As iTunes alternative, MacX MediaTrans can transfer & manage any video, music, photo, Podcasts, Audiobooks, iTunesU and more between iPhone iPad iPod and Mac. This iPhone manager also enables you to turn. Remove DRM from music, video, audiobook purchased from iTunes. Itunes alternatives free download - Apple iTunes, Apple iTunes, Apple iTunes (Classic), and many more programs.
iTunes is dead, and it’s about time. The eighteen-year-old app has been struggling to cope with its own bloat for many years now, and something had to change. So with the release of macOS Catalina, we’ll no longer see the familiar white musical icon on our dock.
What will you use instead? You’re unlikely to want a direct replacement that replicates everything that was wrong with iTunes. Instead, Apple users will be offered a suite of new official apps that together cover the functionality you need and let you access the media you purchased in the past or subscribe to now. I imagine these apps will be the top choice for most Mac users.
What about Windows users? You’ll be able to continue using iTunes exactly as you have been for some time to come. Nothing has changed. That may come as a relief, or possibly a huge frustration.
Mar 22, 2020 15 Best iTunes Alternatives You Can Use 1. My favorite iTunes replacement software is WALTR 2. While this software is not cheap, it is very convenient. If you don’t want to manage files and just want a player which can help. Oct 12, 2019 Change is in the air. Whether you use a Mac or PC, if you’re ready for something different, we’ll cover a range of alternatives that will suit the way you consume your media, and help you escape the iTunes ecosystem. Apple’s Replacing iTunes with a Suite of New Mac Apps. I’ve been using iTunes since it became available for Windows in 2003.
Change is in the air. Whether you use a Mac or PC, if you’re ready for something different, we’ll cover a range of alternatives that will suit the way you consume your media, and help you escape the iTunes ecosystem.
Apple’s Replacing iTunes with a Suite of New Mac Apps
I’ve been using iTunes since it became available for Windows in 2003. Initially, it was an audio player that made getting music onto my iPod so much easier—something that wasn’t simple for Windows users before that. The iTunes Store didn’t exist, so the app included features to rip music from your CD collection.
Since then new features have been added on a regular basis: video and podcasts support, iPhone and iPad backup, and the iTunes Store. Now, instead of one large app trying to cope with all of this, three new more responsive Mac apps (and one old one) will handle those duties. Divide and conquer! If you own an iOS device, you’re already familiar with them.
1. Apple Music
Apple Music will allow you to access Apple’s streaming service, your music purchases, the audio files you imported into iTunes, and any playlists you created. Unlike iOS, on Catalina, you’ll be able to purchase your music right in the app rather than needing a separate icon for the iTunes Store.
The new Apple Music app is the ultimate music streaming experience on Mac. Explore a library of 50 million songs, discover new artists and tracks, find the perfect playlist, download and listen offline, or enjoy all the music you’ve collected over the years. And find it all in your music library on all your devices.
2. Apple TV
Apple TV is the new home for your movies and TV shows, including those you purchased from iTunes or imported from your DVD collection. It will also give you access to Apple’s TV Plus subscription service when it launches in November. It’s also the new place where you’ll purchase new video content from Apple.
The Apple TV app for Mac is the new home for all your favorite movies, shows and — coming soon — Apple TV+. Watch everything directly in the app or enjoy it offline, and discover the best of what’s on in the Watch Now tab. You can even pick up where you left off on any screen, across all your devices. And for the first time, 4K and Dolby Atmos–supported movies are available on Mac.
3. Podcasts
I’m a huge fan of podcasts, and I currently use Apple’s Podcasts app on iOS. The same app will now be available on my Macs as well, and I look forward to being able to pick up where I left off on my iPhone.
More than 700,000 of the best entertainment, comedy, news and sports shows are now available on your Mac with Apple Podcasts. Search for podcasts by title, topic, guest, host, content and more. Subscribe and be notified as soon as new episodes become available. And in the Listen Now tab, you can easily pick up where you left off across all your devices.
4. Finder
Finder is not a new app, but on Catalina, it’s now a smarter app. It can directly access and manage your iOS devices, allowing you to back up your apps and data, and drag-and-drop new files onto them.
Free Alternative To Itunes
All of the ways you manage devices in iTunes will soon appear in the Finder on Mac. Your sync settings and previous backups in iTunes will be kept safe on your Mac after updating to macOS Catalina. Now that devices appear in Finder, it’s also easier to drag and drop files you want to transfer all in one place.
Third-Party Alternatives
So Mac users get a lineup of new Apple media apps, and Windows users can continue to use iTunes. That means Apple remains a viable solution for your media needs. But if you’re ready to step outside of the Apple ecosystem, here are some alternative solutions.
1. Use Alternate Streaming Services
Rather than purchasing music, movies, and TV shows, many users have switched to subscriptions, and perhaps you’ve already subscribed to Apple Music. There are plenty of alternatives, and I’m sure you’re already aware of the main ones. These generally cost the same as Apple Music, but many also offer workable free plans.
- Spotify Premium $9.99/month,
- Amazon Music Unlimited $9.99/month,
- Deezer $11.99/month,
- Tidal $9.99/month (Premium $19.99/month),
- YouTube Music $11.99/month,
- Google Play Music $9.99/month (currently includes YouTube Music).
Apple doesn’t yet offer a comprehensive video subscription service, though TV Plus, with limited original content, will be launched in November. So if you’ve already moved away from purchasing movies and TV shows on iTunes, you’re likely already a subscriber to Netflix, Hulu, or another service. These start around $10 a month for an individual and family plans may be available.
- Netflix from $9.99/month,
- Hulu $11.99/month (or $5.99/month with ads),
- Amazon Prime Video $4.99-$14.99/month for Prime members,
- Foxtel has a range of mobile apps that vary by country. In Australia, Foxtel Go starts at $25/month.
And there’s plenty of others. Subscription services are a little like the Wild West, and depending on where you’re located in the world, prices will vary and other services may be available. It’s easier to switch between streaming services because you’re not losing anything. You just stop paying for one service and start paying for the next, and you can always change your mind in the future.
2. Use Plex to Manage Your Own Media Library
But not everyone’s a fan of streaming services. Some users prefer to watch and listen to their own extensive libraries of audio and video content. If that’s you, the best solution is to create a media server that can be accessed from all of your devices. That’s something that iTunes could handle (as can the new apps), but it was never the best tool for the job. That title arguably goes to Plex.
Plex is the key to personal media bliss. Once you download our free and easy-to-use software where you store your files (usually a computer or external hard drive), it takes care of the rest. Plex magically scans and organizes your files, automatically sorting your media beautifully and intuitively in your Plex library. Once you’ve downloaded our app on your favorite devices, you’ll be up and streaming everything in minutes.
Plex can handle all of the media you have on iTunes: music, podcasts, movies, and TV. Because it’s managing your own media collection, you get to choose the quality—all the way up to lossless. Once you’ve added your content to Plex, it’s organized for you, and beautifully presented. Cover art and other metadata are added. You can access your content from Apple or Android TV, iOS and Android mobile devices, your computer or gaming console, and more.
Plex is free software, but if you’d like to support the company, you can subscribe to Plex Premium for $4.99/month. This gives you additional features and early access to future ones, access to free-to-air TV via an aerial, media sync in addition to streaming, and other perks.
3. Use a Third-Party Media Library App
If you want to play your own content but don’t want to go as far as a media server, use a third-party app to manage the music and video on your own computer. With the rise of streaming services, this software genre isn’t as popular as it used to be, and some apps are starting to feel dated. I no longer feel this is the best way forward for most users, but if you disagree, here are some of your options.
Kodi (Mac, Windows, Linux) is the quality entertainment hub formerly known as XBMC (Xbox Media Center). It allows users to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media and the internet. The software is free and open-source, and mobile apps are available for iOS and Android. This is the best media player on the list.
Kodi spawned from the love of media. It is an entertainment hub that brings all your digital media together into a beautiful and user-friendly package. It is 100% free and open-source, very customizable and runs on a wide variety of devices. It is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and a huge community.
VLC Media Player (Mac, Windows, Linux) is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that plays almost any audio or video media content, though it can feel a little technical at times. Apps are also available for iOS, Apple TV, and Android.
VLC is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
MediaMonkey (Windows) will manage your audio and video media, play it on your computer, and sync to Android, iPhone, iPod, iPad and more. The software is free, and MediaMonkey Gold costs $24.95 and includes extra features. I used it for many years, but it feels a little dated now.
Is your music library a mess? Movies missing artwork and other information? Scattered across various locations? Full of duplicates? Get MediaMonkey and get organized.
MusicBee (Windows) lets you manage, find, and play music files on your PC, and supports podcasts, web radio stations, and SoundCloud. It’s free and can sync your music to Android and Windows Phones, but not iOS.
The Ultimate Music Manager and Player. MusicBee makes it easy to manage, find, and play music files on your computer. MusicBee also supports podcasts, web radio stations and SoundCloud integration.
Foobar2000 (Windows) is an advanced audio player with a loyal following. It’s free, fast, and functional, and will play your music on your PC but not your mobile devices.
Foobar2000 is an advanced freeware audio player for the Windows platform.
Clementine Music Player (Mac, Windows, Linux) is a music player and library based on amaroK, my favorite Linux music app. It can search and play your own music library, access internet radio, add cover art and other metadata, and add data to your iOS devices or iPods. It feels a little dated.
Clementine is a multiplatform music player. It is inspired by Amarok 1.4, focusing on a fast and easy-to-use interface for searching and playing your music.
4. Transfer and Manage iPhone Files
If you’ve been using iTunes to backup your iPhone and transfer files and media files to it, there are a number of excellent alternatives. While many of us prefer to avoid wires and use iCloud for this, there are still many users who prefer the security of plugging their phones into their Mac or PC from time to time, being in control of their own data, and avoiding additional subscription costs. Does that sound like you? Here are your best options.
iMazing will help you manage the data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. It will back up your data, save and export phone messages, transfer your music and photos, and let you deal with most other data types. It’s available for Windows and Mac, and costs $64.99 for one computer, $69.99 for two, and $99.99 for a family of five.
Manage your iPhone. Your way. Get a trusted software to transfer and save your music, messages, files and data. Safely back up any iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Powerful and user-friendly, iMazing is simply the best iOS device manager for Mac and PC. Get full control over your iOS device. Get iMazing.
AnyTrans (Mac, Windows) allows you to manage content on an iPhone or Android phone, and also iCloud. It will back up your phone, help you move content to a new phone, transfer media content, and much more. To manage iPhones it costs $39.99/year, or $29.99/year to manage Android phones, and Lifetime and Family plans are available. We named it the winner in our Best iPhone Transfer Software review.
AnyTrans is your complete content manager for all situations. No matter you want to manage content on iPhone, Android devices or cloud drives, the best solution is always right at your hand.
Waltr 2 is a little different. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that will transfer media files to your iPhone either while plugged in or wirelessly via AirDrop. It costs $39.95 and is available for Mac and Windows.
Drag-n-drop Music, Ringtones, Videos, PDF & ePUB files into any Apple device without iTunes (& no extra apps).
EaseUS MobiMover Free (Mac, Windows) is a pretty good free alternative, though it offers fewer features than the other apps. The free version doesn’t include technical support, but you can get this by subscribing to the Pro version from $29.99/month.
#1 Free iOS data transfer in the world for iPhone, iPad with Windows or Mac. Also help you manage iOS files with computer easily.
So What Should You Do?
Are you happy with Apple Music? Have you invested heavily In the iTunes Store? Then nothing needs to change. Mac users can enjoy the new apps that come with macOS Catalina, and Windows users can continue to use iTunes just as they have been.
But the winds of change are blowing, and if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to move out of that ecosystem, this might be the right time for you. If you’re a streamer you may like to consider Spotify or one of the other popular services. The good news is that it’s easy to switch between streaming services—there’s negligible vendor lock-in. Just stop your subscription with one, and start it with the next, or even subscribe to several while you decide which works best for you.
On the other hand, if you have your own large library of media content, Plex will make it available on all of your devices. It’s full-featured, easy to use, and under active development. Unlike many other media players, Plex’s future seems quite secure, so you can make it the new home for your media files for years to come.
Finally, to back up your iPhone to your Mac or PC and avoid additional iCloud subscription costs, have a look at iMazing and AnyTrans. They’re great value, and will let you manage your content and transfer it both ways.
Not only iTunes is running all the iOS based devices perfectly but also providing its services for Windows and Mac too. It is the best software for media transfer, device management and for a lot of functioning of your system. However, ever wondered about other best iTunes alternative?
10 Best iTunes Alternative for Syncing Music
If you haven’t then it is the time that you should better start looking for other such programs which can handle a list of functions without slowing down your system at all. And hence, I comprised this list of best alternatives to iTunes to reduce the amount of dependency that iDevices has to go through because of it. You can check out the complete information right below.
1. Aimersoft iMusic
Website:https://imusic.aimersoft.com/
iMusic by Aimersoft is literally like the best iTunes alternative ever. I mean is there something this program cannot do? It is not just a music transfer app but work perfectly for music discovery, file managing, file conversion, recording and various other tasks.
However, you are not going to get this for free. And hence, after the trial period ends you can choose from plans like $39.95 per user per year, $59.95 per user for lifetime and Family Plan of $149.88 for 2-5 users for lifetime.
Now, it is the time to talk about the advantages and features which you get with this program. It performs functions like music discovering and download in both mp3/mp4, music availability from more than 3000 sites, multiple format supported, record songs from various sources and playlist creation etc.
Now, coming on to the most important part of music transfer then you get features like music transfer between apple devices and iTunes, drag and drop option, Music transfer between cross platforms, backup tools, fix your iTunes library, additional toolbox for functions like music tag, CD burning, backup, covers etc.
Compatible with:
2. MusicBee
Website:https://getmusicbee.com/
It is the time to be happy because I am mentioning a completely free solution as one of the best alternative to iTunes. MusicBee is a complete music player as well as music manager too which also supports integration with podcasts, web radio stations etc.
The interface is simple yet quite catchy and modern which means no wasting of time in understanding the features because it goes on quite smoothly.
The auto-tags automatically clean up your library and make it way organized than before. It also automatically improvise the sound quality so you do not have to use amplifiers for it. You can also use some plug-ins to add functionality to the program.
Along with the customization features, you get more functions with this best iTunes alternative too. Sync it with your devices or music collection and directly transfer your files between cross platforms. However, it does not support some of the file formats. You can also directly access Groove Music from it which comes with native support functionality.
Compatible with:
3. MediaMonkey
Website:http://www.mediamonkey.com
Next in the row for the list of best iTunes alternative is MediaMonkey. It gives you access to more than 10,000 music and video files and that too for absolutely free. This is not just a music transfer and music discovery tool but something way more than that.
You can also buy its Gold Version for $49.95 which brings you additional features and tools for high-end and bulk usage. Customization and organizing are the important aspects accessed under this program.
Other important features regarding MediaMonkey are syncing with Android, iPhone, iPad etc. for music transfer and conversion, various audio formats supported, download music/movies/videos and burn CDs, manage a complete list of media files on the basis of tags and formats etc.
The auto-tagging feature of MediaMonkey saves you from duplicate files and unwanted music by auto-tagging them. You can also create playlists and manage them easily. Apart from establishing sync for music transfer you can also create the backup of your media library too. And these are the features which are available in free plan only.
Compatible with:
4. SynciOS
Website:http://www.syncios.com/
As the name makes the prime feature clear for this program, SynciOS is the ultimate tool that you need for effectively establishing a sync between various devices for transferring files. And the basic plan for software is available for free for both Windows and Mac Operating systems.
You can also buy SynciOS Ultimate for $49.95 for better syncing between cross platforms and for backup solution of large files too making it one of the best iTunes alternative in this list.
SynciOS offers features like phone to phone transfer, cloud backup, mobile and media manager, backup retriever, iPhone data recovery, simple interface to provide easy accessing, cross-platform connection available, transfer iTunes library to iDevice or android devices etc.
SynciOS makes an excellent iTunes alternative Mac and also for windows platform too offering all features for both the platforms effectively. When you upgrade to the Ultimate plan, you get features like audio/video converter, free video downloading, PC to Drive transfer, ringtone maker, import files, iTunes library transfer and many more.
Compatible with:
5. DoubleTwist
Website:https://www.doubletwist.com/
DoubleTwist works in more sort of a package way rather than featuring different functions. It has different programs for different needs and hence you can only download the programs which you need to use and can leave the others.
It has cloud player for music streaming, classic player for music playing and podcasts, sync for file transfer, Wake up alarm and recorder for iTunes radio and audio streaming.
Itunes Alternative Mac Os X
Although all of them are available for free but you can also upgrade to DoubleTwist Pro for $8.99 which is personally think is quite an affordable price when compared to other best iTunes alternative. DoubleTwist also offers features like both ways syncing, full MTP support, lighter and faster working and many more.
The player comprised in DoubleTwist allows the user to access various songs and videos for free and you can also use it for podcasts too. However, it is for android mobile phones only. Each of the app comprised in this software offers functionality for different operating systems which makes it a bit confusing and inadequate to operate.
Compatible with:
6. Wondershare TunesGo
Website:https://tunesgo.wondershare.com/
TunesGo is not just another option for the list of best iTunes alternative, but actually, a must have program which can eliminate your need of having iTunes installed on every device for transferring data. Known to be a popular media manager, it can manage your entire media files like a pro.
After the trial period expires you can go for paid plans which are TunesGo for Android devices for $39.95 per year, TunesGo for iOS devices for $49.95 per year and TunesGo Suite for $59.95 per PC per year.
Wondershare TunesGo makes an excellent option as iTunes alternative windows and also for Mac too. You can access all the features of iTunes in it without even having to get involved in any of the complexities.
Features of Wondershare TunesGo are media streaming and media player, smart transfer between cross platforms even entire playlists, integration with Google Play and Amazon, auto-tagging of music, eliminate duplicate files, music backup and restoring, custom iPhone ringtone, 100% clean platform with 30 days money back guarantee option too and various other user friendly options.
Compatible with:
7. Clementine
Website:https://clementine-player.org/
Clementine is a very modern music organizer tool which provides cross-platform support for absolutely free. I can assure you that no other program enlisted here works as amazingly as Clementine and that too for free which makes it the ultimate option for the list of best iTunes alternative.
It not only serves as music library organizer but music player too. Their motive is to utilize an easy to use interface for a faster performance.
Other features of Clementine which you would love to know about are local music library integration, various internet radio integration like Spotify, Grooveshark, Jamendo etc., auto-tagging and smart playlist creation in just seconds, CUE sheet supported and many more.
Clementine also supports various audio formats which makes it a versatile software. The queue manager and auto tag fetching from MusicBrainz gives you extra functioning of organizing music according to your taste. Clementine also supports integration to online radio websites for music streaming too. So, never a dull moment when you are using Clementine.
Compatible with:
8. Fidelia
Website:http://www.audiofile-engineering.com/fidelia/
Although available in free version but you can buy the Premium Plan of Fidelia for $29.99 only. You can get the Mac version from either the site or from the Mac App Store too. Being available for both the platforms Fidelia makes an excellent iTunes replacement.
Fidelia offered by Audiofile is a complete music solution providing a high definition audio player supporting various functions and relevant features too.
Fidelia supports a variety of digital audio formats and also give complete audio control which provides a great music experience to the users. The variety of audio tools offered along with Fidelia serves as the after effects to the existing music library. It is so easy to import your iTunes library to Fidelia and then transfer it to various devices of your choice.
Being the best iTunes alternative, it also offers features like syncing with wireless medium, apart from operating it on Mac you can also operate it from iOS devices too giving complete cross-platform accessibility.
Compatible with:
9. Swinsian
Website:http://swinsian.com/
A highly advanced platform which supports multiple devices as well as multiple file formats, Swinsian is the program which must be there with you if you want a more open and advanced software for music transfer and organizing work.
Once the free trial it is going to cost you just $19.95 to buy this program for your Mac operating systems accompanied with a number of features.
To name a few, you get features like music player, multiple file format supported, advanced and auto tag editing, manage large music libraries, fast even with a huge database, highly customizable platform for multiple files and huge music libraries and many more.
There is no way you are going to like other option in the list of best iTunes alternative once you will start using Swinsian. It offers multiple navigation tools and various views option which makes it extremely user-friendly. There is nothing over the top things and with minimal interface you get huge productivity with Swinsian.
Compatible with:
10. AnyTrans
Website:https://www.imobie.com/anytrans/
Although imobie offers another free music manager called PodTrans but that is limited for iPods only. So, for cross-platform connection and for better features you can opt for this cool and our final pick as the best iTunes alternative called AnyTrans.
Just like its name, it transfers files between various platforms and that too with utmost ease. You can use the free version and then there are plans like $39.99 per user and $59.99 family plan for 5 users.
There have been various alternatives to iTunes listed down here but AnyTrans excels them all. From android phones to iDevices you can manage the music on any one of them through this. Other features of this program are multiple devices supported, not only music but all types of data management, fast and simple to use etc.
Talking about the technical details, AnyTrans includes, one tap transfer, import, export and data backup, data retrieval, lifetime free upgrades after purchase, smart and seamless and various other functions included.
Compatible with:
Conclusion
Although it comes as the default application for the iOS based systems but for a change you can switch to something better demanding less dependency. The only thing which I just hate about iTunes is that you cannot transfer files unless the other system has this program installed.
In such situation, you really need to try out these best iTunes alternative which works on cross platforms too and provide the best option for managing as well as transferring media files. Be it windows or iPods, they work with all and establishes a great syncing connection too.
Comments are closed.