Windows 10 comes with both Windows Media Player, as well as the Groove Music app and they are both fairly decent, but they are incapable of playing many popular file formats and also lack the tools that power users crave for. While these software gets the job done for most people, audiophiles in need of something more can have access to a wealth of features by choosing quality third-party music players fir Windows that can make listening to music an absolute pleasure.
VLC is intended to be a media player first and foremost. However there is no library management (aside from playlists), usage of tags is very limited, there is no rating system, and VLC is best at playing a file directly from a folder (as opposed to helping you manage or find good songs in your music library). 3 days ago - foobar2000, AIMP, and MusicBee are probably your best bets out of the 25. While not something every user will use, for audiophiles this is a. Also has an Android player, which can sync with / connect to the PC server.
But are customization tools and complex playback controls needed by all? No, because some people just want a simple music player that is fast, lightweight and elegant. Keeping in mind the diverse needs of users, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best music players for Windows you can find right now. So, let’s get straight to the point and check what these music players bring to the table and what sets them apart.
The Best Music Players for Windows
1. Dopamine
I have used many music players on my PC over the years, but none has proved to be as impressive as Dopamine. This software’s minimalist design blends particularly well with Windows 10’s dark and light themes, and its UI is one of the cleanest I have ever seen in a music player. All the options for opening the songs list, artists, albums, etc. are neatly laid out on the home screen, giving Dopamine an identity of its own when compared with the cluttered design of other music player software.
Dopamine can play songs in a wide array of formats such as WAV, MP3, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, WMA, APE, and M4A/AAC among others, all of which are the most widely used file-types for audio tracks these days. The settings menu is quite well-decked too, allowing users to control variables like audio latency, background adjustment tools and a host of others. Dopamine also boasts of Last.fm integration and also offers a nifty lyrics download tool that allows users to add lyrics to their song collection from sources like MetroLyrics, LyricWiki, etc. located in the settings menu itself.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8 and 7
Download Dopamine (Free)
2. Foobar2000
Next in the list is Foobar2000, which is one of the most popular music players for Windows, and for a good reason. Foobar2000’s USP is its interface, which is even more minimalist and clean-looking than Dopamine. But don’t let the simple Windows Phone-esque black and white theme fool you, as the software is loaded with more tools and customization options than any other music player out there. The software comes with its own ReplayGain tool as well as an impressive DSP manager, aside from FTP and media server tools.
When it comes it to executing its fundamental task, Foobar2000 is no slouch, as the software has support for audio codecs such as MP3, MP4, AAC, CD Audio, WMA, Vorbis, Opus, FLAC to name just a few. Foobar2000’s advanced search feature is quite handy too, while its automatic library monitoring system keeps an eye on changes like addition and deletion of songs and accordingly manages the audio file elements like cover photos, lyrics, artist photo, etc.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, iOS, and Android
Download Foobar2000 (Free)
3. Music Bee
Music is not just limited to the audio files stored locally on our devices, as there are a host of other media such as radio, podcasts, etc. where one can enjoy their love for music. If you are among the folks who listen to music from varied sources, MusicBee is the perfect software for you, as it brings the convenience of enjoying radio shows, podcasts, and locally stored songs in one slick-looking app. But is that all? Absolutely not. From my experience, I can confidently say that MusicBee is one of the most feature-laden music player apps you can find. From core music library management and automatic file organization to in-depth playback controls and aesthetic tools, the app simply has it all.
Aside from codecs like MP3, M4A, FLAC, Musepack, WavPack and Opus among others, MusicBee also supports audio interfaces like WASAPI and ASIO for high-end audio cards. The music player software also features a particularly useful tag update feature, which automatically identifies tracks with missing tags and updates them. Moreover, MusicBee also has support for WinAmp plugins and can synchronize songs and playlists with Android devices too.
Supported Platform: Windows 10, 8 and 7
Download MusicBee (Free)
4. AIMP
If you know your way around a music player and like to personalize even the most basic elements of the software, then AIMP is your best bet. Take for example its rich sound mixing options and the excellent sound engine section, which features an impressive 18-band equalizer and numerous sound effects like Reverb, Flanger, Enhancer, etc. which really work and are far from software gimmicks. Another noteworthy feature of AIMP is the Audio CD Grabber, which allows users to copy music files from an audio CD.
As far as codec support is concerned, AIMP plays well with the largest selection of audio standards I’ve ever seen in a music player. Aside from support for formats like CDA, AAC, AC3, APE, DTS, and FLAC among others, the app also has output support for DirectSound, ASIO, and WASAPI among others. MusicBee also has a nifty system shutdown feature which allows users to set a timer to shut down their PC at the scheduled time or after finishing a particular song. There is also a fairly advanced tag editor which supports standards like ID3v1, ID3v2, APE, and WMA to name a few.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 and Vista
Download AIMP Music Player (Free)
5. MediaMonkey
MediaMonkey is another feature-laden media player which is tailor-made for folks who like every detail of their music collection right on the home screen, and also want the software to keep their music library organized. For the latter, MediaMonkey’s automatic organization algorithm systematically arranges the audio files into folders based on artists, albums, series number, etc. Moreover, the MediaMonkey’s CD burner feature allows users to import songs from a CD, while its Podcatcher functionality lets users download podcasts.
Moving over to the technical aspects, MediaMonkey supports a wide array of audio playback formats such as MP3, AAC (M4A), OGG, WMA, and FLAC among others. The app also allows users to create a statistical table of their entire music collection and also sync it with Android and iOS devices. MediaMonkey also facilitates media sharing with TVs and other devices over UPnP and DLNA. Moreover, the software’s jukebox mode is a neat addition which automatically plays tracks of a particular genre to uplift your mood or keep the party going.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8, 7 and Android
Download MediaMonkey (Free)
6. Winyl
If the idea of a lightweight music player app with a simple UI, rich audio codec support, and a clean design sounds appealing to you, then Winyl is the music player app you need. The ‘no-frills-no-fuss’ app can easily handle over 100,000+ audio files without a hiccup, and also features a dedicated radio section to let you tune in to your favorite shows on air and enjoy music from various genre. The app also has a ‘Smartlist’ feature’ which automatically creates playlists (25 Most Played, 5 Random Albums, etc.) for an added dash of convenience.
Winyl can play audio files of various formats (WMA, M4A, MP3, OGG, MPC, APE, FLAC, etc.) and also supports audio output in standards like WASAPI and ASIO. And hey, Gapless playback is also on the table, so you won’t be annoyed while waiting for the next song in the queue to actually start playing. The app can also import song lyrics from the web and is also equipped with a fairly efficient tag editor.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista
Download Winyl (Free)
7. Clementine
Clementine is among the most popular music player apps for Windows, and its popularity has a lot to do with its versatility and simplistic interface (which looks ancient compared to the design of other names mentioned earlier). But don’t let aesthetics deceive you, as the app is loaded with the widest array of online connectivity tools and music streaming options you’ll see in a music player app. Not only can you enjoy songs from services like Spotify, Grooveshark, SomaFM, etc. you can also play songs stored on the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive among others).
Clementine can play audio files of various formats like FLAC, MP3, and AAC to name just a few, and can also transcode songs into codecs such as MP3, OGG Vorbis, OGG Speex and FLAC among others. Moreover, it can also be controlled remotely with Android smartphones via a companion app. The music player software also features an excellent library management algorithm and can also update the songs that are missing album cover art details by downloading them automatically from the web.
Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, and macOS
Download Clementine (Free)
8. Bread Player
Bread Player is a free, open source music player for Windows platform that will catch your interest from the very first time you fire it up, thanks to its eye-catching design. But far from being an eye-candy, Bread Player is actually a very capable, open-source music player app which has all the bells and whistles of a conventional music player app.
Bread Players supports a wide array of audio codecs viz. MP3, M4A, FLAC to name just a few. But what’s impressive is the fact that unlike other music player app, the app automatically retrieves local audio files, which means you don’t have to manually search for audio files and add them to the library. Apart from that, the app also comes with synced lyrics support and an automatic download feature that fetches missing artist details of a track. And as an added bit of convenience for users, the app also offers OneDrive streaming to let users stream their songs stored on the cloud.
Supported Platform: Windows 10
Download Bread Player ($1.99)
9. Winamp
Winamp, the old horse, yet still in the race. Despite being around two decades old, Winamp has continuously been refined over the years by the addition of new features. In my opinion, Winamp’s UI gives you the true feeling of using a music player app, thanks to the systematic arrangement of tools and the detailed interface which is rich in features and playback controls.
Winamp has support for a wide array of contemporary as well as specialized audio formats such as MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and OGG Vorbis to name just a few. Winamp can import music files from local folders, iTunes as well as audio CDs. Aside from audio playback, Winamp also facilitates streaming via podcasts, Internet radio and a couple of other media, and also offers Gapless audio playback for an uninterrupted music listening experience.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista
Download Winamp (Free)
10. Audacious
Audacious is another music player whose simplistic design approach and clean UI will win you over. But that doesn’t mean the software is lacking in tools and controls. Once you open the settings menu, you’ll discover a rich selection of tools ranging from effects like Crystalizer, LADSPA Host and Voice Removal to artist detail retrieval feature among a host of others. Audacious also features an audio bit depth control feature, ReplayGain, stream record functionality as well as support for plug-ins.
When it comes to music playback, Audacious supports a wide array of audio formats such as FLAC, WMA, AAC, WAV, and OGGto name just a few. You can also tweak the music player software’s interface to look like Winamp Classic’s and also enable proxy usage from its network settings section. Despite its vintage aesthetics, Audacious is quite an advanced music player and can easily handle whatever task you throw at it with ease.
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and Linux
Download Audacious (Free)
SEE ALSO: 10 Best Video Players for Windows
Choose the Best Music Player Software for Windows
Before you go ahead and proceed to download one of the software listed above, we’d advise you to go through the details and choose which music player suits your requirements. If you are after a clutter-free design and minimalist appeal, then Dopamine, Bread Player, and Winyl are your best options. However, if you like to play with tools and want a deep level of customization controls at your disposal, then AIMP, MusicBee, and MediaMonkey will serve you well.
So, that was our recommendation list. Do you have any music player in mind which stands out from its lot in a prominent fashion and offers some unique and useful features? If yes, then head to the comments section below to spread your knowledge and be someone’s savior.
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Although music streaming services may be some of the most popular ways to consume music today, that’s not the case for everyone. For those with their own local collections, you need a decent music player, and sometimes Windows Media Player just doesn’t cut it. Here is our guide to the best free music players for Windows PCs.
This list contains applications for both the hardest of hardcore music lovers, and for listeners that prefer to use something more simplistic.
If you’re an Apple user, don’t feel left out. Even if you’re used to using Spotify or Apple Music, you can bring your local collection back to life with our guide to the best free music players for MacOS.
The best
MusicBee
MusicBee is an excellent pick for those who have huge collections of tunes that need to be organized. It can import your existing iTunes and Windows Media Player libraries, and lets you tag each file as you see fit. The program’s Auto DJ feature lets you sync with Last.fm, and will play similar artists/genres based on what you play. You can also set MusicBee up to organize your favorite podcasts, audiobooks, and radio stations.
With its 10-band to 15-band equalizer options, cross-fade function, and gapless playback options, audio tweaks are plentiful with MusicBee. It even packs some visual flair in the form of a five-band Spectrum Visualizer that matches up with the tracks you’re playing. Plug-ins are available for added customization.
The latest sync support between mobile devices is handy, and the ability to change theme colors is an unexpected bonus among other free software choices. MusicBee even supports up to 5.1 surround sound if you have an array of speakers and want the best result possible.
The rest
foobar2000
Foobar2000 is a remarkable underdog story. An open source music player project, it has managed to persist for years and remain not only usable, but one of the best free music players for Windows 10 on the scene.
Don’t let the basic interface fool you into thinking this isn’t worth your time. You can customize its look however you want, and play anything from MP3s and WMA to Musepack, Speex, and even rarer formats with the right plug-ins. There are also extensive tagging abilities, and full support for keyboard shortcuts, which makes Foobar a great piece of software for managing more complex, living lists of audio files.
The program also includes options for gapless playback, ReplayGain, and ripping audio and converting it. Plus, all components and download options are easily available on the site, and the software continues to be updated to this day.
Media Monkey
Media Monkey is similar to MusicBee, and boasts many of the same features. Though it lacks Last.fm synchronization, Media Monkey is compatible with podcasts, audiobooks, and can be set up to download your favorite podcasts for you.
It supports a whopping 100,000 file and playlist types, while also making it easy to tag and organize your files. The software is also pretty smart. It automatically identifies tracks, syncs, or fixes tags, and looks up related information, which is all great for getting an old collection of music back in order.
We’re impressed by the playlist tools, which makes them easy to create (or automatically spawn via Auto-DJ). The syncing and recording capabilities are great for amateur musicians as well. When you add the party mode, the visualizer, and the exported audio file reports, it’s hard to see why you would pay for a music manager when Media Monkey exists.
AIMP 4.60
AIMP’s continuous updates have yielded an impressive, clean interface for music lovers who prefer to get down to business. In addition to support for an array of formats (including DirectSound and SIO for output), the software also includes internet radio support, a Sound Engine with an 18-band equalizer, and smart playlist capabilities.
Need to convert audio? No problem, AIMP can handle that too, as well as provide editing options for all your audio tags, and scheduling options for setting timers or shutdown times if you like mixing music and sleep. There are also a number of impressive UI options, including options to customize your own 4K skin.
Dopamine
Dopamine is an extra-simple music player that’s built to be easy to use. The download is fast, setup is painless, and updates are all automatic. Just tell Dopamine where your music is, and the app will take care of the rest! The interface is incredibly basic and intuitive, with large titles and obvious controls. You can also change the theme shade to whatever color makes it easiest for you to see songs at a glance (the default dark mode does a great job of this if you aren’t sure what to choose). All the simplicity is great, but keep in mind that Dopamine can’t do much with metadata or find missing artwork, so it works best with more complete collections.
Groove Music
Groove got a rocky launch as a rather half-hearted attempt at replacing the Windows Media Player, but increased support over time has transformed this simple, intuitive music app into software well worth looking at. It supports downloads on up to four devices and can sync music between Windows, iOS, Android, and Xbox, delivering music pretty much wherever you want it.
If you keep most of your music in OneDrive or on your Windows computer and don’t do too much except, well, play it, then Groove is worth consideration.
Songbird
Songbird — not to be confused with the defunct iTunes competitor of the same name — adds a welcome social element to music-management software. The interface itself is very basic (and in some areas, could use an update), but you get the ability to share photos and discover artists with other fans, a bit like Spotify but with your own audio files included.
Unfortunately, Songbird has not been updated for Windows 10, so while it still works with the OS, there may be an eventual deadline where it just won’t function with the latest software. At the time of writing, we can confirm that the software works well enough in Windows 10, though there’s no guarantee that will be the case in the future.
The good news is that, if for some reason you are stuck with an older version of Windows, this is probably your best music-management option.
Prefer your music to be a little more portable than the above solutions? Here’s our guide to the best portable MP3 players.