Best Music Downloader for iPhone: Your Complete Guide to Getting Music Offline

The best music downloader for iPhone depends on what you need. If you want legitimate, legal downloads, Apple Music lets you download songs for offline listening with a subscription. For free music, Documents by Readdle works as a file manager that handles downloads. If you prefer streaming with offline access, Spotify Premium offers the smoothest experience on iPhone.

The honest truth: Apple’s ecosystem makes downloading music more complicated than it should be. But there are real solutions. Let me walk you through each option so you can pick what fits your life.

Why Downloading Music to iPhone Matters

You might want to download music for several reasons.

Maybe you travel often. Maybe your internet connection drops. Maybe you want to save mobile data. Maybe you like owning your music instead of renting it through streaming.

Whatever your reason, downloading music lets you listen offline without draining your battery or data plan.

The challenge is that iPhone makes this harder than Android phones do. Apple controls what apps can do. They protect their ecosystem tightly. This means you can’t just download music files the way you might on a computer.

But you absolutely can download music legally and easily on iPhone. You just need to know the right approach.

Understanding Your iPhone Download Options

Option 1: Use Apple Music (The Official Way)

Apple Music is Apple’s streaming service. It costs $11.99 per month for individuals (or $7.99 if you’re a student).

Here’s what you get:

You can download unlimited songs to your iPhone. You keep them as long as your subscription is active. You can organize them into playlists. You can download them on cellular data or WiFi.

How it works:

1. Open the Apple Music app
2. Search for or find any song you want
3. Tap the three dots next to the song
4. Tap “Add to Library”
5. Tap the cloud icon with a download arrow
6. The song downloads to your phone

The songs stay on your device until you cancel your subscription. Then they disappear.

Why this works well:

Apple Music has 100 million songs. The app is built directly into iOS. Downloads happen fast. You control them easily. The quality is good (256 kbps with lossless options for some songs).

The downside:

You need a subscription. You don’t own the music. If you stop paying, your downloads vanish. You can’t transfer downloads to other devices easily.

Option 2: Use Spotify Premium (Best for Seamless Experience)

Spotify Premium costs $11.99 per month. It works differently than Apple Music.

You can download songs, albums, and entire playlists for offline listening. The downloads stay on your phone even if you’re offline.

How it works:

1. Open Spotify
2. Find a song or playlist
3. Toggle the download switch on
4. Spotify downloads it to your phone

Why people choose Spotify:

The app runs smoother than most alternatives. The algorithm recommends music you’ll actually like. Your offline downloads work reliably. The free version exists (with ads and limited skips), so you can try it first.

The catch:

Spotify’s free tier doesn’t include downloads. You need Premium. Like Apple Music, downloads only work while you subscribe.

Option 3: YouTube Music Premium (Good if You Use YouTube)

If you already watch YouTube, YouTube Music Premium might make sense. It costs $13.99 per month.

You can download music videos and songs for offline listening. You get ad-free YouTube too.

Why it’s useful:

Some artists release music on YouTube before streaming services. If you want music videos specifically, this is better than audio-only services. The app is reliable on iPhone.

Real limitation:

It’s more expensive. Downloads work, but the app uses more storage than Apple Music. It’s best for people who consume music videos.

Best Free Music Downloader for iPhone

If you can’t afford a subscription, you have honest options.

Documents by Readdle (File Manager Approach)

Documents is a file manager app. It’s free on the App Store.

This app doesn’t download music directly. Instead, it lets you download music files from websites that offer them legally.

How to use it:

1. Download the Documents app (free)
2. Open Safari or your browser
3. Find a website offering legal free music downloads (like Soundcloud, Free Music Archive, or artist websites)
4. Tap “Share”
5. Select “Open in Documents”
6. Documents saves the file
7. You can then play it in the Documents app or transfer it to Apple Music

Why this works:

It’s free. You own the files. You’re not breaking any rules if you download from legitimate sources. It’s simple once you find good music sources.

The reality:

You need to find websites that offer free downloads. This takes more effort than a subscription service. Not every artist offers free downloads.

Find Free Music Legally

Several legitimate websites offer free music downloads.

Soundcloud lets many independent artists offer free downloads. Just look for the download button below tracks.

Free Music Archive (freemusicarchive.org) has thousands of songs you can download legally. Artists have chosen to share them freely.

Bandcamp lets artists set their own prices. Many choose “pay what you want” including free. You can download files directly.

YouTube has countless music videos. Some people use apps to extract audio, though this sits in a legal gray area. We recommend sticking to official sources instead.

The key is finding music creators who have chosen to share their work freely or cheaply.

Local Files Method (Advanced But Powerful)

If you have music files on your computer, you can listen to them on iPhone through Apple Music or Spotify.

Using Apple Music’s Local Files

1. Download or find music files (MP3, M4A format work best)
2. Open Apple Music on your computer
3. Go to Settings
4. Click “Files” and add the folder containing your music
5. Apple Music syncs these “Local Files” to your iPhone
6. Open Apple Music on iPhone
7. You’ll see a “Local Files” playlist with your songs
8. Download these songs just like regular Apple Music songs

Important: Your computer must be on the same WiFi network when syncing happens. Once downloaded to your iPhone, you can listen offline.

Using Spotify’s Local Files

1. Get music files on your computer
2. Create a folder called “Local Files”
3. Put your music in this folder
4. Open Spotify on your computer
5. Go to Settings > Local Files
6. Toggle on “Local Files”
7. Choose the folder where your music lives
8. Your music appears in Spotify playlists
9. Download these songs to your iPhone like normal Spotify songs

Reality check: This method requires a computer and setup work. But if you have music files already, it’s powerful. You keep your files and access them through apps you love.

Music Download Methods for iPhone

Method	Cost	Owns Music	Offline Works	Setup Time	Best For
Apple Music	$11.99/mo	No	Yes	Instant	Apple fans
Spotify Premium	$11.99/mo	No	Yes	Instant	Music lovers
YouTube Music	$13.99/mo	No	Yes	Instant	Video viewers
Documents + Free Sites	Free	Yes	Yes	10 minutes	Budget users
Local Files (Apple Music)	Varies	Yes	Yes	20 minutes	File owners
Local Files (Spotify)	Varies	Yes	Yes	20 minutes	File owners

Step-by-Step: Download Your First Song on iPhone

Let’s use Apple Music as the example since it’s most seamless.

Step 1: Get Apple Music

Open the App Store. Search “Apple Music.” It’s already installed on most iPhones, but you might need to update it. Open the app.

Step 2: Sign In or Start a Trial

If you don’t have an Apple ID, create one. Apple often offers free trials (one to three months). Use one if you qualify.

Step 3: Search for Music

Tap the search tab at the bottom. Type an artist name, song title, or album name.

Step 4: Add to Library

Find the song. Tap the three dots (more options) next to it. Tap “Add to Library.” The song now appears in your library.

Step 5: Download

Tap the song again. Tap the cloud icon with a download arrow. A small progress indicator appears. Once it finishes, a download icon stays visible next to the song.

Step 6: Listen Offline

Put your phone in airplane mode or go somewhere without service. Open Apple Music. Your downloaded songs play perfectly.

That’s it. Five steps to offline music.

What to Avoid: The Illegal Downloader Apps

Some apps claim to download unlimited music for free. Avoid these.

Apps promising free access to all copyrighted music break Apple’s rules. Many disappear from the App Store. Some contain malware or ads that slow your phone. Using them puts you at legal risk.

Apple takes this seriously. Apps that violate copyright policies get removed. Your account could face issues.

Legitimate free music exists. Stick with it instead. Your phone stays safer. You support artists. You avoid legal problems.

Practical Tips for Managing Downloaded Music on iPhone

Once you start downloading, you’ll want to organize.

Delete Songs You Don’t Listen To

Downloaded music takes storage space. If a song hasn’t played in months, delete it. This frees space for new downloads.

Use Playlists

Create playlists for different moods or activities. Put your downloaded songs into these. This makes finding music faster.

Download Before Travel

If you’re traveling, download music before your trip, not during it. Download on WiFi to save data. Aim to download three to five hours of music per trip.

Check Your Storage

iPhone stores downloaded music locally. High-quality downloads use more space. You can see how much space music uses in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Aim to keep at least 2 GB free for other apps.

Update Your App Regularly

Keep your music app updated. Updates fix bugs and improve downloading reliability. Enable automatic app updates in Settings.

The Real Question: Which Should You Pick?

If you want the easiest experience: Apple Music or Spotify Premium. Both work flawlessly on iPhone. Pick whichever you already use or prefer.

If you’re on a tight budget: Try the free tier of Spotify first. When you’re ready to download, upgrade to Premium.

If you have music files: Use the Local Files method with either Apple Music or Spotify. You keep your files and get app access.

If you want to own music: Download from Free Music Archive, Bandcamp, or artist websites using Documents. You own the files forever.

If you travel constantly: Spotify Premium wins. Its offline experience is most reliable.

If you use YouTube: YouTube Music Premium gives you music and music videos in one app.

The honest truth: there’s no single “best” answer. Your situation determines the best choice. But every option listed here works and doesn’t break rules.

Maximizing Your Downloaded Music Storage

iPhone storage fills fast. Here’s how to manage it.

Check What’s Using Space

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. You’ll see a list of apps sorted by size. Music appears here. Tap it to see details.

Remove Old Downloads

Open your music app. Find songs or albums you haven’t listened to in weeks. Delete them from your phone (not your library). You can redownload anytime.

Use Lower Quality Settings

In Apple Music settings, you can choose download quality. Lower quality uses less storage but sounds slightly less detailed. For most people, standard quality works fine.

Delete Duplicate Files

If you’ve imported the same song multiple times through local files, remove duplicates. This wastes storage.

Offload and Reinstall

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Find your music app. Tap “Offload App.” This removes the app but keeps your data. Reinstall it later. This fixes bugs that cause storage issues.

Troubleshooting: When Downloads Don’t Work

Sometimes downloads fail. Here’s what to do.

Download Shows Exclamation Mark

The song couldn’t download. Try these steps:

1. Delete the song from your library
2. Force close the music app (swipe up from the bottom)
3. Wait 30 seconds
4. Reopen the app
5. Search for the song again
6. Try downloading once more

Downloads Disappeared After Updating

After an iOS update, sometimes downloads vanish temporarily. They usually return within a few minutes. If not:

1. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage
2. Scroll to your music app
3. Tap it
4. Tap “Offload App” then “Reinstall App”
5. Wait for it to reinstall
6. Try downloading again

Phone Keeps Running Out of Space

You might be storing too much. Delete downloads you don’t play. Or upgrade your iPhone storage plan (iCloud storage is separate from iPhone storage, so this won’t help music). Or switch to streaming without downloads when possible.

Subscription Expired and Downloads Won’t Play

This is normal. When your subscription ends, Apple Music and Spotify locks downloaded songs. Renew your subscription and they unlock automatically.

WiFi Isn’t Required for Cellular Downloads

Some people think they need WiFi to download. You don’t. Cellular data works fine. Just be aware it uses your monthly data. WiFi is faster for large libraries.

Summary: Your Path Forward

The best music downloader for iPhone depends on your situation:

Use Apple Music or Spotify Premium if you want the smoothest, easiest experience. Both let you download unlimited music to listen offline. Both cost about $12 monthly.

Use Documents with free music websites if you can’t afford a subscription but want to own your music.

Use the Local Files method if you have music files on a computer and want to access them through your favorite app.

Download from Free Music Archive, Bandcamp, or artist websites directly if you prefer owning every song you listen to.

None of these approaches is complicated. They all work on iPhone. None of them break rules.

Start with what fits your budget and lifestyle. You can always switch methods later. Your music goes with you either way.

The key is matching the tool to your needs. Do that, and you’ll have music on your iPhone forever. Offline. Reliable. Legal. Simple.

FAQs

Why can’t I just download music directly to iPhone like on Android?

Apple restricts apps more tightly than Android does. iOS only lets certain apps download and play music. Apple designed it this way for security and copyright reasons. You can still download music easily using the methods listed here. It just works differently than Android.

Is it legal to download music from YouTube using conversion tools?

Not always. Converting YouTube videos to audio violates YouTube’s terms of service. If the artist posted the video and allows it, it’s a gray area. Better approach: download from official artist websites, Bandcamp, or Free Music Archive where creators have explicitly approved sharing.

How long do downloaded songs stay on my iPhone?

With subscriptions like Apple Music or Spotify, downloads stay as long as you subscribe. When your subscription ends, they’re locked. With files you own (from Free Music Archive or Bandcamp), they stay forever. You own them permanently.

Can I transfer downloaded music from Apple Music to another app or device?

Not really. Apple Music downloads are tied to Apple’s system and your Apple ID. You can’t move them to Spotify or Android. This is by design. The Local Files method works better if you want flexibility. Files you own transfer more easily.

What’s the difference between downloading and streaming?

Streaming plays music from the internet in real time. You need an active connection. Downloading saves the music file to your phone. You listen offline. Downloading uses more storage but lets you listen anywhere. Streaming uses less storage but needs data or WiFi.