{"id":30472,"date":"2025-02-21T14:06:21","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T14:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tikmobiles.com\/?p=30472"},"modified":"2026-09-08T16:51:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:51:15","slug":"apps-to-listen-to-music-offline-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tikmobiles.com\/en\/apps-ouvir-musica-offline\/","title":{"rendered":"Apps for listening to music offline: how downloading works in each one."},"content":{"rendered":"

Downloading music from a streaming catalog usually requires a paid plan, but there are exceptions and different options. Spotify Free allows you to download podcasts; Amazon Music Prime offers offline access to eligible full-access playlists. Audio files you own can be played on a local player without a streaming subscription.<\/p>\n

And the downloaded file isn't yours. It's locked inside the app, doesn't appear in your phone's music folder, and disappears when the subscription ends. Spotify also requires the device to be online at least once every 30 days to keep downloads; YouTube Music has the same timeframe. Both rules are in the official help centers, and I checked each one before writing.<\/p>\n

This guide shows where the download is located in each paid app, how much space it occupies, what changes on airplanes and subways, and a way to listen to music offline without a subscription: playing the files you already have. If you're unsure about price and plan, the comparison is available in [link\/resource]. A guide to the best music streaming apps.<\/a>; Here, the only topic is offline.<\/p>\n

Why does the download only appear on the paid plan?<\/h2>\n

Each service defines which content can be downloaded and in what format. Music from the catalog, podcasts, and your own files may follow different rules within the same application. Check the plan's benefits and the button available for the chosen item. The fact that you can listen to a track online does not guarantee the right to store it for offline playback.<\/p>\n

When you subscribe and download, the app saves an encrypted file in its own folder. No other player can open this file; it doesn't travel via Bluetooth like an MP3, and it doesn't transfer when you switch phones. Deezer clearly states this in its help center: downloaded content becomes unavailable when the account reverts to the free plan. The download isn't a collection; it's a cache that you manually select.<\/p>\n

Spotify Premium: 10,000 tracks per device and a 30-day trial period.<\/h2>\n

On Spotify, downloads are by playlist, album, or podcast; for a single song, add it to a playlist and download the playlist. The help center lists the limits: up to 10,000 tracks per device, on up to 5 devices, and the device must be online at least once every 30 days. After the fifth device, the app removes downloads from one of the previous ones.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open the playlist or album and tap the down arrow, located just below the title.<\/li>\n
  2. Wait for the arrow to turn green: each downloaded track displays the same symbol next to its name.<\/li>\n
  3. In Audio Quality, choose the download quality before downloading a large playlist; the choice only applies to what comes after.<\/li>\n
  4. Turn on Offline Mode in the settings when you have no signal, so the app stops trying to stream.<\/li>\n
  5. In Your Library, use the Downloaded filter to see only what plays offline.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    On Spotify Free, podcasts can be downloaded, but songs and albums from the catalog require Premium to download. The Free version also now offers more on-demand track selection, with ads and limitations. Don't confuse these online controls with offline mode: check if the item actually appears as downloaded.<\/p>\n

    \"Spotify:
    Spotify: music and podcasts<\/div>

    Music and podcast streaming; downloading for offline listening is included with the Premium plan.<\/p>

    4,6 <\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
    <\/svg>View on Google Play<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

    YouTube Music Premium: Smart downloads of up to 200 songs.<\/h2>\n

    YouTube Music offers two offline download options, both requiring Premium. The first is manual download: three dots on the album or playlist, then Download. The second is Smart Downloads, which automatically downloads up to 200 recently played songs and rotates them as your taste changes. official YouTube Music help page<\/a> It describes both and repeats the 30-day rule for keeping downloads.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Tap on your profile picture and go to Settings.<\/li>\n
    2. Open Downloads and Storage.<\/li>\n
    3. Enable Smart Downloads and choose your audio quality.<\/li>\n
    4. Select "Download only via Wi-Fi" to avoid using up your data plan by downloading entire albums.<\/li>\n
    5. When you run out of space, use the "Remove downloads" option on the same screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      One practical advantage: on Wi-Fi, saved playlists are updated daily in the background, so a playlist downloaded on Monday will have the new tracks on Friday without you having to do anything. The only limit is the free space on your device.<\/p>\n

      \"YouTube
      YouTube Music<\/div>

      Music and YouTube videos; manual downloads and smart downloads require Premium.<\/p>

      4,4 <\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
      <\/svg>View on Google Play<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

      Deezer Premium: Offline mode for albums, playlists, and podcasts.<\/h2>\n

      On Deezer, offline mode downloads albums, playlists, and podcasts, and it's available in the Premium, Duo, Family, and Student plans. Deezer Free plays in shuffle mode with ads, and Deezer Now, the free version in some countries, also doesn't include offline mode. The process is the same as its competitors: open the album or playlist, tap the download icon, and follow the progress bar.<\/p>\n

      Flow, the seamless mix that Deezer creates from what you listen to, remains the reason many people stay on the app, and with paid plans it even comes to Android TV with synchronized lyrics and HiFi audio. When you cancel, the downloaded content becomes unavailable: Deezer downloads last exactly for the duration of your subscription.<\/p>\n

      \"Deezer:
      Deezer: Listen to Music and Podcasts<\/div>

      Streaming with Flow; offline mode for albums, playlists, and podcasts is available in paid plans.<\/p>

      4,7 <\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
      <\/svg>View on Google Play<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

      Apple Music and Amazon Music: where the download is hidden<\/h2>\n

      Apple Music, on iPhone and Android<\/h3>\n

      Apple Music doesn't have a free plan: there's a trial period followed by a subscription. With a subscription active, both the iPhone Music app and the Apple app on the Play Store, which has over 100 million downloads on Android, allow you to download your favorite songs for offline listening. The process has two steps: the plus sign adds the album to your library, and the down arrow adds it. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period, and downloaded music stops playing when the subscription ends.<\/p>\n

      Amazon Music: eligible playlists on Prime and catalog on Unlimited<\/h3>\n

      On Amazon Music Prime, offline access may be available for playlists identified as full access, depending on your account plan. This does not mean you can freely download any album from the catalog. Unlimited expands on-demand access and eligible downloads. Open the playlist, check its rating, and test it offline before a trip.<\/p>\n

      How much space do downloaded songs take up?<\/h2>\n

      In the compressed options, Spotify uses approximate bitrates of 24, 96, 160, and 320 kbit\/s. Premium also offers Lossless where available, which has a larger and variable file size; it is not included in the calculation below. To estimate the filerate of a three-and-a-half-minute song in compressed modes, multiply the bitrate by the duration and divide by eight to convert bits to bytes:<\/p>\n