There’s not anything that’s necessarily wrong with iTunes, but it’s certainly not for everyone. Some people find it too bloated and too slow to load, while others may find it too restrictive. It could also be that a person might not find the interface useful for one reason or another. For this reason, there are some great iTunes alternatives on the market that are worth a look. Here are some of the best iTunes alternative software packages: 1 iMyFone TunesMate is a simple alternative to iTunes that nonetheless has many features.
With this program, you can back up your files, as well as transfer a variety of file formats between your devices. You could say that it sets your iOS device free. Some key features that really set TunesMate apart include:. Support for all iOS devices. The ability to transfer data between your iPad / iPhone/iPod and iTunes. The ability to transfer files of many kinds from your device to your PC and vice versa.
The ability to transfer files of many kinds from your device to your PC and vice versa. Many kinds of files are supported, such as photos, videos, music, playlists, voice memo, contacts, etc. This application is really easy to use, and in fact you can transfer your iOS files in just a few simple steps: Step 1: Download and install TunesMate then plug in your device via USB. Step 2: On the left, choose your device from a list. The program will automatically detect it. Step 3: Choose what sort of files you wish to transfer, and then select the individual files as they come up on the right. From there, you can export them.
2 WonderShare TunesGo WonderShare TunesGo is a valiant attempt to all-out iTunes alternative with something better. It includes a music player and a device management function. Some of its best feature include:. The ability to sync your iTunes data with other devices, including even Android phones. The ability to import music from your iOS devices and transfer them to your computer.
And of course, the ability to transfer from your computer to your iOS device. It’s available for both Mac and PC, though the Mac version is paid only. 3 MediaMonkey Another alternative to iTunes as a media player and manager, MediaMonkey does a fairly decent job of it. If you want something that also comes with a built-in player and helps you organize your files, MediaMonkey is worth a try. Some important features include:. Finding and automatically populating your music file lists with album art.
Finding and automatically populating your music file lists with album art. Can rip music from physical media. Can sync to many different kinds of devices. This software appears to only be available for Windows. Its ability is for media but not for other files.
Its interface is not user-friendly enough and in an old-fashion style. 4 Syncios This is a straight-up device manager that is simple. It does only a few things, but it does them very well, and it allows you transfer data to and from your iOS device, as well as backup that data with ease. Here are some of its more notable features:. Easy media transfer with just a few clicks. Transfers most types of files. Easy back-up function.
Can be downloaded for free. SynciOS is unfortunately only for Windows.
5 Swinsian If you’re looking mostly for something that will replace the media player aspects of iTunes and do little else, then Swinsian might be the application for you. It also looks a lot like iTunes, so it’s easy to adapt. Some of its features include:. Automatic AirPlay port detection. Easy meta data editing. Simple, user-friendly interface that will be familiar to iTunes users.
Some of the downsides for this one, though, are that it’s only available for Mac and that it doesn’t really function very well as a device manager. Comparisons Here is an overview of all of these programs so you can get a better feel for what they have to offer.
When iTunes was first released, it changed the whole music management game. It was the first piece of software which let users easily manage their digital music collection.
However, fast forward a decade or so and iTunes is not the ground-breaking software it used to be. Instead, it has become a clunky piece of software which feels quite bloated. Just last year, Apple released an update to fix the situation as it made the iTunes nimbler by cutting off many features. However, it still is not something that you can enjoy using. That’s why many Apple fans including me hate iTunes and are on constant vigilance to discover apps that can replace it for us. If you are one of us, this is just the article for you.
Whether you want to listen to music, create a back up of your iPhone, or manage your iOS devices, here are the 10 best iTunes alternatives that you can use. Best iTunes Alternatives 1. WALTR 2 My favorite iTunes replacement software is WALTR 2. While this software is not cheap, it is very convenient and powerful. With WALTR 2, I can either connect my iPhone using cables or WiFi. Its WiFi connection is as fast as the native AirDrop and transfers music and pictures in seconds.
Even the big video files just take minutes to transfer from my Mac to my iPhone. I also love the fact that WALTR 2 supports every kind of file that we generally transfer. Whether it’s music, videos, PDFs, ePub, or audiobooks, WALTR 2 automatically recognizes the files we are sending and pushes them to native Apple apps. So, if I transfer a video, I will find it in the Videos app.
This means that I don’t have to use any third-party software to listen to my songs or watch videos. Every file transferred through WALTR 2 is treated as a native file. For this feature alone, WALTR 2 is worth its price. If you want to easily transfer files between your desktop and iOS devices, WALTR 2 is the software to get.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS Download: (Free trial, $39.95) 2. MusicBee If you don’t want to manage files and just want a player which can help you manage your music and listen to it, MusicBee is one of the best software out there. MusicBee makes it easy to manage, find, and play music files on your computer. You can easily sync your music between your Windows PC and iOS devices.
Not only that, MusicBee also works with podcasts, web-radio stations, and even brings SoundCloud integration. Listening to music on MusicBee is fun, as not only it brings a very simple and intuitive UI but also brings tons of feature which enhance your listening experience.
I especially love its 15-band equalizer which lets me adjust the settings to my test. Other features of this app include logarithmic volume scaling, gapless playback, support for WinAmp plugins, theme support, and more. Supported Platforms: Windows Download: 3. Vox Media Player If you are a Mac user and looking for a simple yet feature-rich music player to replace, iTunes check out the Vox Media Player. One of the best things about this app is its support for multiple audio formats. Not only the app supports the popular media format including MP3 and MP4 but it also supports other formats including FLAC, CUE, APE, and M4A among others.
I also love that Vox supports both Tunes and personal music library. Not only that, the app also supports streaming music via SoundCloud, YouTube, and more than 30.000+ internet radio stations.
Other features of the app include gapless playback, enhanced stereo sound, bass audio engine, a cloud storage solution for all your music and more. Supported Platforms: macOS Download: (, $4.99/month) 4. WinX MediaTrans If you are a Windows user who is looking for a true iTunes alternative which allows you to easily transfer music, photos, videos, and other files between your computer and iPhones and iPads, this is the software for you. The app brings features including automatic photo backup, music management with two-way music transfer, video transfer, book organizer, ringtone maker, and more. One of my more favorite feature of this app is that it allows me to encrypt my photo and videos library. The app is also very easy to use and brings no fuss.
Just install it, connect your phone, and you are good to go. The app doesn’t even require to install iTunes on your system and work independently. If you need to manage media and files between your PC and iPhone, this is the app to get. Supported Platforms: Windows Download: (, $35.95) 5.
DearMob iPhone Manager DearMob iPhone Manager is an all-in-one tool which lets you easily manage media and music, transfer files between your computer and iOS devices, create automatic backups, and encrypt your data for total protection. Basically, everything that you can do with iTunes, you can do it with DearMob. While the software is feature rich somehow it has kept the user experience quite simple and intuitive.
I found it quite easy to use and never struggled with any of its features. My favorite feature of the app is the way it allows me to manage my photos. Not only I can transfer photos between devices, which by the way it’s super quick at, it also allows me to manage and delete pictures, manage albums, and both preview and covert HEIC photos. It also brings a feature-rich audio management service which makes it really easy to manage your song. Finally, it’s available for Windows and macOS operating system so no matter which operating system you use, you are good to go. Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS Download: (, $47.75 for two license) 6. Musique Musique is a music player for your Mac that doesn’t suck.
Not only the app brings a clean and simple to use UI but it’s also very nimble and features rich. My favorite feature of the app is its built-in lyrics finder which extracts the lyrics of any song that you are playing. I also love the way this app organizes my music by artists and albums in a beautiful tiled mosaic view. I just love seeing the photos of my favorite artists and the album covers.
One unique feature of this app is that it retains the folder structure of your collection displaying you music in exactly the way you have organized it. If you are looking for a simple and powerful music player this is the one to get, and since it’s free, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t check it out. Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux Download: 7. Swinsian Another music player for Mac that I love is Swinsian. The app brings awesome features such as wide format support, folder watching, advanced tag editing, duplicate finder, smart playlist support, and more. The app is crazy fast and never lags no matter how big your library is.
It also brings a highly customizable interface which can be changed according to your needs. I also love that The app lets you easily control the music playback using its mini window or the widget. If you are switching from iTunes, you will also appreciate that it allows you to import your whole music library from iTunes with just one click. Overall, I quite like this software and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a simple music player as an iTunes alternative. Supported Platforms: macOS Download: (, $19.95) 8. Dr.fone I don’t just use the iTunes for music playback but also use it for other more complex processes such as creating backups, permanently erasing of data on your iPhone, and more, Dr.fone is the solution that you need. The app brings tons of features including the ability to create backups, restoring your iPhone, recovering deleted data from your iPhone, transferring files, messages, and contacts between your computer and iPhone, security erasing data and more.
One of my more favorite feature of this app is the ability to run repair scripts. The app easily repairs normal bugs and iOS problems such as “stuck at boot up”, “recovery mode looping”, and more. While this app costs a pretty penny, it is certainly useful for users who like to experiment with their iPhones. Supported Platforms: macOS, Windows Download: (Free trial, $99.95) 9. Fidelia If you love your music and want to listen to it at the highest possible quality, Fidelia is the app for you. For those who have never heard of this app before, Fidelia is basically a high-definition audio player for Mac. The app brings support for all contemporary audio file formats and an elegant interface that focuses exclusively on music.
The app provides users with the power and the freedom to organize, customize, and savor their digital music collection at the highest possible fidelity. It also brings a complete set of audio tools including equalizers, compressors, CanOpener headphone modeler, support for 64-bit audio unit plug-ins, and more. Basically, unlike iTunes which just gets the job done, Fidelia brings a player which is made for audiophiles.
Supported Platforms: macOS Download: 10. PodTrans We will end this list with a piece of software which allows you to easily transfer music between your desktop computer and iPod. The app is very easy to use allowing users to transfer music with just a couple clicks. You don’t even need to have iTunes installed on this for it to work. If you have a newer iPods which bring the gorgeous retina screen, you will be happy to know that it also supports management of other media files including videos, TV Shows, movies, iTunes U, and more. The app is a small and nifty application and very useful for iPod owners. Also, it’s completely free so you can certainly check it out.
Supported Platforms: macOS, Windows Download: SEE ALSO: Use These iTunes Alternatives to Make Your Life Easier That ends our list of the best iTunes alternatives that you can use to manage music and media on your iPhone. I have tried to include apps which can perform all the actions that you currently carry out using iTunes. Whether you need something just to play music or something that can completely replace iTunes for you, you will find an app here. Do check the list out and let us know your favorite iTunes alternatives from theme all. My primary music library is classical, and most of the options noted in this article are c-r-a-p for classical music. When you have a large classical library, filing something under “classical” doesn’t cut it.
“Classical” is the broadest generic term, and you need to be able to drill down by category: Symphony, Orchestral, Orchestral Vocal, Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto, etc. You also need to be able to select by Composer, by Orchestra, by Conductor, by Soloist, etc. MediaMonkey allows you to dice and slice “classical” (and any other genre, like rock) into as many levels as you could possibly want. Obviously if you have a large musical collection of ANY type of music (200 titles to 200,000 titles) you need something like MediaMonkey so you can access it quickly without searching through miles of files. If you have less than 200 titles, most of the light weight software above will handle that well enough. MediaMonkey does take some getting used to, but that’s why I don’t advise people with small music libraries to use it. I tried MusicBee for more than a year, and while the interface is simpler and nicer to look at than MediaMonkey, the developer has taken it so far now that actually configuring the user interface makes MediaMonkey look simple.
Just try the drop downs to configure the MusicBee interface and you crawl through layers of hell to get anything done. I also did not like the fact that one of the major updates required a real pain you-know-where to re-set the categories and options to have it look like it did before the update. MediaMonkey does have a clunkier looking user interface than MusicBee or some of the other alternatives, but it’s not awful. Tunestogo is shite.
It didn’t copy/transfer the dongs on my iPod playlists. So the playlist are techinically listed but they are empty. NO f-ing to copy the songs either. MediaMoneyabout as functional as a monkey on crack. CONTINUALLY duplicates songs. I have up to EIGHT (8) bloody copies of the same damn song.
Also, no way to edit my iPod playlist. Would SOMEONE please tell – for real – a management system that will copy my iPod playlist and all music and allow me to edit. Why is this so bloody hard to find? There’s no free version of Tunes2go for Windows now as fast as I can see, and the trial version only lets you transfer 10 tracks to a devic, $50 for a full license.
Podtrans is only for iPod so you need anytrans for iPhones – $ I wouldn’t touch double twist with someone elses. Mediamonkey is by far the best, but currently doesn’t write to iOS 10 – hopefully they sort out a fix soon. So that leaves syncios as the only working one listed above that actually had a working free version for Windows users. I installed Double Twist in the past with the aim of finding a nice music player alternate to iTunes It seemed to drag in all my other media files, so I removed those from the program it decided I didn’t want the files at all and removed them from my harddrive.
Didn’t put them in trash, all the files were just gone. It was a disaster. I’ve been a long-term Mac user, and this program truly stuffed me up. I lost all my old videos and home movies. Maybe it’s because it’s multi-platform that it doesn’t follow usual Mac procedure, but use this program with extreme caution. Help Aatif- I’m hating how itunes is so bloated- I want to ditch it. I liked itunes from 10 years ago, but with the latest version it makes my life harder.My needs are basic.
I only listen to music from my ipod. I listen and playback my webinar teaching on my Mac computer.I need to categorize songs and albums differently than itunes. Their genre doesn’t make sense for me.
I ONLY and EVER directly download music from actual cds or if I teach a class online, from Zoom. Most of my music is from different countries- I have NEVER and WILL NEVER buy from apple store.I dance, teach yoga, dance and online webinars and am a massage therapist so need special playlists for teaching and performances. I have playlists organized by how I need it categorized; ie Salsa, or bellydance or massage or webinars.
Within MY genre categories I have it organized by album but then also have several special playlists. I don’t do videos or movies or or album artwork any of the other crap itunes does. Do you think PodTrans would work well for my needs? Or something else? Thank you very much!
Sorry to post on comments- couldn’t find another way. We do have good reasons for choosing an iTunes alternative.
Thanks for sharing so many options, with media players and media transfer software included. I will try the #3 iTunes alternative Swinsian you recommend to play media. As for the iPhone file transfer software, I already got a good one – WinX MediaTrans before reading your post. This tool enables me to transfer photos, music and videos from iPhone to PC, and music/videos back to iPhone. Although it can’t transfer contacts and others currently, I think it’s enough.
I don’t like an app bloated with many features of little value.