- Elmedia music player
- MP3 Player Mac
- Best Music Players for Mac in 2024
Best Music Players for Mac in 2024
There are many music apps out there and finding the right one can be tricky. If you’re looking for a player with wide format support and quality playback, we’ve rounded up the best music players for Mac and highlighted the strengths and features of each solution. Check out our list and you are sure to find what works best for you.
Could I ask for the benefit of those who use MAC's to point in the right direction for an easy-to-use and decent player preferably free but would consider a small payment if it is worth it.— Hifiwigwam
Elmedia - Top Music Player for macOS
When choosing a music player, Mac users praise Elmedia Player for a number of reasons. First, it adheres to the highest audio playback standards in an audio player for Mac. Secondly, Elmedia Player supports an extensive list of formats like M4A, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, AC3, etc. It even plays FLAC on Mac, which Apple Music (formerly iTunes) cannot open. Also, Elmedia is fully compatible with the latest macOSes.
Elmedia offers a range of amazing features, such as built-in music volume controls and a 10-band graphic equalizer with presets. With its AC-3/DTS hardware passthrough and wireless connectivity via AirPlay, DLNA, and Chromecast, this superior Mac MP3 player lets you play music however you like, wherever you like. Give it a free trial to explore all the opportunities.
Supported formats: MP3, FLAC, M4A, APE, OGG, AC3, M4A, AAC, WMA, WAV, and many more.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free to use, PRO upgrade costs $19.99
Updated on: Nov 29, 2023
Pros
- 10-band equalizer for minute adjustments
- A playlist feature to organize your music library
- Audio receiver functionality.
- Easy-to-Use Interface
- Native volume Control
- Ability to connect to hardware and wireless speakers
Cons
- Requires PRO version to unlock all the features
- Available for macOS only
How to Play Lossless Music on Mac
1. Download and install Elmedia on your Mac.
2. Once the installation is complete, launch the software and add your audio files to it.
3. You can do this in several ways:
- Drag and drop the file directly onto the player’s window or icon in the dock.
- In the player window, go to “File” > “Open” and browse for the content you want to play.
- Right-click the file and choose “Open With”. Next, select Elmedia Player from the list.
VLC
VLC is one of the most popular contenders for the best Mac music player. Known mainly as a video player, it’s a reliable solution for audio playback as well. It supports a wide variety of audio formats without external codecs, as well as various streaming protocols.
Furthermore, there is an easy-to-use playlist manager that allows you to create, manage and sort media files according to your preferences. It is also worth highlighting some of the outstanding features offered by VLC, such as the ability to remove audio from video, play internet radio stations, and enhance functionality via add-ons.
Supported formats: MP3, AAC, Vorbis, AC3, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, etc.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Price: free
Updated on: Nov 02, 2023
Pros
- Wide range of supported audio file formats
- Media manager helps to maintain a clean library
- Completely free to use and enjoy.
Cons
- Tagging files may be finicky at times
- Very basic and minimal set of features
- Outdated design and UX.
IINA
IINA is arguably one of the best music players for Macs in recent years. It’s mainly because of how natural the UI and UX feel in the Mac ecosystem. You can rely on IINA to play any of your music files. It integrates Apple’s native gesture controls, dark mode, Touch Bar, and mouse and trackpad controls to give you the most authentic macOS feel. Besides, Slant ranked IINA as the №1 best video player for Mac. IINA is a compelling choice for an open-source audio program for Mac.
Supported formats: M4A, MP3, AAC, M4A, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free
Updated on: Jul 07, 2023
Pros
- Authentic macOS feel throughout the whole app
- Robust audio equalizer and audio controls
- Open-source app.
Cons
- Some advanced users might find it overly basic
- Is not stable and can crash from time to time.
Pine Player
While other applications on this list are compatible with different platforms, Pine Player works exclusively on macOS. The software boasts a huge list of supported formats, which includes MP3, FLAC, APE, AAC, M4A, WAV, WMA, DSD, and SACD ISO, among others. This Mac music player has an Oversampling Filter that converts compressed MP3 files to a higher sample rate while providing incredible sound quality. The crossfade and gapless playback functions will give you a pleasant listening experience with seamless transitions between your favorite songs.
Supported formats: FLAC, MP3, M4A, APE, AAC, WAV, OGG, AIFF, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free
Updated on: Jul 10, 2023
Pros
- Many supported formats
- Smooth and enjoyable music listening experience
- Free app.
Cons
- Highs and mids aren’t very crisp
- UI layout isn’t too user-friendly.
Vox
Vox is another best music player for Mac users on our list. It offers a wide variety of functions, has a user-friendly design and supports all kinds of audio file formats like ALAC, DSD, WAV, AIFF, and more. Users also get access to thousands of radio stations, playlist customization, and a rich audio-listening experience. As for the playlist feature, it is much easier to use and manage compared to VLC, but it does take longer to download files.
Although Vox is free to use, some features are locked behind a premium plan, which is quite expensive.
Supported formats: FLAC, DSD, M4A, PCM, APE, MP3.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free, Premium version starts from $4.99/month
Updated on: Dec 11, 2023
Pros
- A comprehensive app for music enthusiasts
- Feature-rich, with support for all kinds of formats
- Sync available between Mac and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)
- Unlimited cloud storage.
Cons
- Has a subscription fee
- Very CPU-intensive.
5KPlayer
5KPlayer is a free music player Mac solution that doubles as a video player and media streamer. It can download songs or playlists from online platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion, Vimeo, Vevo, SoundCloud, and many more. It can also convert video files to audio MP3 and AAC formats. Another handy feature is the built-in radio player with a free selection of preset satellite radio channels. All in all, 5KPlayer is quite handy and serviceable as a music app.
Supported formats: MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC, AC3, OGG.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: freeware
Updated on: Oct 26, 2021
Pros
- Easily converts online movie video soundtracks to MP3
- Wirelessly streams audio and video via AirPlay and DLNA
- Build a media library by sorting audio/video files, creating new playlists, etc.
Cons
- Learning curve for new users.
Swinsian
Swinsian is a sophisticated audio player Mac users can find. Those who dub it the best audio player for Mac appreciate its wide range of supported formats, folder monitoring, and advanced tag editing features. Swinsian lets you control playback using global shortcuts or the special mini window. Even with large music libraries, users can easily customize the interface.
Despite its simplicity, Swinsian is not free. On the official website, the application can be purchased for $24.95.
Supported formats: FLAC, MP3, AAC, ALAC, Vorbis, WMA, WAV, Opus, AC3, AIFF, MusePack, and APE.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free trial, the price is $24.95
Updated on: Jan 30th, 2018
Pros
- Support for global keyboard shortcuts
- Ability to find duplicate tracks
- Convenient playlist
- Search and replace tags.
Cons
- Sound is fairly standard
- Requires time to learn how to use it.
Fidelia
Fidelia is designed for music professionals. The average user could use it but wouldn’t truly enjoy the app’s benefits. Taking full advantage of this app requires a good sound system. Fidelia provides the highest possible fidelity, fit for music connoisseurs.
The supported plug-ins and macOS’s system Audio Units let you, as the developers put it, “sculpt your sound”. The app’s omnivorous nature means it can read AIFF, WAV, CAF, MP3, AAC, ALAC, Ogg Vorbis, and FLAC.
Supported formats: Apple Lossless, FLAC, MP3, WAV, AAC, Vorbis, CAF.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free trial, the app costs $29.99
Updated on: Mar 24, 2023
Pros
- Connection of plugins in AU format
- Support for iOS
- Support for iZotope.
Cons
- Pricy app
- Sometimes glitches.
Colibri
Colibri offers a lot of features for quite an affordable price. This music player for Mac is aimed primarily at lovers of quality music and provides bit-perfect playback. That’s why the app supports almost all popular lossless audio file formats – FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, APE, TTA, and WavPack. It can also play other formats – from Ogg Vorbis to AAC/M4A (in lossy quality only). Furthermore, Colibri supports cue sheets, gapless playback, and more.
With the release of the new version, the application received many internal improvements. It was also announced the development of Colibri for iOS, iPadOS and tvOS. More information can be found at Colibri Devblog.
Having read reviews on MacUpdate, we can summarize that, in general, users are satisfied with the app and its performance, and also note the high-quality work of the customer support. All in all, with its native macOS feel, Colibri would be a good fit for those looking for a native Mac experience.
Supported formats: FLAC, WAV, ALAC, APE, AIFF, TTA, DSD, WavPack, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free, PRO version costs $9.99
Updated on: Nov 16, 2023
Pros
- Ability to play music by album, artist, playlist
- Ability to create your own playlist
- Ability to load cover art for FLAC files
- Correctly displays information about playing songs.
Cons
- Requires to purchase PRO pack to unlock enhanced features.
Audirvana
Audirvana quickly established itself as the best music app for Mac owners who wish to steer away from iTunes, while benefitting from the optimal sound quality. However, this dedication to pristine sound and advanced settings comes at a steep price. The app supports the most popular audio formats, especially high-res: FLAC, WAV, AIFF.
Audirvana also integrates high-definition streaming services TIDAL, Qobuz, and HRA Streaming. Besides that, you can manage all types of music file libraries regardless of their size, view and directly modify album and song information in various metadata fields.
Supported formats: AIFF, WAVE, AAC, MP3, FLAC, Monkey Audio APE, WavPack, Apple Lossless, DSD, etc.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: free trial, $6.99/month, $69.99/year
Updated on: 20 Apr, 2023
Pros
- Support for track and album browsing
- Support for search by track, albums, artist, or playlist
- HRA Streaming integration
- Modern UI.
Cons
- Freezes while managing media library
- Remote function doesn’t work correctly
- High price.
Cog
Cog can read numerous file formats, including WAV, ALAC, Opus, Vorbis, RealAudio, DTS, Musepack, etc. The program has a dual-panel interface so you can add tracks to one, arrange them as you like, and play them in the other. Besides that, there is built-in support for ReplayGain and the ability to change the audio output device. In addition, this Mac audio player makes it possible to control playback using hotkeys.
Supported formats: WAV, APE, CUE, GBS, FLAC, AAC, DTS, APL, ALAC, OGG, MP3, NSF, SPC, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: free
Updated on: Oct 12, 2023
Pros
- Support for audio formats such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, and OGG
- Simple, iTunes-like interface with basic playback options
- Localized for various languages.
Cons
- No tone control
- Doesn’t offer too much functionality.
Musique
Unlike previous audio players for Mac which imply that you create your own playlists, Musique is closer to the standard “Music”. It scans your saved audio recordings within the selected directory and categorizes them by artist and album. To create a playlist, just click on artists, albums, or individual tracks to add them to the collection. In the latest version, a dark version of the design has been added.
Supported formats: FLAC, OGG Vorbis, APE, MPC, WP, TTA, etc.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux
Price: free
Updated on: Nov 24, 2023
Pros
- Ability to import Apple Music library
- Support album covers
- Ability to show song’s lyrics
- Support for Last.fm.
Cons
- The last update was in 2020
- Limited functionality.
Amarra Luxe
Amarra Luxe not only performs the functions of a regular audio player but also provides integration with such popular online services as TIDAL, Qobuz, and Nugs.net. This music player for Mac features support for Hi-Res music formats, including DSD and FLAC.
In addition, Amarra comes with an advanced equalizer and the ability to adjust the sound to speakers and headphones. The application boasts a clean, softened sound with the right timbres, well-developed mids, tight deep bass, and a gorgeous surround stage.
Supported formats: DSD/DSF, PCM, MQA, WAV, AAC, AAC, AAC, AAC MP3, FLAC, etc
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: free trial, PRO version costs $99
Updated on: 24 Aug, 2022
Pros
- Intuitive interface with a pleasant design
- Great sounding
- Equalizer with 16 fixed presets
- Work with the MQA codec.
Cons
- The price of the app.
Comparing of the Music Players for Macs
Top features | Elmedia Player | JustPlay | VLC | IINA | Pine Player | Vox | 5KPlayer | Swinsian | Fidelia | Colibri | Audirvana | Cog | Musique | Amarra Luxe |
Audio equalizer | ||||||||||||||
Supports local file streaming to TV | (PRO) | |||||||||||||
Playlist creation and editing | ||||||||||||||
Subtitle support | ||||||||||||||
Trial version |
How to Choose the Best Music App
Here we have gathered top criteria you should take into account when choosing the best music player. Besides that, we have made our list of the best music player for Mac based on our recommendations. So what features should a music app have?
- Support for an impressive set of audio formats.
- Ability to create and personalize playlist.
- Ability to adjust audio playback according to your taste.
- Local network streaming, i.e. to Smart TV.
- Support for audio fine-tuning.
- Built-in audio equalizer.
- Support for high-fidelity audio playback.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are lots of music players for Macs. Each of the apps described above is worth trying, still, we can outline Elmedia Player among the rest. The application perfectly combines a user-friendly interface and a set of advanced features. Besides that, while using Elmedia you won’t face any issues with playing unusual formats such as WMA on Mac. Take a look at our list, decide for yourself and enjoy listening to your favorite playlists.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have reviewed several apps in the article above. You can use any of the players we described here. However, our choice and the title of the best music player goes to Elmedia Player.
Elmedia is a universal media player, so it’s great for MP3s and other audio formats, even the lossy ones! It has lots of sound-related features, and things like audio visualization.
Apple Music is a subscription-based music streaming service. It offers a three-month free trial for new subscribers. After the trial, users will need to pay $9.99 a month for an individual plan. The price will be charged automatically or you can cancel it manually before the charge period.
Yes, your Mac comes with a built-in music player called Apple Music which was formerly known as iTunes. It runs various audio formats, however, it does not natively support lossless FLAC files, for example.
In this article, we have reviewed several best free music players for Mac among which are Elmedia Player, VLC, Pine Player, and 5KPlayer. Depending on the features you are looking for in a player you can choose the one that perfectly fits your requirements. If you are looking for a free M4A player take a look at IINA or Pine Player.
You guessed it – Elmedia Player. It has a 10-band equalizer with different presets.