Wynk, Saavn to Apple Music: Best free and paid music applications in India

Thanks to 4G and affordable data plans, you no longer need to download pirated MP3s from malicious websites to listen to latest music. Even if you are conscious about saving your mobile data, some music apps have come with offline support, allowing you to access high quality music on-the-go.

So, while you are bombarded with a long list of apps in your smartphones, here's a list of the best music streaming apps that will keep you connected 24x7 to the beats and tunes of Hollywood, Bollywood and regional tracks.

Saavn - Saavn offers an eclectic range of songs to users. Obviously, you need an internet connection for streaming songs, but you can also listen to your favourite playlists while you are offline. Saavn Pro, a premium version of the app, available at ₹95 per month will help you download songs and listen later. Saavn also offers free access for limited time to new users.

Wynk Music - Wynk Music is among the popular music streaming apps. Users can listen to music on-the-go, create and share playlists and get personalised recommendations based on their music preferences. While Wynk Music is free for all users, upgrading to Wynk Premium allows users to access unlimited streams and downloads combined with a superior ad-free experience. The service is also available to non Airtel users.

Gaana - Another music app that offers a collection of regional songs, Bollywood and English music. Just like Saavn, you need a paid version of this app to download songs. You can also register yourself to the trial version for 14 days.

Hungama - The 'Now Playing' section of Hungama offers full album videos as well as songs. You can also tweet songs and choose between gym and sleep modes. It is a tad expensive than other apps — it charges ₹10 per song. You can also get a pack full of 10 songs at ₹50. The feature-packed streaming app is also capable of merging songs saved in your phone memory and you can play them through the app only.

Google Play Music - It's a purely subscription-based app that charges you even if you want to stream music. Get it registered using your Google account and start playing songs. The trial version lasts for a month and later you can buy the subscription at ₹99 per month. The subscriptions are automated, and you can end it anytime as per your convenience. This subscription is only for music streaming. For downloading songs, it charges you ₹18 per song.

Apple Music - It charges ₹120 per month as the subscription fee, which is slightly higher than others, but covers both streaming and downloads. Besides, you also get access to exclusive podcasts, TV shows and films. What's unique is its family plan which can be shared among five members.

Amazon Prime Music - The latest music streaming app is bundled under Amazon Prime service. The app also comes with Alexa voice AI for easier browsing of the songs. Prime subscribers get Amazon Prime Music offers ad-free music in over 10 languages spanning across different genres like retro classics, pop, rock, electronic, among others. Amazon Prime Music vs Apple Music vs Google Play Music

Other apps
Streaming music is also available on Soundcloud, an app more focused on crowd-sourced content. It's also a great platform for artists to create their own channel and share it with others.

How can we not talk about YouTube, the world's largest video sharing network that offers great options to stream music. Shazam and Bookmyshow's Jukebox are also some other options.