic, alternative, classical, country, jazz, metal, pop and rock music among other genres.
Unlike some other websites/apps on this list, you don’t have to create an account in order to download music. Still, you can create a free account to customize playlists, follow your favorite artists and connect with other SoundClick users. 
Pros Cons
  • The website is user-friendly and easy to navigate
  • Music is available for streaming and downloading
  • You don’t have to create an account to download music
  • The app has low ratings due to usability and technical issues
  • Not all of the music is free or downloadable

DatPiff

Genres: HipHop, Rap, Urban, R&B
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.7 Stars

If you’re looking for free hip-hop, rap and urban music downloads, DatPiff is definitely a resource worth checking out. You’ll find a huge community of fans and artists who share original mixtapes and singles. 
On the homepage, you’ll see featured albums, what’s hot now, recent exclusives, upcoming releases and top of the month selections. Once you’ve found an album you’d like to check out, click on it and choose “stream” or “download.” You can also choose to listen to/download individual songs by scrolling over the title and clicking one of the two options. 
Not all songs are available for free on DatPiff. Some albums you can only stream, while others are available for purchase. Still, there’s a huge selection of free music downloads that you can access without an account on DatPiff.
Pros Cons
  • You don’t have to create an account in order to stream or download
  • Great selection of both independent and popular artists
  • Not all songs are available for free downloads
  • Limited variety of genres

Musopen

Genres: Classical, Instrumental
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.8

Musopen focuses on providing access to free sheet music, educational materials and apps for teachers and students. However, you’ll also find royalty-free music recordings that you can listen to online or download for free. 
If you click on the “Music” tab, you’ll see the full selection of free tracks that you can stream or download as well as the song’s title, mood, instruments, length, rating and licensing information. When you’ve found a song you’d like to download, simply click the download button to the left of the track. 
You can search for specific keywords or browse by composer, instruments, periods, moods and more. In addition to downloadable music, Musopen also provides streamable radio online and via the Classical Radio app for iOS and Android devices. Unfortunately, you can’t download music using the app. But you can always download tracks to your computer from the web and then sync them to your smartphone later.
Pros Cons
  • You don’t have to create an account to stream or download music
  • 8,500+ free downloadable songs
  • Additional educational resources available for teachers and students
  • The app allows only streaming not downloading 
  • You’ll find only classical/instrumental royalty-free music

Amazon Music

Genres: Gospel, Christmas, Classical
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.6 Stars

While you probably think of Amazon as an affordable and convenient online retailer, you may not realize it’s also a resource for finding free music downloads. Amazon Music is a streaming platform and an online music store that offers exclusive perks to Prime members and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers. Even if you don’t belong to one of those programs, there are tons of songs that you can stream and download for free. 
At the time of writing, there were more than 6,000 free songs available. As I scrolled through them, I mostly saw religious music, relaxing soundscapes, classical music and traditional holiday tunes. When you find a song that you’re interested in downloading, just click “Buy Song Free” on the right-hand side of the screen. 

In addition to downloading mp3 files, you can open Amazon Music's web player or app to stream popular playlists and stations. Unfortunately, you'll have to pay for a Prime/Amazon Music Unlimited membership in order to listen to most of these songs offline. 

Pros Cons
  • Thousands of free downloadable tracks
  • Stream music instantly in addition to downloading
  • See other customer ratings and reviews just like you would with other Amazon products
  • Limited selection of free songs
  • You’ll need a Prime Membership or Amazon Music Unlimited to stream music offline with the app

Last.fm

Genres: All Genres
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 2.7 Stars

Last.fm is most prominently a free online radio that allows you to stream and track your favorite music. If you create a free account, you can build playlists, get custom recommendations on new music and connect with other music fans who have similar tastes. An account is not required to stream music. 

While it's focused on online streaming, Last.fm also offers a selection of free music downloads online. At the time of writing, there were more than 220 songs available to download for free. While you won't find a big selection of popular artists and albums on Last.fm, you will find a great selection of independent music in all genres.

Unfortunately, the Last.fm app for iOS and Android devices works a little differently from the website. Instead of letting users stream and download music, the app only monitors what you're listening to via other apps on your smartphone. This helps track the listening history of users who have created accounts which leads to more relevant music suggestions.

Pros Cons
  • Wide variety of artists and genres
  • You don’t have to create an account to download music
  • Stream and track your favorite music in addition to downloading it
  • The app only allows you to track what you’re listening to on other platforms
  • Not all music is downloadable

Bandcamp

Genres: All Genres
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.4

Bandcamp is another great resource for finding independent artists and free music downloads. The website allows up-and-coming artists to upload songs and albums that fans can then stream or purchase for downloads. However, not all artists charge for their work, and there’s a great selection of music that you can find at no cost at all. 

To get started, check out the free music tag on Bandcamp. You'll see free music highlights and all free music releases including new and notable work, all-time "best selling" tracks and more. Once you've found a title you're interested in, you can click "play" to begin streaming it instantly. If you want to download it, scroll over the track and click "buy now." If the track is free, you'll be able to enter $0.00 into the "name your price" box and click "download to your computer." 

While you can add tags to narrow your search, you won’t find many pre-grouped genres and categories. While Bandcamp is a great resource for discovering, streaming and downloading new music, it isn’t necessarily the easiest website to browse.
Pros Cons
  • You don’t have to create an account to stream or download music
  • Wide variety of genres and styles
  • In addition to enjoying free music, Bandcamp also makes it easy to support the artists
  • Not all music is available for free
  • The website is a little difficult to browse

YouTube

Genres: All
Platforms: App (iOS and Android) and Website
App Rating: 4.4 Stars

YouTube has always been one of the first resources I check to stream music for free. However, I didn’t always know that you can find legal and free music downloads on YouTube too. 
To find free downloads, you can search YouTube as normal for any type of music you’d like. The key is to click on “Filter” and then under “Features,” select “Creative Commons.” This will let you browse videos with audio that should be completely free and legal to download. In most cases, you’ll see a download link in the description below the video. 

When I browsed through available free downloads, I came across the Audio Library channel that seemed to have a great selection of music. On this channel, which has more than 3.3 million subscribers, you'll find videos and playlists full of popular copyright-safe music that you can download from Audio Library's website.

Pros Cons
  • Huge variety of genres, styles and artists
  • You don’t have to create an account to download music
  • Using the “Creative Commons” filter, it’s easy to search for music that interests you
  • It can be hard to find downloadable music among all the other content on YouTube
  • Most downloads come from third-party links as opposed to directly from YouTube

NoiseTrade

Genres: Alternative, Country, Hip-Hop, Pop, R&B
Platforms: Website
App Rating: N/A

With NoiseTrade, you can preview samples of tracks without having to sign in, but to listen to the full song or download anything, you’ll need to create a free account using your email address and a password. Once you’re signed in, you’ll see a download button beneath available songs and albums. 
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 online. 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!)
Pros Cons
  • You have the option to tip artists directly if you enjoy their music
  • You’ll see “For Fans Of” next to each artist with a list of popular bands/singers with similar sounds
  • Not all songs are downloadable
  • You’ll need to create an account to listen to full songs or download any files

Tribe of Noise

Genres: Pop, Rock. Electronica, Roots, Classic, Urban
Platforms: Website
App Rating: N/A

Tribe of Noise is another great place to find free music downloads on your computer. Unfortunately, there is no app for iOS or Android.
While you can access some music for free without having to create an account, an account is free to make and unlocks several features of the website including a bigger selection of music. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll be asked a little about your music tastes and preferences before the site will let you search for and download songs. 
You can click on “Music” or “Artists” at the top of the screen to browse featured music. Once you’ve found a track you’d like to listen to, simply click the title to see more information, stream the song or download the track. Note that not all songs are available for download, but many are. 

Tribe of Noise acquired Free Music Archive in 2019, which is another website worth checking out for free music downloads. While the website isn't updated anymore, you'll still find thousands of free downloadable tracks there too.

Pros Cons
  • You can search in several different ways
  • You don’t have to create an account to download music
  • Easily connect with music fans
  • Not all music is downloadable
  • There isn’t an app for iOS or Android devices

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, any of these websites/apps are worth checking out if you’re looking for free music downloads that are completely legal. 

If you're looking for a big selection of free music downloads in a variety of genres, check out SoundCloud, ReverbNataion, Jamendo or SoundClick. All of them are available online or as apps on iOS and Android devices. 

If you're interested in up-and-coming urban music, be sure to check out DatPiff. For more classical and instrumental downloads, visit Musopen. Amazon Music also offers a selection of classical music downloads in addition to gospel and Christmas tracks. For a more broad selection of all genres, visit Last.fm, Bandcamp or YouTube. Finally, if you're planning on downloading music to your computer, NoiseTrade and Tribe of Noise are two websites worth visiting.

No matter where you decide to download free music, just make sure you're doing it legally and safely. While you may have to disable your ad blocker online or enter your email 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 downloads? Let us know in the comments below!

More Ways to Find Free Entertainment: 

This article was originally published on Clark.com

The post 12 of the Best Places to Find Free Music Downloads appeared first on Clark Howard.

0

Most Read