Unless you're a vinyl connoisseur, odds are your physical music collection is pretty sparse. And unless you've managed to keep your iPod from giving up the ghost, you probably aren't exactly swimming in MP3s either. Thankfully music streaming services, for better or worse, have managed to fill that gap, putting a virtually limitless supply of music at your fingertips.
Here are six of the best music sites for downloading songs.
Downloading music for free from disreputable sites is not only illegal, but also unethical. Support the musicians who make the music you love by purchasing their art legally.
Apple Music
![apple music logo](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/5hK9836SHHzQN_h_SLy75On7lZ4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/apple-music-56a928033df78cf772a4457e.jpg)
Apple
Available on platforms outside of Apple devices
User-friendly interface
Over 100 million songs
No free music
Lossless audio not available on a PC
Apple Music is a streaming music service that allows song and album downloads for offline listening. It also includes lossless audio and Dolby Atmos support. A family membership allows six people to share an account; all plans are ad-free.
Amazon Music
![Headphones around smartphone displaying Amazon Music music download service logo](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/L8BAeehSsjNRxLeiAFX_skBWmEw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/amazon-music-illustration-1142906674-f65e68b3cda542a2be196cfb096c87d1.jpg)
Stores purchases in cloud music locker
Songs come in MP3 format
More than 90 million tracks
Competitively priced
Smaller catalog of songs than Apple Music
Downloader software needed for album downloads
Amazon Music is one of the largest stores for buying music online. With many songs and albums retailing at a very competitive level in the digital music market, Amazon Music is worth a look as an Apple Music alternative.
Napster
![Logo for Napster music download service](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/4C6dCvLqf7Qc1-MYBCpv-QV4_78=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/napster_napster_streaming_service_702027_g2-57b8b8145f9b58cdfddc37e8.jpg)
Napster, LLC
Browser-based listening on Windows PC and Mac
Use search results to generate downloadable playlists
No free membership level
Nothing sets it apart from other music services
Small music library
Gone are Napster's days as a file-sharing service (which shut down due to copyright violations). Today's Napster offers two personal subscription options: individual and family (up to 6 accounts).
Spotify
![Earbuds on iPhone displaying Spotify music streaming service logotify Illustration In Paris](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/kV_ytDu19kRD6oidoGUodW28FSA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/musical-website-spotify-illustration-in-paris-901831722-d6190b02c6ed49b4bc234fd4ead1c6e6.jpg)
Fun and easy to create playlists
Share playlists with others
Imports iTunes and Windows Music libraries
Advanced features require Spotify subscription
Can't sync playlists to more than three devices
Even though Spotify is essentially a streaming music service, its Offline mode qualifies it as a music download service. In this mode, download and listen to thousands of songs without an internet connection.
7digital
![Logo of 7 Digital music download service](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/e5x2ySbWrCvcwBn563Tm29MLLWA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/7_Digital-5b85741946e0fb0025f6769a.jpg)
7 Digital
Hi-Res/FLAC downloads available
Free digital locker
Not all tracks are DRM-free
Smaller selection than other players
7digital is a media service that provides music tracks, videos, audiobooks, soundtracks, and a selection of free MP3 downloads. Its digital locker stores all purchased tracks safely in case you need to download them again.
eMusic
![Logo of eMusic music download service](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/HzkReC-LyJb03HESeb32Af0p2uQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/eMusic-Logo-57b8b89f5f9b58cdfddc3a05.png)
All Media Guide, LLC
Unlimited cloud storage and access to entire library
Use on up to 10 devices
Web accessible
No current major-label hits
Only one download per song allowed
eMusic is a subscription-based service with a library of over 32 million music titles from independent artists. The big plus about eMusic is that all songs are DRM-free; you get a set amount to download and keep every month, depending on your subscription level (ranging from $10 to $30).