Shazam
Shazam: A free, cross-platform identifier with lyrics, history, offline recognition, and listening links. Ranked #1 of 23 in Music Identification Apps by our editors (9.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for most people wanting a full-featured identifier.
At a glance
- Editor score9.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMost people wanting a full-featured identifier
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Platform supportCross-platform
- Founded2002
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Identifies songs from nearby audio, other apps, or a browser
- Offline recognition syncs saved requests after reconnecting
- Lyrics, charts, history, concert discovery, and listening links included
Where it doesn't
- Offline matches require reconnection before synchronization
- Browser extension support is limited to Chrome
- Its free model has no paid tier for additional plan options
Our verdict on Shazam
Shazam identifies songs playing around you, inside other apps, or in a web browser. It is designed for listeners who want more than a single song title: identified tracks can be saved to a library, lyrics can be viewed in time-synced or karaoke-style formats, and music discovery extends to charts, concert listings, recommendations, and music videos. The free product is available on web, iOS, Android, and through a Chrome extension, making it a practical fit for most people wanting a full-featured identifier.
Its strongest advantage is ecosystem fit. After identifying a track, Shazam provides links to Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer, with music video links through Apple Music and YouTube. That gives listeners a direct path from recognition to listening without limiting them to one service. Auto Shazam can identify music continuously, while the saved history provides a way to revisit earlier discoveries. The product has also been available since 2002, giving it a long operating history within this category.
Shazam covers a broad discovery workflow rather than focusing only on recognition. Offline recognition stores a request and matches it when the device reconnects, so it is useful when connectivity is interrupted, but the result is not synchronized immediately. Its Chrome extension supports browser-based identification, though users on other browsers do not get that extension option. People who want identification plus lyrics, listening links, charts, and discovery tools should choose Shazam. Someone seeking only a minimal identifier, or a browser extension outside Chrome, may prefer a narrower alternative.
Your product? Our editors can test Shazam in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Shazam pricing
Shazam fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Platform support | Cross-platform |
| Lyrics | Yes |
| Identification history | Yes |
| Offline identification | Yes |
| Listening links | Yes |
| Recognition limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, YouTube |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | shazam.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Shazam integrations
Shazam lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Apple Music
- Spotify
- YouTube Music
- Amazon Music
- Deezer
- YouTube
Alternatives to Shazam
- SoundHoundA mobile music finder for humming, nearby-song recognition, lyrics and playback.8.8
- ACRCloudA broad audio identification platform for businesses building recognition workflows.8.6
- AHA MusicA browser-focused recognizer with broad input options, history, playlists, and streaming links.8.4
Shazam vs the competition
- Shazam vs SoundHound
- Shazam vs ACRCloud
- Shazam vs AHA Music
- Shazam vs Snag
- Shazam vs WhoSampled
- Shazam vs Audile
Compare Shazam with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Shazam is ranked in 2 of our directories.
Used Shazam? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Shazam for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Shazam is listed in our Music Identification Apps directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/shazam/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/shazam.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update