Vanilla Music

At a glance

• Editor score
  4.9 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Android users wanting a free, lightweight music player
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  None
• Library tools
  Multiple playlists; grouping by artist, album, or genre; filesystem browsing; M3U playlist import/export
• Facts checked
  4 Oct 2026

• Where it wins

  • Browse music by artist, album, genre, or filesystem
  • Supports ReplayGain, headset and Bluetooth controls, and cover art
  • Import and export playlists as M3U files

• Where it doesn't

  • Available for Android only
  • The README says it left Google Play under the original developer’s account in June 2024
  • Support is community-based

Our verdict on Vanilla Music

Vanilla Music is a free, GPLv3-licensed local music player for Android. It is aimed at listeners who want to browse and play audio stored on their device rather than use a desktop player or a service-centered music app. Its library can be grouped by artist, album, or genre, and filesystem browsing offers another way to find tracks. Multiple playlists and support for MP3, OGG, FLAC, and PCM cover core local listening needs. The project is open source, with source code linked from its project site.

The feature set is centered on playback and library management. ReplayGain support, cover art, and headset and Bluetooth controls add practical playback options, while scrobbling support connects listening activity with services through Simple Last.fm Scrobbler and Scrobble Droid. Playlists can be imported and exported using M3U files, which is useful for listeners who organize collections outside the app. This makes Vanilla Music a fit for Android users who value local files and straightforward control; it is less suited to people looking for a broader music platform or desktop and iOS support.

Distribution is an important consideration: the project README says the app was removed from Google Play under the original developer’s account in June 2024. The official site links to F-Droid and to nightly builds described as testing-only, so prospective users should consider those channels and the community support model before choosing it. Vanilla Music makes sense for someone comfortable with an open-source Android app and its available distribution routes. Those who require Google Play availability, a different mobile platform, or non-community support should look elsewhere.

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Vanilla Music pricing

Vanilla Music fact sheet

Vanilla Music integrations

Vanilla Music lists 2 integrations on its own site.

• Simple Last.fm Scrobbler
• Scrobble Droid

Alternatives to Vanilla Music

• VLC media playerA free, wide-format player for local audio and video across desktop and mobile.9.4
• AIMPA free audio player with broad format support and tools for local, network and cloud libraries.9.2
• foobar2000A free player for local music with deep tagging, DSP, and network playback tools.9.1

See all Vanilla Music alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Vanilla Music is listed in our Local Music Player Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 20 Oct 2026 · How we research and update