It is very likely that you have ever found yourself singing or humming a song that you have in your head because you heard it in the car on the way to work, or when entering a store in a shopping center, and whose melody you can remember, but from the which you don't know the name. Do you think: «This song sounds familiar. a lot but I don't remember the name.»And the song ends, and they don't say his name. At that moment you curse a few times for not having turned on the radio a little earlier to know the name of the song when presenting it.
However, we have had some for quite some time now music recognition applications which, thanks to the detection of frequency spectrogram From the notes obtained through the microphone of our smartphone, they can find out the name of that song we like so much. Shazam It has fulfilled this purpose for years and remains one of the most popular tools, but today it is not the only option available.
Although Shazam It has been the classic reference, many have emerged similar applications which are great alternatives and work just as well, adding extra features like real-time lyrics, Spotify integration, or the possibility of hum or whistle the melody instead of playing the original song. Below you will find a very complete guide with the Best alternatives to Shazam for Android and everything you can do with them to identify music in almost any situation.
Google voice search
You might find this strange, but Google has long since added a native function for recognize songs on virtually all Android devices. Thanks to Google Assistant and through the command «Ok Google«, followed by phrases like «what song is this»Or«what is this song«, the voice assistant will listen to the ambient sound and will be able to recognize the name of the song we are listening to.
This is a very practical feature because We don't need to install an extra application. that takes up space on our device, Google includes it by default in its services. Furthermore, the system is capable of identifying songs playing on nearby speakers as well as on the phone itself, and in many cases even allows hum, whistle, or sing the melody to try to find matches in its huge database.
When the Assistant recognizes the clue, it displays it on the screen. title, artist, album and shortcuts to play it on platforms like YouTube, YouTube Music, or Spotify. You can also save the song to your music search historyso that you can later review it and add it to your favorite playlists.
Another important advantage is that Google has been integrating This function at various points in the systemDepending on your mobile device, you will have access to song search from:
- El microphone icon in the Google app's search bar, where you can tap on the option to search song.
- Google Assistantinvoking it with "Hey Google" and directly asking "What song is this?".
- Quick functions such as Circle to search or other shortcuts that some manufacturers integrate into their customization layers.
Many devices also include the ability for the system to recognize music in the background without you having to do anything, or by offering a shortcut from the lock screen or quick settings, depending on the manufacturer's customization layer.
SoundHound - Music Search and Playback
SoundHound is free to download if you don't mind banner ads, or you can download the premium version of the app, which costs around €5,50. You can use it as music search engineAnd when you scan a song, it also tells you the lyrics and the album of that song.
The big difference compared to many similar apps is that SoundHound uses QbH (Query by Humming)a different algorithm than Shazam's, which allows even the speech, singing, and even buzzing be recognized. That is, even if you don't have the song playing nearby, you can hum the melody that has stuck in your head and the application will try to find the most likely clue.
The basic operation is very simple: you just have to open the app, tap on the big orange button and let it listen for a few seconds. It doesn't matter if you're at home, in the car, or in a noisy bar; SoundHound will try to isolate the music to identify it. Once it recognizes the song, you'll see information about the track, links to streaming platforms, and even letters in real time to sing as if it were karaoke.
SoundHound also maintains a complete history of all the songs you've discovered, creating a kind of musical map with the places where you heard them. If you connect your Spotify account, you can automatically send all the identified songs to a play list, something ideal so as not to miss any discoveries.
Among the most interesting additional features, which make it a A very solid alternative to Shazam, they stand out:
- Integrated playback of the songs through its own player with support for YouTube and, by linking your account, also for Spotify.
- possibility of search for songs by lyricsIf you remember a phrase from the chorus, you can write it down or dictate it aloud to find the theme.
- Hands-free mode with the command "Hey SoundHound"which allows you to say phrases like "What song is this?" or "Show me the lyrics to…" without touching the phone.
- Lists with musical trends by genre, country and popularity, to discover new topics beyond those you identify on your own.
DeezerMusic
Deezer is a service similar to SoundCloud in which you can store your songs to listen to whenever you want, create custom playlists, and discover new artists through recommendations. However, they recently launched a new feature called «Hunt songs»Or songcatcher which allows them to be identified and subsequently listened to on the same platform.
Currently, SongCatcher is integrated directly into the Deezer app for Android and can be activated from the search section or via shortcuts within the interface. Simply tap the corresponding option to start listening to what's playing around you, and in a matter of seconds, it will show you the title, artist and album of the song, as long as it is within their catalog.
Since it is a streaming service, there is a very direct relationship between musical recognition and the playback within the same platformOnce the track is identified, Deezer allows you to:
- Add the song to your favorites With a touch.
- Incorporate it into one of your playlists to listen to it later.
- Explore the full album or the artist's discography.
Its catalog far exceeds the tens of millions of songsSo, in practice, it's very rare that it won't be able to identify a popular track. Although some advanced features were originally focused on premium users, today song identification is easily accessible from the app, making it a particularly convenient alternative to Shazam if you already use Deezer as your main music platform.
Genius - Song Lyrics & More
Genius is an interesting app that, in addition to finding songs we might like, also provides us with the lyrics. This app revolves around... song lyrics, since it has a huge database with lyrics from millions of songs, but it also has the function of discover new music y recommend songs that we might like.
For the music recognition part, Genius integrates the technology of ACRCloudA system specializing in audio identification allows you to pinpoint the song playing around you with considerable accuracy. When the app recognizes a song, it not only displays the title and artist, but also offers... immediate access to the full lyrics, often synchronized with explanatory notes that clarify references, wordplay, or curiosities about the composition.
Another very interesting point is that, in many cases, Genius allows play a preview You can listen to the track or even the entire song in a floating window by connecting to external platforms, allowing you to follow the lyrics while the song plays. This makes it an ideal alternative for those who, in addition to recognizing the song, want to learn the lyrics, share snippets, or delve deeper into the meaning of what they are listening to.
Among the most outstanding features of Genius As an alternative to Shazam for Android we find:
- Rapid recognition of songs from a dedicated button in the app.
- Massive database of annotated letters, many of them commented on by the community and by the artists themselves.
- possibility of search for songs by lyrics fragmentseven if you only remember a single phrase.
- Recommendations of related topics based on your searches and the letters you search.
WhoSampled: Explore the DNA of Music
WhoSampled is another app that lets us know the name of our songs thanks to its sound wave recognition technology. In addition, the application offers us a musical explorer That will allow us discover new artistsmusical styles, lists, and we can even visualize the lyrics of a large number of songs.
Its greatest strength is that it focuses on the DNA of music: identifies samples, versions and remixesThis way, if you recognize a song, WhoSampled can show you the original track the sample came from, what other artists have covered it, or what remixes exist. It's a perfect tool for fans of hip hop, electronic music, or any genre where sampling is common.
As an alternative to Shazam, it not only gives you the name of the track, but also delves deeper into the connections between songs...helping you discover hidden gems you might not otherwise find. You can also explore themed lists, top picks by genre, and recommendations based on your previous searches.
Beatfind: music identifier
Beatfind is an application whose main purpose is to identify musicIt has extra features such as its own music player and a very eye-catching and striking feature: the use of a strobe light synchronized with the rhythm of the song we are listening to.
It's an Android-exclusive app and has become a popular choice for those looking for a lightweight tool. Its size is small and It takes up little storage space.Therefore, it's ideal for smartphones with limited memory. In return, being free, It contains a lot of advertising. and it's not always possible to remove it with a paid version.
When identifying a song, Beatfind provides basic information such as title, artist, and album, and allows you to play it. theme previewFrom the app itself you can also access platforms such as Spotify, Deezer and YouTube To listen to the full song, add it to playlists, or view more material from the artist.
One of its most curious functions is its musical flashlight modeActivating it makes the phone's screen and flash blink to the beat of the song, creating a disco effect that can liven up parties or get-togethers with friends. It also includes a small audio visualizer that reacts to music with hypnotic animations, turning the mobile phone into another element of the sound environment.
Musixmatch
Musixmatch It is used by millions of people to get instantly synced lyrics for YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, and many other platforms. The latest updates have included very cool functions, such as identifying songs or Translate songs automatically while streaming, a unique feature of this application that definitely deserves to be tried.
One of its defining characteristics is floatinglyricsThis feature displays song lyrics in a floating window over whatever app you're using. So, if you're listening to music on Spotify or watching videos on YouTube, you can follow along with the lyrics, almost like karaoke.
As an alternative to Shazam, Musixmatch includes a music recognition mode It listens to what's playing around you and tells you what song it is. Once identified, it automatically shows you the lyrics and, if available, the translation in your language, something perfect for learning languages or better understanding the songs you listen to.
The app integrates with major streaming services and the music stored on your device, so it not only helps you identify unknown songs, but also... centralize all your letters and enjoy them in sync while playing any song.
MusicID
MusicID is an app whose main tool is the song identification, but it has many other functions such as adding notes and locations to identified songs to remember where we discovered them, accessing artist pages with photos, biographies and other content about them, watching concerts on YouTube, etc.
The application was initially developed by Gracenote, a company with one of the largest music databases of the world. When it recognizes a song, MusicID displays a detailed card with information about the artist, album, year of release and links to listen to it or buy it on different platforms.
One of its most curious functions is that it allows you to use it as a kind of musical diary. You can add personal notes For each topic, for example, "this song was played at such and such a group's concert" or "I heard it for the first time on such and such a trip," thus creating a very personal record of your discoveries.
Although it's not the most frequently updated app on the market, it continues to adequately fulfill its main purpose: listen to a song, identify it in a few seconds and show you all the relevant information in a clear and simple format.
Soly - Song and Lyrics Search Engine
As its name suggests, Soly is an application whose sole purpose is to identify both the song and the lyrics Of the same. It is an app simple and that weighs very littleTherefore, it may be ideal for many if they have a terminal with little storage space or want a simple app that does the job.
Its interface is very straightforward: one button to recognize the song one button shows what's playing, and another lets you access the associated lyrics. It doesn't add unnecessary layers of complexity, advanced discovery systems, or internal social networks. Soly is designed for those who simply need to know. What song is playing and how can I read the lyrics?without further embellishment.
In many cases it allows play previews or link to external services to listen to the full song, so it behaves as a good lightweight alternative to other heavier and more feature-rich solutions.
Music Detector
Music Detector will listen to the song you need and then let you know. name of the song, the singer's name and all the other information you want. This is also an excellent app for finding music, focused on providing the simplest experience possible.
Music Detector works with all types of music sources, whether radio, television, Bluetooth speakers or internet musicAmong other things. As long as you can hear the song relatively clearly, you won't have too much trouble identifying it, so it's an app recommended for different types of situations where you just want to press a button and get the result.
The information it displays usually includes album details, possible links to video clips and, occasionally, access to streaming services. All of this within a very clean and user-friendly interface without needing to create a user accountwhich further speeds up the process.
Music identifier
The most generic app on the list, but not one to dismiss. It does its job: it listens to the music and tells you what track it is in a card format. He does not go around with frills and its design is the most spartan on the list. It is very effective and with most commercial music you have no problem.
If we look for a conventional identifier And if you're not interested in the connectivity with other services, it's the best app on the list. Perhaps a slight facelift wouldn't hurt, but it's undeniable that It works wellFurthermore, it is free and contains no ads, something increasingly difficult to find in this type of tool.
More ways to identify songs on Android without installing many apps
In addition to direct alternatives to Shazam, the Android ecosystem offers other very useful possibilities to recognize music using tools you may already use daily. This way you don't have to fill your phone with apps if you only need to identify songs occasionally.
From the Google app
You can easily identify a song using the Google application on your Android device. To do this, open the Google app and, in the search bar, tap the microphone icon as if you were going to make a request to the search engine. Then, select the option “Search for song”.
At that moment you can play the song you want to identify near the microphone, or simply hum it, whistle it, or sing itGoogle will analyze the audio and try to find a match in its music database. A major advantage is that it works quite well even when there is some background noise, thanks to its source separation algorithms.
From the Google Assistant
Another very convenient way is to use directly Google AssistantThe assistant will handle the Google search, but you won't have to touch the screen. You just need invoke the assistant and execute a specific voice command to recognize songs:
- Invoke the assistant, for example by saying “Hey, Google”.
- Ask something like “What song is this?” o “What song is playing?”.
- You can also hum, whistle, or sing the melody so that it can find it, instead of playing the original track.
In response, the assistant will display a card with title, artist, album cover and access to music platforms. On some devices, you can also pin quick access for music recognition on the home screen or the Quick settings in the notification panelfurther reducing the necessary steps.
Customization layers' own functions
There are different layers of customization who no longer need to rely directly on Google, because the manufacturers themselves decided to add their own function so that their users could Identify music without installing additional appsThese solutions are usually integrated into music apps or the assistants of each brand.
For example, one of those customization layers is EMUI, from Huaweiwhich has its own Music app that includes a feature for recognize songs at any timeYou just have to open the app and look for the button to identify the track, very similar to Shazam.
In the case of mobile phones Samsung With One UI, the brand offers its own digital assistant, Bixbywhich can also recognize music. By invoking it and saying commands like "?"What song is this??» either "What track is playing?"?", Bixby listens to what's playing and displays information about the song on the screen.
Depending on the manufacturer, you may also have shortcuts from the lock screen, specific widgets, or recognition features that integrate with the phone's native player, so it's worth checking the options included in your customization layer.
Tips for getting more out of music recognition apps
Shazam alternatives aren't just for identifying that song playing in a coffee shop. If you use them well, they can become a a daily tool for discovering music new and organize your tastes in a much more convenient way.
Some practical tips To get the most out of these apps on Android, you need to:
- Activate, whenever one exists, some type of Automatic mode (like Auto Shazam or similar functions) during concerts, parties or events, so that the mobile phone saves all the songs that are playing without you having to keep an eye on them.
- Take advantage of integration with Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music and other platforms to directly send the identified songs to a play list specific, for example "Discoveries" or "To listen to later".
- Explore the global and local hit lists which many apps include; this way you can see what's being listened to in your country or in other regions and broaden your musical horizons.
- Use functions of letters in real time and translations to learn languages, improve your pronunciation, or simply better understand the message of songs.
- Share your findings on social networks or messaging apps directly from these tools, taking advantage of their integration options to recommend music to your friends.
If you also combine several apps—for example, SoundHound for humming, Musixmatch for lyrics, and Deezer or Spotify for playback—you'll have a very complete musical ecosystem that covers almost any need when it comes to identifying, saving and enjoying your favorite songs on Android.
With all these options, relying solely on Shazam is no longer necessary: today you can choose the app that best suits your music listening style, whether prioritizing the accuracy in recognizing songs, the integration with your streaming service favorite, the synced lyrics or the lightness and ease of use on your Android mobile.