Windows · Sound & Video
Best Linux alternatives to Apple Music
Apple Music is a streaming music service with a desktop client for Windows, offering library sync, playlists, and radio stations.
Updated
Quick answer
The best Linux alternative to Apple Music is Rhythmbox. Other strong options: Clementine Music Player, Lollypop, Strawberry Music Player.
7 Linux alternatives to Apple Music
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Rhythmbox is GNOME's default music player, designed to manage and play local and streaming audio with plugin support.
Rhythmbox is a solid local music manager but a poor replacement for Apple Music if you rely on streaming. It handles local files, podcasts, and radio well, fitting the free/open-source requirement. However, it lacks native Apple Music integration, meaning you lose access to your curated cloud…
Feature parity40% -
Clementine is a cross‑platform music player that plays local files, internet radio, and supports cloud libraries.
Clementine can replace Apple Music for users who mainly want a local music player with internet‑radio support and basic cloud storage integration. It handles local files, playlists, and offers a decent set of visualisations and tag editing tools. However, it does not provide Apple Music's…
Feature parity60% -
Lollypop is a lightweight, modern music player for GNOME that lets you play, organize, and enjoy your music collection with features like party mode and online metadata.
Lollypop is not a replacement for Apple Music if you rely on the streaming service. It is a local music player, not a streaming client. It works well for users who own their music files and want a lightweight, GNOME-native player with good organization features. It handles local libraries…
Feature parity20% -
Strawberry is a free, open-source Qt-based music player and collection organizer for Linux.
Strawberry Music Player can replace Apple Music for users who mainly want to play local files, manage playlists, and use streaming from services like Spotify, Tidal, or Qobuz. It offers robust tag editing, album art retrieval, and advanced audio output, making it suitable for audiophiles and music…
Feature parity75% -
A lightweight, Winamp-style audio player for Linux that supports plugins, skins, and extensive audio formats.
Audacious is a solid local audio player but a poor replacement for Apple Music if you rely on streaming. It handles local files, playlists, and basic internet streams well, with low resource usage. However, it lacks native integration with Apple Music’s cloud library, synced playlists, or exclusive…
Feature parity30% -
DeadBeef is a lightweight, plugin‑based audio player for Linux.
DeadBeef is a solid local audio player but a poor replacement for Apple Music as a streaming service. It handles local files, playlists, and gapless playback well, satisfying the need for a free, open-source player. However, it lacks native integration with Apple Music streaming, cloud library…
Feature parity30% -
VLC is a free, open‑source multimedia player that runs on Linux and handles virtually any audio or video format.
VLC media player can replace Apple Music for users who only need to play local music files and basic streaming from other services. It handles most audio formats, supports playlists, and can stream internet radio or podcasts. However, it lacks Apple‑specific features such as iCloud library sync…
Feature parity60%
What is Apple Music?
Apple Music lets users stream music from Apple’s catalog, sync local libraries, create playlists, and listen to radio stations. The Windows client is free to download, but the service itself requires a paid subscription. Many Windows users look for a Linux alternative because Apple’s client is not officially supported on Linux and they want a native experience.
Linux users need a program that can play local files, stream from Apple Music if possible, and manage playlists. The ideal replacement should be free, open source, and integrate well with the desktop environment.
Because Apple’s client isn’t available on Linux, people search for alternatives that can play local music, support streaming services, and offer a familiar interface without extra cost.
What a replacement for Apple Music must do
- Play local music files
- Support streaming from Apple Music or other services
- Manage playlists and libraries
- Provide radio or podcast support
- Integrate with desktop notifications
- Be free or open source
Can you run Apple Music on Linux?
None of the listed Linux apps are native Apple Music clients. Apple’s Windows client can run under Wine, but support is spotty and streaming may fail. There is no official web version for Linux. Users can use a native media player for local files and a separate streaming app for Apple Music.
Which alternative should you choose?
For a simple, lightweight player, Audacious or VLC work well. If you want a full‑featured music manager, Rhythmbox or Clementine are good choices. For a modern, GNOME‑centric interface, try Lollypop. If you prefer a dedicated music store integration, Strawberry offers a good balance.
Moving your Apple Music files and habits
Exporting playlists from Apple Music isn’t straightforward; you can copy local MP3s or use third‑party tools to export playlist data. Most Linux players accept standard formats like MP3, FLAC, and OGG, so local files transfer easily. For streaming, you’ll need to log in to Apple Music via a web browser or a dedicated streaming client.
Side-by-side comparison
| App | License | Flatpak | Latest version | Feature parity | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhythmbox | GPL-2.0+ and GFDL-1.3 | ✓ | 3.5.1 | 40% | — |
| Clementine Music Player | GPL-3.0+ | ✓ | 1.4.0rc2 | 60% | — |
| Lollypop | GPL-3.0+ | ✓ | 1.4.48 | 20% | — |
| Strawberry Music Player | GPL-3.0+ | ✓ | 1.2.31 | 75% | — |
| Audacious | BSD-2-Clause | ✓ | 4.6.2 | 30% | — |
| DeadBeef | GPL-2.0 | — | 1.10.3 | 30% | — |
| VLC media player | GPL-2.0+ | ✓ | 3.0.23 | 60% | — |
Apple Music: frequently asked questions
Can I use Apple Music on Linux?
Not natively; you need a web browser or a Windows client under Wine, which may not work reliably.
Which Linux player supports Apple Music streaming?
No native support; you’ll need to use the web interface or a separate streaming app.
Do these players support playlists?
Yes, all listed players can import and export standard playlist formats.
Is there a free alternative to the paid Apple Music subscription?
You can use free local music players, but you’ll need a separate subscription for streaming services.
How important is Apple Music to you?
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