Given that the iTunes player recently turned 17 years old, for many users it has long ceased to be
As it turned out, many users still use desktop players and storeFor example, in the United States, where streaming is the most popular way to "consume" music, in 2017 users bought about 555 million tracks and more than 100 million physical albums (which, ironically, are often digitized after purchase).
According to the International Federationsound recordings (IFPI), about 44% of those who listen to music buy physical or digital albums and tracks. Of course, this does not directly correspond to the number of users of desktop players like iTunes, but it clearly indicates that this category of applications is not dead and will no longer be relevant for a long time. And that's even considering the popularity of Spotify and Apple Music.
That is why it is not surprising that nowregularly come out and are steadily supported by developers all new music players. Today we will talk about the coolest of them. And, which is especially nice, almost all of these applications are free, so you can relax and clean your wallets (or a bottle of rum).
Plexamp
Plex's toolkit has been around for quite some time and has won over its audience thanks to the ability to stream your music to mobile apps or through a desktop browser, but here is theThe music player of the "family" appeared relatively recently, and its name is Plexamp.And yes, it's definitely a reference to Winamp – not only in the name, but also in the overall design style.
The main task of Plexamp is to collect all your audio files and present all playlists and albums in the most convenient and attractive way.To do this, you can play around with a large number of built-in templates.It is amazing not only in terms of content, but also in terms of design.
The app is new and it definitely needs a little more polishing so far.In addition, for Plexamp to work properly, you also need to install Plex Media Server (it's free and pretty cool).But overall, if the look of your audio library is important to you and you're looking for something simple yet stylish, we recommend you to try Plexamp.
Free Download for Windows / MacOS / Linux
Musicbee
Among iTunes alternatives it is difficult to find morefunctional and well designed app than MusicBee. It presents, perhaps, all the features that a music lover could need: from built-in digitization and an accurate CD equalizer to scrobbling on Last.fm.
The application quickly finds all the musicon the computer – If desired, you can configure the import of the iTunes library – and will offer various templates for organizing files. If the interface seems overloaded to you, you can activate the alternative Theater Mode.
MusicBee supports smart playlists, a number ofWinamp plugins, synchronization between devices, a wide selection of themes and an active user community. If your computer is on Windows, it is definitely worth trying this player.
Free Download for Windows
Vox music player
We advise poppy growers to pay attention to thisminimalistic program – simple and stylish. Download the app, drag and drop multiple tracks to create a playlist – and you can use it.
Although the application itself is free, some of the functionsavailable only to Vox Premium ($4.99/month) account holders. The subscription allows you to synchronize your library and playlists between devices, play tracks in maximum resolution, and adds support for Sonos speakers and advanced playback settings.
There is also built-in support for tracks withSoundCloud and YouTube videos, and this is a great option if you want to have full control over playback, but at the same time do not want to put up with the chaotic organization of functions in iTunes. An iOS version is also available.
Free download for macOS
Mediamonkey
MediaMonkey has been excellent for many yearsan alternative to iTunes and Windows Media Player and offers users everything they need to organize a media library on their computer. Despite the large number of functions, the player is well optimized and “flies”, even if you have a lot of files.
In addition to functions tailored for the organizationlibraries, there is support for podcasts, CD digitization, file conversion, fine-tuning the sound, the ability to load the missing tracks from the album from the Internet, as well as synchronization with iPhone and Android smartphones. You can also send files over the local network and search for tracks by metadata.
The interface, of course, is not the most modern, butWide functionality compensates for this shortcoming (of course, if design is not the most important element of a media player for you). The premium version ($24.95 unlocked, no subscription fee required) offers improved digitization, faster conversion, advanced search, enhanced playlist creation capabilities, and more. The main thing here is that the standard features are more than enough for the daily tasks of most users.
Free Download for Windows
VLC Media Player
Surely you have heard about this player – oreven used it! – but thought of VLC solely as a “player that will open any format”. Yes, he really can do that – but at the same time, it surprisingly copes well with the role of replacing iTunes.
With it you can create and managea full-fledged music library and create simple playlists (there is no support for smart playlists yet). You can try different design options, but the main advantage, as already mentioned, – Supports most existing audio and video file formats. You'll also have access to several filters and EQ effects in case you want to tweak or diversify your sound.
VLC, frankly speaking, does not have enough stars in the sky whenWe're talking about design and interface, but it provides everything you might need for free (including transferring files over a local network) – So, if you are looking for an advanced program and do not want to pay for premium accounts in other players, VLC can sparkle with new colors for you.
Free Download for Windows / macOS / Linux
Swinsian
Swinsian – this word is literally translatedhow to “make a pleasant sound” – designed to be both comprehensive and fast, even when dealing with large numbers of files. The application is designed in the style of iTunes, so you will feel at home the first time you launch it.
You can change library display modes fromstandard album covers and grids to a la Finder speakers. The program has all the features for organizing a collection, including a tag editor. You can import the library from iTunes.
Thanks to the ability to view the application insmall window mode and corporate widget, you can control playback without being distracted from the application with which you are working. This program is paid ($ 19.95), but the developer offers a trial period.
Download free trial for macOS
Kodi
Kodi – another app you're talking aboutmay have heard of or even used, but never thought of it as a competitor to iTunes. The name is usually associated with video rather than audio, but Kodi's powerful features for working with music files and support for most existing desktop and mobile platforms have earned it a place on our list.
This player works with almost everyoneaudio file formats and allows you to browse tracks by album, artist, genre, etc. It can even create smart playlists based on specified criteria – just like iTunes.
Import files from a specific folder oriTunes is quite easy and intuitive, and although Kodi was originally designed for large-screen TVs, it works just as well on a PC or laptop. A huge number of themes and extensions are available, which allows you to fully customize the program for yourself.
Free Download for Windows / macOS / Linux