Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

SongRec

Free#13 of 23 in Music Identification Apps

SongRec: A free desktop recognizer with flexible audio inputs, history export, and CLI access. Ranked #13 of 23 in Music Identification Apps by our editors (7.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for open-source desktop users and developers.

7.2/10Editor score
SongRec7.2 Visit SongRec

At a glance

  • Editor score
    7.2 / 10
  • Pricing
    Free plan
  • Best for
    Open-source desktop users and developers
  • Free plan
    Yes
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Platform support
    Cross-platform
  • Facts checked
    21 Sep 2026
SongRec screenshot
  • Where it wins

    • Recognizes songs from files, microphones, or speakers
    • Offers both graphical and command-line interfaces
    • Exports recognition history to CSV and supports continuous detection
  • Where it doesn't

    • Available only on Windows and Linux
    • Identification is not entirely offline
    • Audio fingerprints are sent to Shazam services

Our verdict on SongRec

SongRec is an open-source desktop song identification client for Linux and Windows. It recognizes music from arbitrary audio files, microphones, and speakers, making it suitable for users who want more input options than a phone-only workflow. The application supports MP3, FLAC, WAV, and OGG files, and provides both graphical and command-line interfaces. Developers and open-source desktop users get a tool that can fit either a visual desktop workflow or a scripted one.

SongRec is free to use and open source, so its pricing model is straightforward: there are no paid tiers or feature gates described. Its recognition feature set is broad for a desktop client. Users can select audio input devices, run continuous microphone-based detection, and maintain a recognition history that can be exported to CSV. Distribution options include Flatpak, PPA, Arch Linux, and Snap for Linux, alongside Windows x64 builds. That combination gives Linux users several installation paths while preserving a conventional Windows option.

The main trade-off is the product’s narrow platform and service scope. SongRec covers Windows and Linux, but not other desktop platforms listed here, and identification is not processed entirely offline. Instead, it sends audio fingerprints to Shazam services for recognition. It is therefore a good fit for users who value open-source software, command-line access, flexible audio capture, and exportable history. Users who require fully offline identification, broader desktop coverage, or verified listening links should consider a different music identification app.

Your product? Our editors can test SongRec in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

SongRec pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on github.com

SongRec fact sheet

Free planYes
Paid fromFree
Platform supportCross-platform
LyricsNot verified
Identification historyYes
Offline identificationNo
Listening linksNot verified
Recognition limitNot verified
DeploymentDesktop
PlatformsWindows, Linux
SupportCommunity
Built forSolo, Small business (editorial estimate)
PricingFree plan
Websitegithub.com
Facts checked21 Sep 2026

Alternatives to SongRec

See all SongRec alternatives →

Used SongRec? 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 SongRec 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

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Your rating

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Posted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — SongRec 7.2/10

SongRec 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/songrec/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/songrec.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