Do you remember the TV show “Name That Tune” 🎶? The contestants had to guess the title of a song after hearing just a few notes. Some people's memory was truly impressive! However, we realize that not everyone remembers sounds that well. Have you ever tried to find a song you heard on the radio or in an advertisement? It's quite easy as long as you know a few words or the artist. But what if you're trying to recall even one line of lyrics, but just can't 🤔? Special music recognition apps are here to help! And these are the apps we want to introduce you to in this post. But let's take it one step at a time!
How does music recognition work?
First, we'll explain how these apps work. Music search apps have access to a vast library of songs. They record sound using the microphone, and their algorithm compares the recording to their database. Some apps also feature search by humming, singing, or a few lyrics. If you're wondering how to find a song from its music video, these apps can help with that too. Play the music video, and the app will record the sound and show you the song title. This way, you'll find out what song has been stuck in your head 🥳! Importantly, you'll identify it as quickly as the TV show contestants mentioned above 😃.
You can use these apps to recognize music from the radio, television, or other apps, such as Instagram or Facebook. For example, imagine you heard a great track in a friend's Story. This is exactly the situation where you can use music recognition apps! More advanced programs will also filter out ambient noise. Some of them will also display information about the artist and their discography. We've included apps in our list that are compatible with music apps. This allows you to listen to the full track immediately. Most of these programs require internet access, such as mobile internet. Some of them allow offline song searching. So, are you ready for our recommendations 💪?
The best music recognition apps
We've prepared a list of 4 apps that have won users' hearts and are receiving excellent reviews 🤩. You can find all these apps in the Google Play Store and the App Store. With their help, you can recognize not only music from the radio but anything that catches your ear, like that track from your friend's Story 😜.
Shazam – the most downloaded music recognition app
Shazam is a music recognition app that will instantly identify the song you're looking for! If you've heard a song from a video on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram, this app will help you find its title. Simply turn it on and play the content you're trying to identify in the background. The offline mode is also helpful, allowing you to identify songs even when you don't have an internet connection. You'll also find out what other users in your country or city are listening to. Shazam suggests new tracks that match your musical taste 😍. And all of this is available in a free app that is highly rated by users!

Shazam's advantages include:
- Compatibility with many music streaming platforms. You can play a recognized song instantly on your chosen app.
- Playlists with similar songs.
- Sharing songs with friends via social media.
SoundHound – lightning-fast music search
With the SoundHound app, you can quickly recognize songs, check their lyrics, and watch music videos. The app also provides more information about the song's creator. Would you like the app to recognize a song you hum or sing? SoundHound is the only app in the world that can find a song this way 🥳! It's also compatible with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and many other platforms. This means you can recognize songs you hear in someone's Story. You'll find user-recommended songs similar to your searches.

SoundHound's advantages:
- Search for songs by humming or singing.
- Real-time lyrics display.
- A music discovery map in your area.
Musixmatch – a free and feature-rich app
The developers of the Musixmatch app focused on extensive functionality within a user-friendly interface. With Musixmatch, you can not only search for a song but also download its translation. The app is compatible with Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube. It also assists in learning foreign languages 🤩. You can follow the lyrics' translation in real-time while listening to a song. Want to receive notifications about new releases from your favorite artists? No problem! You can find this option in the app's settings.

Musixmatch's advantages:
- Integration with many music streaming platforms.
- Notifications about new song releases.
- Interesting premium features, such as offline lyrics translation and no ads.
Genius – a community-built app
The Genius app not only efficiently recognizes songs for you but also provides information on lyric interpretations 🥳. This allows you to understand what the artist intended. Most of the explanations are unofficial, as the service is built by its users. However, some songs are accompanied by information provided by the artist themselves 💪. How does this music recognition app work? Very simply! You don't need to create an account to browse its content. You can search by sound or by typing a few words from the song's lyrics. Users can also rate the interpretations they add. This significantly increases their engagement and willingness to comment.
Genius app's advantages:
- Quick search for songs and their interpretations.
- An engaged community willing to discuss and share opinions about artists.
- User-friendly app interface.
- Extensive functionality: simply type in your search query, and Genius will display all related information, such as the release year, album description, or artist biography.

How to use music recognition apps?
Have you chosen one of our recommended apps? Then it's time to download it from the Google Play Store or App Store and let the adventure begin 💪! Some apps will ask you to create an account first. Others you can use immediately after downloading (e.g., Genius).
How to search for music with an app?
- Open the app.
- Click the button to search for songs.
- Place your smartphone about 30-50 cm away from the speaker or other sound source. You can also type in search words.
- Wait a few seconds.
- Check the search results and select the song you're interested in.
If you know a few words from the lyrics, you can try to find the song by its text. Simply type them into the search bar along with the word “lyrics”.
You now know our app recommendations for music recognition 💪. Did any of them particularly catch your eye? Grab your smartphone and start your adventure 🥳!