Seven Alternative Music Player Apps for the iPhone
August 24, 2011 | Andy Boxall
Yes, a perfectly acceptable music player comes as standard on every single iPhone, however it’s not the definitive be-all-and-end-all. There are plenty of developers out there with the talent and ability to greatly improve on Apple’s standard iPod app, you just need to know where to find them.
We’ve collected together seven popular alternatives to the iPod app below, mixing in some simple replacements with some that do things very differently. If your iPhone is filled with music rather than apps, you’ll probably want to try out more than one!
A true alternative to the iPod app, with a clever dynamic playlist generation method and super-fast music start-up. Conventional touch buttons are replaced by a swipe system too, and the whole interface is clean and attractive. $2.99/£1.99.
A similar app to Panamp, which has more control options such as shake, swipe and other gestures; plus Retina Display support and multi-tasking. The app is free to download, but the ‘stacked’ display option is only available through in-app purchase. Free.
A fully customizable, highly interactive music player, with in-app purchased skins and even Wikipedia access for information on artists. There’s also Facebook and Twitter support where you can update your status to show what you’re listening too. $4.99/£2.99.
Jealous of Windows Phone 7? Muzik’s style is very similar to Microsoft’s OS, and has custom wallpapers, screensavers and Twitter support. $0.99/£0.69.
A very different type of music app specifically for the iPad, which adds a beautiful visual search and exploration element to your music collection. It’s not strictly a ‘player’, but the 3D environment is so unusual it’s a must have accessory to the iPod player. Free.
Use DJ Mixer to play a continuous mix of music stored on your iPhone, complete with smooth fading transitions between tracks. If you’re a budding DJ, the app also has syncing, beat matching, mix effects and plenty of other tools too. $4.99/£2.99.
An interesting alternative which combines both music playback from your device, plus access to 47,000 SHOUTcast radio stations, and a variety of free songs and albums. A recent update added AirPlay too. Free.
One of the main reasons I’m switching to the iphone is for the Ghostly Discovery App. It’s similar to Pandora but all of the music is from one label: Ghostly International. Check it out.