Musi Alternatives

Musi is currently one of the music streaming worlds problem children. The experts can’t seem to agree if it is legal or not, and because of that it was removed from the App Store. After that Musi moved to sue Apple over “intellectual property infringement”.

Users of Musi took to Reddit to ask what the issue was.

Because for many of them, they simply couldn’t find the app. Musi’s social team responded that it was their top priority and they were working on fixing it. That was back in October.

Currently Musi is still not in the App Store - which was their only platform. Apple isn’t the only anti-Musi company, YouTube is also in the dispute.

Musi pulls music from YouTube and allows people to stream it for free. Musi have said that the service that they offer is no different from a web browser.

And since the court case isn’t due to be heard until January, many people are hoping for an alternative in the meantime.

Users of Musi don’t just use it because it is free, it also has features that they say they can’t get anywhere else.

One user states that Musi is the only platform that can house all 9 thousand of their videos and songs. Which is 4 thousand more than the [YouTube 5k cap](Replacing Musi with YouTube Music : r/Musi_App). Their instagram channel is packed with fans asking when they will be back, and their last pinned post gives as much info as they can right now.

Why Was Musi Removed?

Musi’s removal from the App Store caught many users off guard, but the reasons come down to copyright laws and App Store policies. Here’s a breakdown of what happened:

1. YouTube’s Terms of Service - Musi relied on YouTube’s API to stream videos without ads or interruptions. While this made it convenient for users, it directly violated YouTube’s terms, which prohibit third-party apps from bypassing ads or enabling background playback without a subscription.

2. Licensing Issues - Unlike platforms like Spotify or TIDAL, which pay licensing fees to rights holders, Musi didn’t compensate artists, labels, or publishers. This lack of proper licensing made the app unsustainable in the long run.

3. Apple’s App Store Guidelines - Apple enforces strict policies to ensure apps comply with copyright laws. Apps that stream copyrighted material without agreements face removal, and Musi was no exception. Although there is some argument about the motive for removal (less competition is usually a good thing for big companies), Apple likes to keep its nose clean most of the time.

If you love Musi, it’s time to look for apps that offer similar features while staying on the right side of the law (if it is judged to be illegal). The good news? There are plenty of legal and reliable alternatives that fit the bill.

So with that in mind, here are some alternatives that could work for you. They won’t all offer what makes Musi stand-out - in most cases they will be the next-best option.

Top Alternatives to Musi

Here are the top contenders for alternatives to Musi.

YouTube Music

The Official Alternative

Why it’s great:
As the official music app from YouTube, this platform gives you access to YouTube’s massive music library, including music videos, live performances, and covers. It’s the closest alternative to Musi because it is where Musi gets its content. You have a couple of added features like offline downloads and background play for Premium users, too.

Key Features:

• Huge library with official releases, covers, and live performances, you’re looking at 100+million tracks.
• Personalized playlists like "Discover Mix" to help you find new stuff to listen to.
• Syncs with your YouTube account, so your likes and history carry over.

Free Version: Yes, with ads.
Upgrade For: Offline playback, no ads, and background listening.

Best For: Fans of YouTube’s ecosystem who want a nice transition. As mentioned by the Reddit user, you’re capped at 5k in terms of library.

Check out YouTube

Spotify

The All-in-One Streaming Giant

Why it’s great:
Spotify is the most popular music streaming app, and one of the only ones still offering a free tier supported by ads.Although the premium tier comes with offline playback and no interruptions. It’s packed with personalized features, including curated playlists like “Discover Weekly.” And, while Spotify has its fair share of issues, in general it works pretty well.

Key Features:

• Over 100 million tracks, including podcasts and audiobooks.
• It is very social, with Collab playlists, Wrapped and more.
• AI-driven recommendations for discovering new music, and we have a guide on how to get the most from this one.

Free Version: Yes, with ads.
Upgrade For: High-quality streaming, offline listening, and ad-free experience.

Best For: Those who value curated playlists, podcasts, and music discovery.

Check out Spotify

Audiomack

The Indie and Trending Option

Why it’s great:
Audiomack focuses on independent artists and trending music in genres like hip-hop, R&B, and EDM. It’s free to use, and users can download tracks for offline playback without a subscription. Audiomack offers a lot of curators, listeners and artists - it is a nifty platform.

Key Features:

• Discover emerging artists and trending tracks.
• Free offline playback.
• Charts and curated playlists by genre or mood.

Free Version: Yes, with optional in-app purchases.
Upgrade For: Ad-free experience and premium features.

Best For: Music lovers who want to explore new talent and genres.

Check out Audiomack

TIDAL

Great quality sound

Why it’s great:
TIDAL offers lossless audio quality and exclusive artist content. If you care about sound quality or want to support artists more directly, TIDAL is an excellent option. And, it has a similar price point to Spotify, making it great value for hi-res music.

Key Features:

• HiFi and Master Quality audio.
• Exclusive releases, interviews, and behind-the-scenes videos.
• Curated playlists by artists and music experts.

Free Version: No, but a trial is available.
Upgrade For: HiFi or HiFi Plus plans for superior sound.

Best For: Audiophiles and those who value exclusive content.

Check out TIDAL

Deezer

Great for Lyrics and Flow

Why it’s great:
Deezer combines a global music library with unique features like Flow, an endless playlist personalized to your tastes.

Flow is one of the most enjoyed features according to users in a chat we had a few months ago. Although it can now be rivalled by Spotify's AI DJ.

Key Features:

• Millions of tracks with a focus on world music.
• Lyrics for karaoke-style listening.
• HiFi audio options for premium users.

Free Version: Yes, with ads.
Upgrade For: Ad-free listening and HiFi audio.

Best For: Users who want a mix of personalization and simplicity.

Check out Deezer

Melodista

For Offline Playback

Why it’s great:
Melodista is perfect for users who prefer managing their own music library. It’s an offline music player that supports multiple formats and lets you import tracks from your cloud storage. While YouTube Music is the closest to Musi, Melodista tops most alternative lists.

Key Features:

• Play local music files offline.
• Edit ID3 tags to organize your music.
• Import music from cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox (not something you can get everywhere).

Free Version: Yes, with in-app purchases.
Best For: People who want to manage and play offline music without ads.

Check out Melodista

SoundCloud

For Independent Music and a Community Feel

Why it’s great:
SoundCloud is where mainstream meets indie, it’s like the perfect cross-section. With a mix of popular songs and user-uploaded tracks, it’s a haven for discovering remixes, live sets, and new artists. We’ve covered SoundCloud in more detail, ‘cause it is one of the coolest platforms.

Key Features:

• Over 200 million tracks, including indie and user-generated content.
• Social features like comments and reposts.
• Trending charts and “Made for You” playlists.

Free Version: Yes, with ads.
Upgrade For: Offline playback and no ads with SoundCloud Go+.

Best For: Fans of independent music and niche genres.

Check out SoundCloud

Bandcamp

Support Artists Directly

Why it’s great:
Bandcamp lets you buy music directly from artists, so you know they get a fair share - which is an issue on many other platforms. Musicians are not seeing good revenue from many of the big music streaming platforms. Bandcamp is the perfect place for people who want to feel good about listening.

Key Features:

• Buy and download music in high-quality formats.
• Explore artist-curated collections and recommendations.
• Access physical merchandise like vinyl and t-shirts.

Free Version: Free to browse; purchases required for downloads.
Best For: People who want to support artists and explore unique music.

Check out Bandcamp

Musi Alternatives Comparison Table

*features and pricing correct at time of writing.

What if I don’t want to leave Musi?

Many users still have the app and it is working perfectly. New users and anyone who needs to upgrade or update their phone, or accidentally deletes the app are going to be stuck.

There are currently some movements within the Musi community who are protesting the removal by refusing to update and upgrade their phone until it comes back.

And, with 66 million downloads that is a lot of power. In the meantime Musi are reassuring users that they will be able to fix the issue and be available soon.