The best music and radio apps for Mac

Amazon Music Top Stations and Albums

If you love music, then you probably subscribe to Apple Music and jump right to it on your Mac when you’re in the mood to groove. But that may also mean that you dabble in more than one music source.

Maybe you also use Spotify to share playlists with pals who enjoy those services. Or perhaps you even pop on an FM radio station from the time to time just for something different or for a favorite radio show.

There’s no reason you can’t have more than one app on your Mac for songs and radio shows. So if you’re thinking of trying something new, check out this list of the best music and radio apps for your Mac.

Music and radio apps for Mac

Music apps for Mac

Go beyond Apple Music on your Mac for an even bigger selection! With these free music apps, you’ll never be at a loss for something to listen to for any mood, activity, or background sound.

Spotify

Spotify Music App on Mac

One of the most popular music services is Spotify. And although there isn’t currently an official app on the App Store, you can download it directly from the Spotify website. Browse by mood, listen to podcasts, check out the charts, or discover something new.

Spotify features:

  • Create and share playlists with all your favorite songs.
  • Enable autoplay for more cool tunes when a song ends.
  • Adjust settings for things like crossfade between songs, music quality, language, and explicit content.
  • Browse radio stations to find great background music while you work.

Spotify gives you everything you need to enjoy music and more. Plus, you can connect your other devices using the app on Mac.

  • Availability: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, smart TVs and speakers, vehicles, and the web
  • Cost: Free with a paid premium version for unlimited skips, ad-removal, and offline listening

Pandora

Pandora Music App on Mac

Similar to Spotify, you currently won’t find the Pandora app in the Mac App Store. However, you can download it from Pandora or check out third-party apps on the App Store to connect to the service. Browse by genre, decade, activity, artist, or featured playlist.

Pandora features:

  • View song lyrics, get artist details, and check out similar artists you might enjoy.
  • Add stations to your collection to hear them with a click.
  • Listen to radio stations or find an interesting podcast.
  • Adjust settings for explicit content, notifications, and audio messages from your favorite artists.

Pandora is a good alternative to Apple Music and Spotify or as another great music source. Pandora also offers support for HomePod as your default music player.

  • Availability: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, smart TVs and voice assistants, vehicles, and the web
  • Cost: Free with a paid premium version for ad-removal, offline listening, and playlist sharing

Amazon Music

Amazon Music App on Mac

If you have an Amazon account, then the Amazon Music app for your Mac makes perfect sense. The app is also handy if you subscribe to Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited. Browse by top songs, albums, and artists, or check out recommended playlists just for you.

Amazon Music features:

  • Save, share, and download songs and playlists.
  • Adjust settings for explicit content, music quality, and download options.
  • Manage our music subscription from the app.
  • Set up your queue with the tunes you want to hear next.

Amazon Music is another app that you’ll need to get directly from the website. So be sure to keep this music app in mind if you already listen to Amazon Music online or your other devices.

  • Availability: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, smart TVs, speakers, and voice assistants, vehicles, and the web
  • Cost: Free with optional paid Amazon Music subscriptions

Radio apps for Mac

Whether you enjoy some oldies, news shows, or sports coverage, radio stations are still a great source. And for music, it’s always a surprise as to which song is up next. Check out these radio apps for Mac for your favorite stations or one you have yet to discover.

myTuner Radio Live FM Stations

myTuner Radio App on Mac

With over 40,000 stations in 200 countries, myTuner Radio FM Stations gives you music and podcasts in one handy package.

myTuner features:

  • Browse stations by city or genre and just click to play.
  • Listen to popular podcasts like The Rush Limbaugh Show, Dateline NBC, and Ted Talks.
  • Check out what’s at the top of the charts for this year, last year, new songs, most played tunes, and local artists.
  • Mark your favorites or listen to what you heard recently.

The myTuner Radio Live FM Stations app gives you a terrific selection of stations and shows. And if you’re looking for something in particular, use the Search at the top or pick a country in the drop-down.

  • Availability: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, CarPlay, Android, Windows, Alexa, Chromecast, smart TVs, and the web
  • Cost: Free with a pro version to remove the ads

Triode – Internet Radio

Triode Radio App on Mac

Pick a recommended station or find your favorite with Triode – Internet Radio. Whether you want to listen to a cool music station, informative news radio, or nothing but sports, you can search and find a station for you.

Triode features:

  • Control the playback with the Dock or menu bar icon.
  • Change the app’s appearance to light, dark, or use your system settings.
  • Receive a notification when the track changes.
  • Adjust the color and change the logo to easily identify which station you’re listing to.

If you want to browse stations in your local area or beyond Triode makes it easy and connects quickly. If you want the ability to add favorites and view high quality artwork, take a look at Triode’s paid subscription plans. And the extras you receive sync with the app on your other devices including CarPlay.

  • Availability: Mac, iPhone, iPad, CarPlay, Apple TV
  • Cost: Free with paid subscription plans for bonus features

SomaFM Radio Player

SomaFM Radio App on Mac

Looking for something centered around music and a bit unique? SomaFM Radio Player for Mac gives you over 30 distinctive stations for underground and alternative music.

SomaFM Radio Player features:

  • Sort stations by name, popularity, or genre.
  • Save your favorite stations and songs.
  • Click to find and buy a song you like directly in the iTunes Store in the Music app.
  • View news, tweets, and a gallery from the Soma community.

SomaFM Radio Player has something for every taste and mood in its collection of stations. You can even check out seasonal sounds around the holidays.

  • Availability: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows phone, and the web
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted

Wrapping it up

When it’s time to listen to music, a podcast, news, sports, or something totally different on your Mac, these apps are awesome. Do you already use one of these, are you sticking with Apple’s Music and Podcasts apps, or is there a stellar app for music or radio you want us to know about? Share your thoughts below!