Buy › Software & Apps 6 Best Online Music Sites for Downloading Songs Share Pin Email Print Hero Images/Getty Images Software & Apps Video & Audio Browsers & Internet Backup & Utilities Social Networking News & Reference Antivirus & Security Email & Messaging Windows Only Mac Only iOS Only Android Only View More by Mark Harris Brings music expertise, including a background as a music producer and composer, to digital music articles. Updated October 22, 2018 The music industry continues to evolve to meet changes in technology and consumer demand. Gone are the days when we'd simply pop into a record store and rifle through packed racks. In fact, 2017 saw only 17 percent of music purchased in physical form (for example, CDs and vinyl). A whopping 80 percent was downloaded or streamed. It's no surprise, then, that music sites continue to proliferate, and sorting through them all can be time-consuming. Here are six of the best music sites for downloading songs. The Ethics of Music Downloading music for free from disreputable sites (i.e., pirating) is not only illegal; it's unethical. As of 2018, musicians generally receive only 12 percent of revenue from online sales. Support the musicians who make the music you love by purchasing their art legally. 01 of 06 iTunes Apple Many music fans regard Apple's iTunes store as the internet's premier music provider. Apple fans use iTunes' own software to access Apple's store, which naturally offers built-in support for syncing music to your iPod, iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices. You don't have to have one to use this service, however. Apple's online store is more than just an online music service; other sub-stores offer music videos, audiobooks, movies, free podcasts, apps, and more. A social network (Connect) lets you follow your favorite artists and connect with others who appreciate them, too. What We Like Not exclusive to Apple devicesVast selection of current and past hitsUser-friendly, browser-like interfaceiCloud interface makes music available to all your devices What We Don't Like No free musicLacks a web interface 02 of 06 Amazon MP3 Amazon/Wikimedia Commons/Fair use Amazon MP3, which first launched in 2007, has grown to be one of the largest stores for purchasing and downloading digital music. With many songs and albums retailing at a very competitive level in the digital music market, Amazon MP3 is certainly worth a look as an iTunes Store alternative. What We Like Cloud Drive means any digital media you purchase is automatically stored in your own personal music lockerAmazon's Cloud Player makes streaming your music easyWide selection available for Prime membersIntegration with Amazon Echo products What We Don't Like No weather, lifestyles, or sports audio Not as large a library as that of iTunes 03 of 06 Spotify Spotify Even though Spotify is essentially a streaming music service, its special Offline Mode qualifies it as a music download service, too. In this mode, you can download and listen to thousands of songs without needing to be connected to the internet. What We Like Create playlistsShare and build playlists with others through social networkingCan import your own iTunes and Windows Music libraries What We Don't Like Requires Spotify subscription ($9.99 as of 2018)Can't sync playlists to more than three devices 04 of 06 Napster Napster, LLC Gone are Napster's days as a file-sharing service (which was shut down due to copyright violations). Today's Napster is both a subscription-based service and an a la carte music store. Selecting the subscription route gives you the opportunity to use Napster for music discovery: You can listen to as many songs as you like, providing you keep your subscription going. You also get MP3 credits by subscribing, which you can redeem for MP3 downloads. Note Even though Napster US has been acquired by Rhapsody, it is still very much alive and well. What We Like More than 40 million songs availableSearch results can be used to generate a playlist that can be downloaded What We Don't Like No free membership levelNothing to set it apart from other services 05 of 06 eMusic All Media Guide, LLC eMusic is a subscription-based service that provides a library of more than 32 million music titles, all from independent artists. The big plus about this subscription service is that all songs are DRM-free; you get a set amount (depending on your subscription level, the costs of which range from free to $29.99) to download and keep every month. What We Like Free trialGreat way to discover independent artistsFree tier gives users unlimited cloud storage and access to their own music collections, photos, audio books, and videosUse service on up to 10 devices at onceCompatible with iPhone and AndroidOffers web interface What We Don't Like No current major-label hitsCan download a song only once 06 of 06 7digital 7 Digital 7digital is a media service that provides not only music tracks, but also videos, audiobooks, soundtracks, and a selection of free MP3 downloads. The digital locker helps you to store all your purchased tracks safely in the event that you need to download them again. What We Like High-quality MP3 downloads of up to 320 kbpsDigital locker comes free with account What We Don't Like Not all tracks are DRM-freeSmaller selection than that of larger players in the field Continue Reading