Strawberry Music PlayerLinux
vs
Apple MusicWindows
Strawberry Music Player as a Linux alternative to Apple Music
Updated
Our verdict
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 collectors. However, it lacks the native Apple Music library sync, exclusive Apple Radio, and podcast features that Windows users rely on. For those who need the full Apple ecosystem integration, Strawberry is a solid alternative for most core tasks but not a complete drop‑in replacement.
- License
- GPL-3.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.2.31 (October 3, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both support local music playback and playlist management
- Both provide native desktop notifications
- Both can fetch album art and lyrics from online databases
- Both allow streaming from third‑party services (Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz)
- Both are free and open source (Apple Music is proprietary but the Windows client is free)
What is different
- Apple Music offers library sync across Apple devices; Strawberry does not
Opening your Apple Music files
Apple Music uses a proprietary library format and DRM‑protected files that Strawberry cannot open. If you have local MP3, FLAC, or WAV files, Strawberry will play them without issue. For DRM‑protected Apple Music tracks, you would need to convert or remove DRM first, which is outside Strawberry’s scope.
Switching from Apple Music to Strawberry Music Player, step by step
- Export your playlists from Apple Music to a common format (e.g., M3U) using the Apple Music desktop client or a third‑party tool.
Key features of Strawberry Music Player
- Supports most popular audio formats and CD playback
- Edit tags and retrieve metadata from MusicBrainz
- Fetch album art from Last.fm, Discogs, and Spotify
- Advanced audio output configuration for bit-perfect playback
- Smart and dynamic playlist management
- Built-in equalizer and audio analyzer
- Scrobbling support for Last.fm and ListenBrainz
- Transfer music to USB players and iPods
How to install Strawberry Music Player on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.strawberrymusicplayer.strawberrysudo apt install strawberrysudo apt install strawberrysudo dnf install strawberrysudo pacman -S strawberrysudo zypper install strawberryFrequently asked questions
Can Strawberry play my Apple Music library?
Only the unprotected local files (e.g., MP3, FLAC) will play. DRM‑protected tracks require removal or conversion before use.
Does Strawberry support Apple Radio or podcasts?
No, it does not include Apple Radio or podcast integration. You can use other podcast apps or stream from services like Spotify.
Will I lose my playlists when switching to Strawberry?
You can export playlists from Apple Music as M3U or similar and import them into Strawberry, but some metadata may not transfer exactly.
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