About Shazam
Key Features
- One-tap song ID
- Auto Shazam continuous listening
- Offline identification
- Lyrics sync
- Apple Music/Spotify links
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Instant, accurate recognition
- Completely free, no ads
- Streaming service handoff
Cons
- Struggles with live/obscure versions
- Little use beyond identification
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shazam free?
Does it work offline?
Can it identify humming?
Reviews
Similar Apps
Best For
Anyone who has ever asked "what song is this?"
Use Cases
Identifying any song playing around you in seconds
Building a history of discovered tracks synced to Spotify or Apple Music playlists
Auto Shazam to keep identifying songs while you do other things
Finding lyrics, artists, and concert info from a tag
Identifying music from your headphones via pop-up Shazam on Android
Pricing Details
Shazam is completely free with no ads — Apple acquired it and removed all monetization friction. Every feature, including unlimited identifications, history sync, playlist export, and offline tagging, costs nothing on iOS and Android. There are no premium tiers; it simply feeds discovery into music streaming services.
Security & Trust
Shazam only listens when you tap (or during opt-in Auto Shazam) and creates audio fingerprints rather than storing recordings. History can be cleared anytime, and the app works without an account — sign-in only enables cross-device sync. As an Apple product it follows Apple privacy policies.
Alternatives To Consider
Google’s song search (including hum-to-search in the Google app) is the strongest alternative and handles humming, which Shazam cannot. SoundHound offers similar identification with its own history features. On Pixel phones, Now Playing identifies songs passively on-device. For samples and remixes, WhoSampled complements identification.
Editorial Verdict
Shazam does one thing perfectly: it is the fastest, most accurate song identifier available, free with zero ads. Hum-to-search is the only trick Google does better. Everyone should have it — or its widget — one tap away; few apps deliver this much delight per megabyte.
Sources & Review Notes
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026
Client Reviews
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