The 4 Best Music Recognition Apps in 2026
"What song is this?" is probably the question phones have solved best: one tap and seconds later you have the title, the artist and a link to save it. But they are not all the same, and only one of them recognises a tune you hum. In this guide we compare the 4 best music recognition apps in 2026.
Top apps for identifying the music that's playing
Apps that recognise songs instantly, identify hummed melodies, show synced lyrics and save what you find straight to Spotify.
Top pick
Shazam
Apple Inc. · Free · 500M+
The benchmark
4.8
12.1M reviews
TopApps analysis
Shazam identifies a track in seconds with near-flawless accuracy, free and ad-free, with a direct link to Spotify. Music's magic button.
Shazam is shorthand for song recognition: one tap and within seconds it tells you what's playing on the radio, in a bar or in a film, with synced lyrics and a direct link to Spotify or Apple Music. Now owned by Apple, free and ad-free, with an Auto-Shazam mode that identifies everything around you hands-free.
Pros
- Almost instant, near-infallible recognition
- Free and ad-free
- Links to Spotify and Apple Music
Cons
- Needs to hear the original recording (no humming)
- Requires a connection to identify
- Limited social features
SoundHound
Free (with purchases) · 100M+
Recognises humming
3.6
916K reviews
TopApps analysis
SoundHound does what Shazam can't: it identifies songs you hum or whistle, your only way out when the melody exists only in your head.
SoundHound has the one superpower Shazam lacks: it recognises songs you hum or whistle, not just the original recording. If a melody is stuck in your head and you can't place it, this is your only real option. It also adds real-time lyrics and voice search, rounding out a very capable music identifier.
Pros
- Recognises hummed or whistled songs
- Synced lyrics in real time
- Built-in voice search
Cons
- Less accurate than Shazam with recordings
- Ads in the free version
- Busier interface (3.6★)
Musixmatch
Free (with purchases) · 50M+
Best for lyrics
4.2
2.1M reviews
TopApps analysis
Musixmatch identifies what's playing and shows the lyrics synced line by line on top of any app, with instant translation.
Musixmatch holds the largest lyrics database in the world: it identifies whatever is playing and shows the lyrics synced line by line, floating over any music app (Spotify, YouTube Music and the rest). With instant lyric translation into your own language, it is the app for singing along and finally working out what the words are.
Pros
- Synced lyrics over any app
- Instant lyric translation
- The largest lyrics database in the world
Cons
- Premium floating lyrics are paid
- Advertising in the free version
- Requires overlay permissions
Deezer: Música y Podcasts
Free (with purchases) · 100M+
Built into streaming
4.0
3.6M reviews
TopApps analysis
Deezer includes SongCatcher, its own recogniser, which adds what it identifies straight to your playlists without leaving the app.
Deezer is a solid alternative to Spotify, with over 90 million tracks and its Flow feature, an endless mix that adapts to your taste. It offers high-fidelity (HiFi) audio and a built-in song identifier. A good pick for anyone after a huge catalogue and a different approach to discovery.
Pros
- Over 90 million tracks
- Flow: an endless mix built around your taste
- High-fidelity (HiFi) audio
Cons
- Less popular, smaller music social network
- The free mobile plan is limited
- Recommendations lag slightly behind Spotify
Frequently asked questions
How do I identify a song I can only hum?
SoundHound is the specialist: press the button and hum or whistle the melody, keeping the rhythm as close as you can, and its melody-matching does the rest. Google's Hum to Search works too: open the Google app, tap the mic and hum. Shazam is no help here, as it needs to hear the original recording, not your shower version.
How do I get my phone to identify songs on its own, without opening the app?
Shazam has two tricks: Auto Shazam (press and hold the button when you open the app) keeps identifying everything it hears until you stop it, which is ideal during a DJ set or a TV show; and the Android quick-settings tile identifies what's playing with barely a tap. Pixel phones also have Now Playing, which recognises ambient music on the lock screen. Everything identified stays in your history so you can go back to it later.
Do these apps save what I identify to Spotify?
Yes. Shazam links to Spotify (and Apple Music) and can add every identified track to a "My Shazam Tracks" playlist automatically, which turns into a goldmine of discoveries over time. SoundHound offers similar integrations, and in Deezer, SongCatcher adds tracks straight to your favourites with no extra steps, which is the neatest option if Deezer is your music app.
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