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iTunes is a popular media player that most Mac users are familiar with. While iTunes has been the go-to for many people, there are now plenty of reasons why someone might want to find an iTunes alternative Mac. Apple has made some changes to its media player recently, turning it into 3 apps rather than one - a move some users might dislike. On top of that, there are plenty of media players out there that might be more to your taste - for instance, ones that have certain sync features, or that specialize in letting you customize your music playback. This article will give you a detailed overview of ten of the best iTunes alternatives for Mac, letting you work out which one is best for you.
iTunes is a media player released by Apple in 2001. The software initially focused on music, letting users put together a library of their music files, create playlists, and most importantly, transfer music to their iPods. Over time, iTunes expanded, to feature podcasts and the iTunes store, where users could buy new releases. While it has a number of good features, iTunes eventually began to draw criticism for trying to incorporate too many different features and becoming a core component for managing files on iOS. In response to these criticisms, Apple announces in 2019 that they would be splitting iTunes into three different programs, each specializing in a specific area.
There are plenty of major benefits to iTunes, including:
Compatibility with iOS: iTunes has been custom-made by Apple and is specifically designed to get the best out of their products, including iPods and Macs. You’re guaranteed no compatibility issues.
Ease of use: iTunes is simple to use, with a clear interface and plenty of extra functions. Making playlists, moving music around and updating takes only a few seconds.
Online purchases: iTunes has a massive library of music that can be purchased. New releases are available, as well as a load of other albums from a wide variety of genres.
However, there are a few drawbacks to iTunes:
Difficult with multiple accounts: you can’t merge or sync multiple accounts. This makes it difficult to stay up to date if you have more than one account.
Manual file deletion: if you want to remove files from your external device, you need to do it yourself. You can’t use iTunes for it.
Endless updates: iTunes is constantly updating itself, which is an annoyance and tends to slow the program down.
Most people these days have several different devices that they need to transfer data between. Laptops, digital TVs, tablets, and smartphones all need to be updated with files. Many people use USB sticks or hard drives to move data. You can also email, though this option has major file size restrictions. Online clouds are another option. One of the most convenient methods is to use a program that can sync multiple devices automatically, ensuring that you are always up to date.
iTunes is a popular choice for Mac users looking to manage their music collection. However, many users find that the drawbacks are bigger than the advantages. The following are some great alternatives to iTunes, and we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about each of them. We’ve looked at compatibility, price, ease of use, and a number of other factors to determine the best iTunes alternative.
SyncMate is for our money probably the best iTunes alternative out there. This program covers all the bases, offering a wide range of tools that are easy to use and can carry out just about any task you need.
Supported devices: Android, iOS, MTP.
Pros&Cons: If you want to know how to sync iTunes to Android, this has everything you need. In fact, you can use it to sync with any MTP devices, making it the ideal choice for anyone with a lot of different devices in use. SyncMate offers a huge range of different features, letting you sync not just music and videos but contact data, calendars, and more. It even lets you sync Microsoft accounts such as Outlook or Office 365, and syncs data from clouds as well. In terms of security, everything is safely encrypted, with backups to ensure you never accidentally lose any data.
To get full access to all these tools, you do need to upgrade to a paid account from a free one. But it’s great that they still let you access so many features without paying, and the Expert version is very reasonably priced.
Conclusion: we highly recommend SyncMate. It’s easy to use, even with so many features, and we haven’t been able to find a similar iTunes alternative that combines so many different, useful tools in one package.
MacX MediaTrans offers a number of different features that make it a decent choice for Mac users. One of its main selling points is the fact that it has an extremely high level of encryption - all files and data are guaranteed completely secure. It can easily sync two ways, making it easy for syncing iTunes to iPhone or vice versa. It also lets you easily compress files, for ease of transfer.
Supported devices: iOS.
Pros&Cons: It’s a great option due to the number of different features, and the high level of security. It can handle all the basic tasks you’d expect to use iTunes for. However, there are some issues.
The interface is fairly basic and could do with some improvement. It also costs more than many users would like to pay.
Conclusion: all in all, it’s worth considering if you’re looking for an iTunes alternative. It can easily handle a number of different file types, and the fact that it can resize files makes it especially valuable if you are syncing with a portable device that has limited space.
Syncios is a useful option for users looking for an alternative to iTunes. One of the main attractions of Syncios is that it is so versatile. You can use it to manage your music library, in the same way, that you would with iTunes. However, it also lets you sync a whole range of other features between devices. You can update contacts, messages, call history, and a number of other things.
Supported devices: iOS, and Android.
Pros&Cons: Syncios is a useful choice for anyone using these operating systems for syncing iTunes to Android. Syncios is especially useful because it can be used for so many different tasks. You can sync your music, but also move many other file types between devices with minimum difficulty.
That said, while it boasts a contact management system, in reality, it can have some trouble recognizing contacts and moving them between devices. It is also unable to give you access to a built-in app store.
Conclusion: Syncios has still got a ton of versatility, and is a very convenient option for someone looking to manage a number of different features on different devices. It may have some shortcomings but is still definitely usable.
DearMob iPhone Manager is an application designed to make it easy to manage files between devices and sync music from iTunes to Android. Its main selling point is the way in which it deals with videos. It can transfer and convert 8k videos, which is something that you don’t see with many alternatives to iTunes. It also lets you rotate videos in order to make them play in the ideal position on a device. Beyond that, it has the general range of management features that you would expect to see on a program like this.
Supported devices: iOS, Android.
Pros&Cons: It has a useful backup feature, that stops you from losing any information or files on your device. It also lets you manage your contacts and SMS records, again making sure that you don’t lose any essential information.
The main issue with DearMob is that it isn’t compatible with iCloud. If this is your preferred way of backing up your files and information, you will probably want to avoid DearMob.
Conclusion: Apart from that, it has most of the features you will need, with a special emphasis on handling video files, to iTunes sync. If you’re mostly concerned with moving videos files between devices, this could be a good option.
dr.fone Transfer is a useful tool to sync iTunes to Android. It can handle a wide range of media, moving things in bulk or one by one. A particularly handy feature is the fact that you can convert HEIC photos to jpegs. This is useful if you’re moving photos to a device that can’t handle the HEIC format. It also allows you to convert other kinds of files to different types, which is often handy when different devices have different compatibility.
Supported devices: iOS.
Pros&Cons: Most users find that dr.fone Transfer can handle most functions that they need from an iTunes replacement, and particularly enjoy the fact that it can easily move large files between devices.
Unfortunately, some users have reported that their support is very low quality and that they were unable to resolve issues even though they had paid for the software. While most users have been happy with this software, it’s worth considering that you may encounter some issues.
Conclusion: It’s unfortunate that they haven’t invested in reliable support. However, this program is a popular option, that has already gained many satisfied customers.
Fidelia is an iTunes alternative for Mac aimed squarely at music lovers. You can immediately tell that it is aimed for people looking to manage their music library, and even make changes to how files are played back. One of the most notable features is the fact that it provides you with 64-bit audio plugins, including AUGraphicsEQ. This is a complete equalizer that lets you alter the levels on your playback so that you can get the most out of your tunes on different devices.
Supported devices: iOS.
Pros&Cons: Anyone who really cares about their music will love this alternative to iTunes. The interface is slick and well designed, and AirPlay means that you can easily connect to other external devices.
However, compared to some of the other software we’ve reviewed for this article, Fidelia is somewhat limited. It doesn’t feature any system for moving files other than music, so if you’re looking to transfer video or phone contacts, you won’t be able to.
Conclusion: As a music organization system it’s great, but it doesn’t really offer much beyond that. If you’re looking for something that can handle a range of data, check other options, but if you’re focused on music, give it a look.
iSkysoft TunesOver is a basic alternative to iTunes that lets you manage a wide range of files between devices. The program is fairly affordable, and a free trial lets you find out whether or not it’s the right choice for you. iSkysoft offers the usual array of transfer features. You can move data in bulk or singly, and transfer video, audio, photos and other kinds of files.
Supported devices: iOS.
Pros&Cons: One great feature is the fact that it can automatically convert file types as it transfers them, saving you the trouble of having to change them to make them run on a device. It is also compatible with iTunes, letting you copy files to your iTunes library. When it does this, there’s a function that avoids duplicating files, ensuring that you make the most of your space.
However, some users have reported problems with customer service. Also, if you change operating systems, you will need to pay again for the new software, as they won’t let you switch between OSs.
Conclusion: It’s got all the basics, but there are things readers should be aware of. While the program is great, customer service problems could cause issues.
Swinsian is a good choice for anyone looking to replicate iTunes without adding a load of extra features. It aims to take the things that make iTunes handy and build on that success in a new program. It’s mainly for music library organization rather than handling other file types, and has a number of features that are clearly aimed at music fans.
Supported devices: iOS.
Pros&Cons: The good points about it are the way it allows you to organize your music library. It supports a wide range of different file types, and can easily transfer files between different devices. It also supports AirPlay, so you can play on external units with minimum difficulty. Other features such as Last.fm scrobbling are designed to let users keep track of what they’re listening to, and access music at the touch of a button. It also provides equalizers that let you get the absolute best out of your music.
One issue with Swinsian is how limited it is in terms of anything other than music. It’s a great tool for managing your audio library or for sync tasks but has little to offer in terms of photos, videos, and contact details.
Conclusion: If you’re looking for a versatile alternative to iTunes, you may want to look elsewhere. But if all you care about is getting to your favorite music, this might be the one for you.
Gihosoft IManager is a versatile Mac iTunes alternative that offers a number of functions you may not find in other places. It’s not just a tool for transferring files. You can also create backup versions of iTunes, and store them safely if you need more space on your computer or device. They are also aiming at making functions that let you download Youtube videos directly to your computer, which is a feature that hasn’t appeared in any of the other iTunes alternatives that we have reviewed.
Supported devices: iOS, Android.
Pros&Cons: This program is great for managing a wide range of different files, and can handle everything from audio and video files to contacts and Whatsapp information. It is an ambitious tool that aims to provide users with a number of different ways to manage their data.
The main issue with Gihosoft is that it is not especially fast. Scanning data can take far longer than you would expect, if you were using similar software. As a result, it can sometimes take a while to complete tasks.
Conclusion: If you’re looking for a fast program, this might not be the best choice. But if you’re looking for a tool with many different features, this is a great option.
Spotify is not exactly a conventional alternative to iTunes, but you can use it as a free iTunes alternative if you are ok with adverts. iTunes functions by organizing files that you own or have downloaded, letting you play them back on your devices. Spotify, on the other hand, is an extremely popular online streaming service. That means that you won’t own the music you listen to, but rather pay a monthly fee for access to a huge catalog of music.
Supported devices: Spotify is compatible with all operating systems.
Pros&Cons: There are a few major advantages of Spotify. One of the main ones is the fact that it can recommend playlists for you, combining music you have listened to with artists from similar genres. You can also organize favorite albums, tracks, and playlists easily.
One of the main drawbacks of Spotify is the fact that you rely on the music available there. Unlike most iTunes alternatives, you are streaming rather than accessing your own files. And while the selection on Spotify is extensive, it isn’t complete.
Conclusion: If you plan on relying on it as your only music platform, be aware that you won’t always find what you’re looking for. However, its ease of use and massive popularity speak for themselves.
As we’ve seen, there are plenty of different options for people looking to invest in different software that can do the same tasks as iTunes. Obviously, the one you choose depends on what your needs are. However, we are confident in saying that SyncMate is the best iTunes alternative, that covers all the bases and gives you a wide range of features at a great low price.