The main places to download songs depend on what you own and what you want to do with them

You can download songs from music streaming services you already pay for, from stores that sell individual songs or albums, or from your own music library if you have one. The method changes based on whether you use Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or another service — and whether you want the songs on your phone, computer, or both. Most services let you download for offline listening, but the songs stay tied to your account and stop working if you cancel.

If you want to own the songs outright instead of renting access to them, you can buy them from iTunes, Amazon Music, or Bandcamp. These purchases usually cost between 99 cents and $1.29 per song, though prices vary. Once you buy, the file is yours to keep and move between devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music let you download songs to listen offline, but only while your subscription is active.
  • iTunes and Amazon Music let you buy individual songs or albums outright, and the files stay yours even if you cancel your subscription.
  • Downloaded songs from streaming services use up phone or computer storage, so check how much space you have before downloading large libraries.
  • Bandcamp lets you download songs directly from independent artists and often gives you the choice of file format.

Downloading from Apple Music

Open Apple Music on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, find the song or album you want, and tap or click the download button — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow. The song downloads to your device and appears in your library under "Downloaded Music." You can listen to it without an internet connection as long as your Apple Music subscription stays active.

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then Music, then toggle on "Sync Library" if you want your downloads to appear across all your Apple devices. On a Mac, open Apple Music, go to Preferences, and check "Sync Library" under the General tab. This keeps your downloaded songs in the same place on every device.

Downloaded songs take up storage space on your device. If your phone is running low on space, you can delete the downloads (the songs stay in your library and you can re-download them later) or delete them from the app itself by swiping left on the song and tapping "Remove Download."

Downloading from Spotify

Spotify's download feature is only available to Premium subscribers. Open Spotify, find a song, album, or playlist, and tap the download button — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow with a line underneath. The song downloads and a checkmark appears next to it. You can listen offline on any device where you have downloaded it.

Downloaded songs only work on the device where you downloaded them. If you download a playlist on your phone, you cannot listen to it on your computer unless you download it there too. Spotify also removes downloads if you do not open the app for 30 days, so if you plan to listen offline for a long trip, download shortly before you leave.

To manage storage, open Spotify Settings, go to Storage, and you can see how much space your downloads are using. You can delete individual downloads by swiping left on the song, or delete all downloads at once from the Storage menu.

Downloading from Amazon Music

Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Music Prime members can download songs to listen offline. Open the Amazon Music app, find the song or album, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Download." The song appears in your library with a download icon next to it.

You can download to your phone, tablet, or computer, but downloaded songs only work on the device where you downloaded them. Amazon Music also lets you buy songs and albums outright through the same app — these purchased songs are yours to keep and do not require a subscription to listen to.

Downloaded songs expire after 30 days if you do not refresh them by opening the app. If you are going on a trip and want to listen offline, download your songs a few days before you leave so the 30-day timer does not run out while you are away.

Buying songs from iTunes and Amazon Music

If you want to own songs instead of renting them through a subscription, iTunes and Amazon Music both sell individual songs and albums. On iTunes, search for the song, click the price (usually $0.99 per song), and complete the purchase. The song downloads to your computer and syncs to your iPhone or iPad if you have iCloud Music Library turned on.

Amazon Music works the same way — search for the song, click "Buy," and the song is yours. You can download it to any device and keep it even if you cancel your Amazon Prime or Music Unlimited subscription. Purchased songs from both services are DRM-protected, which means you cannot share them with other people or use them in videos you upload online.

Prices for purchased songs vary by artist and label. Most are $0.99 to $1.29, but some cost more. Albums usually cost $9.99 to $12.99. Check the price before you buy — it appears next to the song or album name.

Downloading from Bandcamp

Bandcamp is a platform where independent musicians sell their music directly. When you buy a song or album on Bandcamp, you get to choose the file format — MP3, FLAC, AAC, Vorbis, or WAV. This gives you more control over the quality and compatibility of your download than iTunes or Amazon Music.

Search for an artist or song on Bandcamp, click "Buy Digital Album" or "Buy Track," complete the purchase, and download the file. You own the file outright and can move it to any device, burn it to a CD, or use it in your own projects (depending on the artist's license). Prices are set by the artist, so they vary widely.

Bandcamp also lets you stream music for free before you buy, so you can listen to the whole album first. Some artists set a minimum price, but many let you pay what you want — including $0 if you choose.

Managing storage when you download many songs

Downloaded songs take up gigabytes of storage quickly. A typical song is 3 to 5 megabytes, so 100 songs use 300 to 500 megabytes. If you download 1,000 songs, you are using 3 to 5 gigabytes. Check your device's available storage before you download a large library — go to Settings on iPhone or iPad, or System Settings on Mac, and look at the storage meter.

If you are running low on space, delete downloads you do not listen to regularly. On most streaming services, deleting a download does not delete the song from your library — it just removes the offline copy, and you can re-download it later when you have more space. Purchased songs are different: deleting them removes them permanently unless you have a backup.

If you plan to download hundreds of songs, consider using a computer instead of a phone. Computers usually have more storage, and you can manage downloads more easily through a file manager or the app itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download songs from YouTube Music?

Yes, YouTube Music Premium members can download songs to listen offline. Open YouTube Music, find the song, tap the download button, and it saves to your device. Downloaded songs only work while your subscription is active, just like other streaming services.

What happens to my downloads if I cancel my subscription?

Downloaded songs from streaming services stop working immediately when your subscription ends. The files remain on your device but cannot be played. Purchased songs from iTunes or Amazon Music stay playable because you own them, not the streaming service.

Can I transfer downloaded songs between devices?

It depends on the service. Apple Music downloads sync across all your Apple devices if you have Sync Library turned on. Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music downloads are locked to the device where you downloaded them — you have to download separately on each device. Purchased songs can usually be moved between devices, but streaming service downloads cannot.

Do downloaded songs use data when I listen to them offline?

No. Once a song is downloaded, listening to it does not use any data. This is the main reason to download — so you can listen without an internet connection or without using your phone's data plan.

What file format do downloaded songs use?

Most streaming services use their own protected formats that only work in their app. iTunes uses AAC format, Amazon Music uses MP3 or AAC, and Bandcamp lets you choose. If you buy songs, check what format the service uses — some formats work on more devices than others, though most modern phones and computers play all common formats.