The Ultimate 10 Music Players of 2024 (Windows/Mac/Android/iOS)

Brittany Garcia

May 17, 2024 11:23Posted by to Play Audio

Sometimes, you will need to turn a video into audio for many purposes. And it happens you have MKV, and you thought, ‘Is it possible to convert MKV to MP3?’ Of course! The MKV format is mostly similar to MP4 in many aspects, such as popularity, usage, and storage. But, since MKV uses a different audio codec, it can be sensitive in converting into an audio file. Well, you are in good hands as here, you will be guided on how to convert MKV with the best tools. With recommended solutions, pick the one you think is the best!

Music Player Software

Part 1. How to Pick the Best Music Player Software

When selecting an audio player, consider what you want for a listening experience. You might have to include the pricing, supported platforms or formats, audio encoding technologies, equalizer settings, and so on. Once you know what you are looking for, the search will be easier. Furthermore, we will help you find the best audio player for any OS as we tested many tools and chose the top best.

Part 2. Top 5 Music Playing Software for Windows and Mac

1Blu-ray Player

Supported Platforms: Windows 11/10/8/7, Mac OS X 10.9 or above

Enjoy listening to all your favorite music with Blu-ray Player on Windows and Mac. The platform consists of a straightforward interface with advanced technology to play various audio formats, such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, and so on. Since it is aimed at excellent playback, the music player incorporates audio encoding technologies like DTS and Dolby to provide seamless and lossless audio quality. Furthermore, Blu-ray Player is a multimedia platform, so other media types are welcome for smooth streaming on your desktop.

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For Windows

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for macOS

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Features:

Bottom Line:

Blu-ray Player is the top pick for music players on Windows and Mac. Not only is it easy to operate, but you can also enjoy listening to your favorite tunes without worrying about limitations or unsupported formats.

Pros

  • Provide a free version with generous functions.
  • High-quality audio streaming.
  • Suitable for video and audio playback.

Cons

  • No functions for audio editing.

2VLC Media Player

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android

It is a multimedia media player that has been known for years. VLC was added to the list because it serves as a free music player for Windows, Mac, and Linux. While it is updated with more features and add-ons, VLC remains free and open-source for everyone. Basically, tech-savvy can edit the software system in their terms or upload any media type to play. Moreover, it allows you to play audio from different sources, including CDs, YouTube, etc.

VLC Media Player Music Player

Features:

Bottom Line:

There are chances that you might need to use this music player alternative for many reasons. VLC is the ideal platform to stream any media file without costing you money.

Pros

  • Clean interface without unwanted ads.
  • Plays almost all audio, video, and image formats.

Cons

  • Prone to bugs and playback interruptions.
  • Difficult to configure.

3Windows Media Player

Supported Platforms: Windows Vista/11/10/8/7

WMP is the recommended music player for Windows since it is a default tool. This means you don’t need to purchase or install a third-party app to play audio files on your computer. However, the problem with the default media player is its incompatibility with many important formats. Say you want to play WAV instantly, but WMP is not designed to support this format, and thus, you need to convert it with the most compatible file extension. Still, it is worth using this on your Windows since it prevents malware from entering your device through installing third-party apps. Check more Windows Media player alternatives here.

Windows Media Player

Features:

Bottom Line:

WMP is still relevant for audio streaming. But, of course, it will not work for most formats. At least for quick access, it is already on your computer any time you need it.

Pros

  • Free and accessible on any Windows OS.
  • Support online and offline playback.

Cons

  • Only gets updated when there is a new software update.

4JustPlay

Supported Platforms: Mac OS 10.12 and above

JustPlay is a great music-playing software for Mac. It is lightweight and designed with powerful selected features. Aside from playing MP3, it works as the player for WAV, FLAC, and other formats effortlessly with a customizable audio equalizer. Also, you would love to use JustPLayer with external audio devices, such as a complex home theater system or headphones.

Just Play Audio Player Mac

Features:

Bottom Line:

The music player offers simplicity, but it is enough if you are not looking for an advanced program. Moreover, JustPlay is affordable, as low as $4.99, to unlock its other functions.

Pros

  • It does not need too many resources to function.
  • Effective playback controls.

Cons

  • No regular updates from the developers.

5MediaMonkey

Supported Platforms: Windows 10/11, Android 6.0 and above

It is a flexible program that can play and organize media files simultaneously. Of course, its playback algorithm is expected to be high-quality, with functions to allow you to stream audio files via Chromecast, Bluetooth, and others. MediaMonkey is even suitable for DJs and small business owners with many collections, as the audio player can recognize them quickly.

Media Monkey Music Player

Features:

Bottom Line:

MediaMonkey is the ideal digital audio player for Windows and Android, especially if you want to play music collections without limitations. Moreover, it has the necessary tools to edit, convert, and manage the audio files either on your PC or phone.

Pros

  • Sync files across devices.
  • Enable to store data on the cloud.

Cons

  • The premium version is too expensive.
  • Not available on Mac and iOS.

Part 3. Top 5 iPhone/Android Music Player Apps

1Spotify

Supported Platforms: Android 5.0, iOS 14, Mac 10.15, Windows 10 and above

Spotify is known as one of the leading streaming services today. It is essential for most people because it provides almost all the popular singers and artists of any generation. Furthermore, it has a built-in equalizer to enhance or match the audio settings to your devices. One thing you should look forward to is creating playlists that you can share with other users.

Spotify Music Player Android iOS

Features:

Bottom Line:

Spotify has become the normal audio player for many people. It is loved by younger generations since they can share playlists with others. Spotify is a cross-platform app that you can subscribe to with monthly or annual plans.

Pros

  • Easily access and share files with other users.
  • One account can be used on two or more devices.

Cons

  • Some older and popular live songs are not included.

2YouTube Music

Supported Platforms: Android 7.0, iOS 14 and above

If you find Spotify very limiting regarding excellent live performance, YouTube Music is for you. YouTube started as a website and has now evolved into your personal audio player on a PC or phone. Many reviews find the subscription worth it because you can play all the videos and songs you like, leave comments, and download files for offline streaming.

YouTube Music Player Phone

Features:

Bottom Line:

As mentioned, YouTube Music is enjoyable with a subscription plan because you can freely search for any live or unplugged performance without limitations.

Pros

  • Built-in equalizer.
  • Download a whole album.

Cons

  • Every update creates buffering.

3Poweramp

Supported Platforms: Android 5.0, iOS 7.0 and above

There is a unique mood when you use Poweramp Music Player as an Android music player software. For one, it can change the theme or skin of the whole player. Another is its 10-band equalizer to tune the songs to your preference.

PowerAmp Music Player

Features:

Bottom Line:

Poweramp is not free, so you might need to look for another free audio player. But with its $3.99 plan, you can easily enjoy playback with more features.

Pros

  • The new settings can be applied to other headphones.
  • No need to convert audio for compatibility.

Cons

  • Not lightweight.

4Apple Music

Supported Platforms: iOS 10.0, Android 5.0 and above

Apple Music is the default iPhone music player. It provides all the necessities for an enjoyable listening experience, such as an extensive list of popular songs, artists, genres, and so on. The best part of this alternative is its ability to play other forms of media, including radio, podcasts, and film shows.

Apple Music Audio Player

Features:

Bottom Line:

Just like Spotify and YouTube Music, Apple Music is a popular streaming platform. There are many songs to listen to, as well as discoveries of artists and genres in any year.

Pros

  • Autoplay songs with related playlists.
  • Show daily charts for the top 100.

Cons

  • Android users need to create an Apple ID.

5Rocket Music Player

Supported Platforms: Android 5.0 and above

Do you need a powerful audio player? Rocket might be the one you are looking for. Apart from its main functions, it offers a band graphic equalizer with a bass booster, lyrics, and tag editor. It is suitable for fans of podcasts because it has a bookmark feature to continue listening anytime.

Rocket Music Player

Features:

Bottom Line:

It shows that Rocket Music Player has outstanding features as an audio player. While it is free to download, in-app purchases are inevitable since it will be limited to certain functions.

Pros

  • Customizable playlists.
  • Backup and restore data.

Cons

  • Unfixed bugs.

Part 4. Best 10 Music Player Software (Comparison Table)

Music Player Software Price Audio syncing Supported Platform Audio Encoding Technology Equalizer
Blu-ray Player Free, $15.60 Yes Windows, Mac Dolby, DTS Yes
VLC Free No Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS Dolby, DTS Yes
Windows Media Player Free No Windows Dolby No
JustPlay $4.99 No Mac Dolby, DTS No
MediaMonkey $29.95-$59.95 No Windows, Android Dolby No
Spotify $29.95 Yes Windows, Mac, iOS, Android DTS Yes
YouTube Music $10.99 Yes Windows, Mac, iOS, Android Dolby, DTS Yes
PowerAmp $7.99 No Android DTS No
Apple Music $10.99 Yes iOS, Android DTS Yes
Rocket Music Player $0.99-$99.99 No Android DTS Yes

Part 5. FAQs about Music Player

Wrapping up

Have you found the best music player for your computer or phone? We hope that the provided recommendations opened you to more possibilities of endless audio streaming. While there are many to choose from, Blu-ray Player is one of the most unique software you should try on Windows and Mac. Download and discover the best streaming platform today.

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Rating: 4.9 / 5 (based on 549 votes)

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