Introduction
Android. The Operating System that is flexible, can do everything, can do social networking, can do media, music... wait a minute. That "music" app on my desktop is supposed to be my music player, and organizer? What kind of junk is this? On my high-end Android?
Let's face it: the stock Android music player, before Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, could, well, play music. That's about where it ended. It did the typical stuff, sort by artist, song name, create playlists, whatever. The stock music player on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and above is generally Google Play Music, and it's better than the previous stock player, but it still has its limits. Hey, I even used to have a Samsung Galaxy Player, which was basically an Android mp3 player. And I basically had that stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread music player, just with the Samsung skin. Fine for basic playback, but what do you do if you want something more than "shuffle"?
That's where Android's magic shines - you can use whatever app you want to play music, and, if the developer did it correctly, you won't even notice that you're not using the default app. Here are the best music players and organizers for Android.
One note for those who may be on Android 4.4 KitKat - there are issues with apps not being able to access the SD card. This is a problem with the operating system, and not the music player.
Rated Products

Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] |
Version reviewed: 5.2.34
trainman261
Our Rating: 5/5 |
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Rocket Music Player, in my opinion, is the best free music player available for Android. It has plenty of features, and even more can be enabled by turning on ads.
Read more...
Rocket Music Player, in my opinion, is the best free music player available for Android. It has plenty of features, and even more can be enabled by turning on ads.
Read full review...
WinAmp
WinAmp is an app that is currently in limbo, but still a good choice for a music player, if not just for the SHOUTcast internet radio feature.
Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] |
Version reviewed: 1.4.15
trainman261
Our Rating: 4/5 |
WinAmp is a music player that has been well-known in the desktop world for what seems like an eternity, and for quite a while they had a (supported) version for Android. They've now dropped the official support for Android, which is a shame, to be quite honest. However, it is still obtainable as an APK. It is a good, simple, albeit somewhat basic music player in its free incarnation - however, it has SHOUTcast, a massive online Internet service, which is really well done, and which almost makes it worth a download for that alone.
Read more...
WinAmp is a music player that has been well-known in the desktop world for what seems like an eternity, and for quite a while they had a (supported) version for Android. They've now dropped the official support for Android, which is a shame, to be quite honest. However, it is still obtainable as an APK. It is a good, simple, albeit somewhat basic music player in its free incarnation - however, it has SHOUTcast, a massive online Internet service, which is really well done, and which almost makes it worth a download for that alone.
Read full review...Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] |
Version reviewed: 2.0.4
trainman261
Our Rating: 4/5 |
Cloudskipper is a music player with a fun, elegant, and easy-to-use interface. It has some occasional quirks, but it is still is a good music player. Did I mention it has some nice eye-candy?
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Cloudskipper is a music player with a fun, elegant, and easy-to-use interface. It has some occasional quirks, but it is still is a good music player. Did I mention it has some nice eye-candy?
Read full review...
MixZing
MixZing used to have some interesting features albeit with intrusive advertising. Now, the advertising has stopped... but so have some of the most interesting features.
Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] |
Version reviewed: 4.4.1
trainman261
Our Rating: 3.5/5 |
MixZing was a very well-made music player... with one exception: the horrendously intrusive advertising. Yes, the kind where where all you wanted to do is listen to a song quickly - and it shoves a video ad down your throat, which you can't skip or anything, before you can even listen to that one track. Now, the advertising has stopped - I'm assuming because the app has been abandonned - but so have many of the key features, such as the recommendations system and the music information.
Read more...
MixZing was a very well-made music player... with one exception: the horrendously intrusive advertising. Yes, the kind where where all you wanted to do is listen to a song quickly - and it shoves a video ad down your throat, which you can't skip or anything, before you can even listen to that one track. Now, the advertising has stopped - I'm assuming because the app has been abandonned - but so have many of the key features, such as the recommendations system and the music information.
Read full review...
Google Play Music
Google Play Music is a good option if you're using Google's cloud services to store your music. Otherwise, not really.
Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] |
Version reviewed: 8.14.7429-1.H
trainman261
Our Rating: 3/5 |
Google Play Music is specifically designed to work with Google's cloud services, and it does that job decently well. Otherwise, there isn't too much exciting about this music player. Also, if you're interested in the cloud, this app will let you upload 50 000 tracks to Google's servers for free.
Read more...
Google Play Music is specifically designed to work with Google's cloud services, and it does that job decently well. Otherwise, there isn't too much exciting about this music player. Also, if you're interested in the cloud, this app will let you upload 50 000 tracks to Google's servers for free.
Read full review...
Meridian Player
Meridian is a decent, if not too pretty or simple, music and video player, with some oddities
Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] |
Version reviewed: 5.0.8
trainman261
Our Rating: 3/5 |
Meridian Player is an interesting music - and video player. While the interface isn't the nicest or simplest available, it generally works, and has a decent range of features. It also supports the 5-star rating system not supported by all that many apps on Android, although at least for me, it doesn't work properly.
Read more...
Meridian Player is an interesting music - and video player. While the interface isn't the nicest or simplest available, it generally works, and has a decent range of features. It also supports the 5-star rating system not supported by all that many apps on Android, although at least for me, it doesn't work properly.
Read full review...
Related Products and Links
You might want to check out these articles too:
- Best Free Music Player and Organizer
- Best Free Android Apps
- Best Free iPad Apps
- Best Free iPhone Apps
Comments
Now it's time for someone to produce a decent music file system for the IOS, one that will break Apples lock on no folders for music. The play list system is a joke, and only Apple insists on using it. Considering the obscene cost of their gadgets, you would think they would listen to the punters now and then. The Android get better and better, while Apple swills around in it's self confessed glory, that's going on the slide.
[Racist comments edited out]
I tried most music players out there but JetAudio remains my favorite.
I use UPnPlay to stream my music from my laptop, where it's organised with Foobar. Basically, I think a smartphone is only good for end use, not for things like tediously organizing your collection. My setup turns Foobar into a server and my Android into a wireless headset with a control interface. No syncing, no copies, a single library exactly the way it is in Foobar. All I need is a network linking my Android and laptop together, which can be the built-in hotspot if need be.
While driving or exercising, I mostly listen to recorded books or talks. They tend to be much longer than the typical four minute song, so it's important to be able to resume where I left off.
The best free app for that is MortPlayer Audio Books: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.stohelit.audiobookplaye.... It does a lot more besides, like bookmarks.
In fact, my search showed that there are very few apps which have the "resume" feature.
MixZing has a huge problem for me (besides the advertising) that I have reported years ago and they never corrected. I have lots of .wma music files mixed up with .mp3 in folders, and if I shuffle the folder then each time a .wma file is selected the program stops and I manually have to skip to next music or it doesn't do anything else.
Ideally I would like a music player with just 3 features: playing folders, supporting .wma files, and having playlists. But so far I haven't found any player with all 3 features.
Seems to be some confusion with the MixZing write-up. The review says 20MB footprint but the quick selection guide says ~40MB. also the version listed is 3.7.2 but current version is 4.3.1.
[Commercial reference removed as per site rules]
Big thanks to Trainman for all the hard work. I too have tried MixZing and hated the loading. Like others here, I think this particular review -- on its next update -- should look at Rocket. Simply put: it works.
I was expecting to see MediaMonkey here but no...
[commercial reference removed] but as an organizer, I think it deserves a place here. Not to mention its sync feature with its desktop counterpart, improving with the versions...
I tried loads and by far the best IMO is Rocket Music player
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrtstudio.AnotherMusic...
Both WinAmp and Songbird appear to have been pulled from Google Play.
As Winamp no longer exists as it was, maybe that's why it's been pulled. With luck the new situation will rectify that.
Maybe they are in the process of creating a new version since it was taken over?
Hi Trainman 261. I am hoping you can help me with this. I am looking for an app that I can put on my Samsung Galaxy SIII and my Daughter's Samsung Galaxy SIV. I have mp3 files of audio books on my computer that I want to put on our phones. These mp3 files were made from audo CD's that I purchased, as they are unfortunately not available on Audible.com. Any help in picking an app (and possibly an explanation of how to get the files from my computer to our phones) would be greatly appreciated. I do not need anything fancy. Just the ability to read the files in order, pause, rewind, etc. I would also need to be able to have folders so that I can make sure the files are in order (they are currently sorted by cd number).
Thank you for your help. It is greatly appreciated ; )
@conroypi
For the usage you describe, I personnaly use Smart AudiBook Player on my Samsung Galaxy SIII. Give it a try: the app is easy to use, it's the sole one I've tested which all forward or backward rewind and the free version is enough for the job.
hope this helps.
Three points:
- First, EQ Player (not "EQ Music Player", just "EQ Player" in the Play Store) is a fantastic app that deserves reviewing.
- Second, TTPod is developed by a Korean, not a Japanese firm.
- Third, you mention at the end that you need to take a look at VLC. Not only is it a beta at the moment, but it is also important to note that VLC is a media player, not music player or music organiser. It should not be reviewed as it would give it an unnecessarily bad image in an article in which it does not fit.
I realize it's hard to review all the music apps out there so I second the recommendation for RocketPlayer. tried about a dozen others and this one worked best for me. biggest problem in most music players is the user interface and the limitations inerrant on a cell phone. that is why i like Rocket. keep up the good work, and love the ratings and pros/cons sections for each product.
I use MoboPlayer, MX Player, and [edited] and have been happy with all three.
[Moderator's note: Mention of commercial app edited out. Please post about free apps only.]
This is a great review - thanks very much for spending your time doing this.
I looked at the top picks and none of them support a feature that is very important to some - and this is a feature that the stock Android myMusic player for ICS *does* support - pretty well.
The feature is the Bluetooth AVRCP profile (version 1.3). This BT profile allows remote control of the music player including sending the track information so it can be displayed on a remote display. This is used most often in newer cars audio systems that have a display, and it's a very neat feature.
Anyone know of a music player other than the stock player that supports this?
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