SoundHound
soundhound.com
What it is
SoundHound is a mobile app for identifying music nearby and finding songs with voice control. Users can also sing or hum a tune to identify it. Saying “Hey SoundHound…” can navigate the app, start music discovery, and control playback hands-free. LiveLyrics displays moving lyrics in real time. The app connects Apple Music or Spotify accounts and includes a built-in YouTube player. Discoveries can sync across devices and be shared through Facebook, Twitter, messaging services, or email. Its Apple Watch app identifies music and displays LiveLyrics; a cellular-enabled watch can be used without an iPhone connection. SoundHound is available on Android and iOS, and keeps an identification history, but does not identify music offline. The free app includes advertising. SoundHound∞ is an ad-free upgrade listed at $6.99 as a one-time purchase, with no monthly fees. Personalized playlists through Apple Music or Spotify require a SoundHound account and a music subscription; voice playback of Spotify playlists also requires a Spotify account and registration. The company identifies itself as SoundHound AI Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- The app identifies music playing nearby and can also recognize melodies that users sing or hum.Read 14 Oct 2026 · music.soundhound.com
- Purpose
- SoundHound identifies music playing around you and lets users discover, search, and play songs with voice control.Read 29 Sep 2026 · soundhound.com
- Support
- SoundHound provides a Support Center with FAQs and support information.Read 29 Sep 2026 · support.soundhound.com
- Headquarters
- Santa Clara, California, United StatesRead 23 Sep 2026 · soundhound.com
- Founded
- 2005Read 23 Sep 2026 · soundhound.com
- Company
- The maker identifies itself as SoundHound AI Inc. and lists its headquarters in Santa Clara, California.Read 29 Sep 2026 · soundhound.com
- Ads
- The free SoundHound app includes advertising, and SoundHound∞ is offered as an ad-free upgrade.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Android system requirement
- Google Play lists the app for Android and shows a Teen content rating, but does not state a minimum Android version on the opened listing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- API licensing
- Houndify software and API materials are commercially licensed, require API keys and are not transferred as owned software.Read 14 Oct 2026 · houndify.com
- Apple Music integration
- The iOS app connects Apple Music accounts for listening and playlist creation.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Apple Watch
- The Apple Watch app can identify music and display LiveLyrics; a cellular-enabled watch can be used without an iPhone connection.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Company founding and headquarters
- SoundHound AI identifies itself as founded in 2005 and headquartered at 5400 Betsy Ross Drive in Santa Clara, California.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists SoundHound AI as a public software company with 501–1,000 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Discovery history
- The app stores a personal history of identified songs and synchronizes discoveries across devices.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Houndify API
- SoundHound offers Houndify APIs for text and audio queries, custom domains and SDK-based application integration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · investors.soundhound.com
- Hum search
- Users can sing or hum a tune into the app to identify it.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- iOS system requirement
- The Apple listing requires iOS 16.6 or later and also supports iPadOS, visionOS and watchOS versions shown on the listing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Limit: advertising and price
- Gadgets 360 said the free app contained most features while the paid version seemed expensive for the extra functionality; SoundHound’s current support page says Infinity is a one-time ad-free upgrade.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gadgets360.com
- Limit: noisy environments
- A Hypebot test found SoundHound slightly ahead overall but weaker than Shazam in noisy environments because of background-noise filtering.Read 14 Oct 2026 · hypebot.com
- Limit: recognition failures
- Google Play reviewers repeatedly reported that searches stopped working or failed to identify even common songs after previously reliable use.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Lyrics
- LiveLyrics displays real-time, moving lyrics for songs.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Music Map and charts
- Android documentation lists a Music Map plus genre, global and popular charts for exploring discoveries.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Music services
- The app supports connecting Apple Music or Spotify accounts and includes a free built-in YouTube player.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Notable news
- On April 21, 2026, SoundHound AI announced a definitive agreement to acquire LivePerson and described a combined enterprise footprint across more than 30 countries.Read 14 Oct 2026 · soundhound.com
- Playlists
- Personalized playlists through Apple Music or Spotify require a SoundHound account and a music subscription.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Praise: feature breadth
- Gadgets 360 praised the combination of song recognition, lyrics, YouTube videos, speech search and access to a device music library.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gadgets360.com
- Praise: recognition and humming
- An independent Cafe Arcane comparison reported faster identification and more success on covers, remixes and obscure tracks, with humming as SoundHound’s standout feature.Read 14 Oct 2026 · arcane.org
- Privacy collection
- Apple says the app may collect audio, search history, location, identifiers, usage and diagnostic data, and may use identifiers for tracking.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Privacy policy
- SoundHound says voice recordings, location and usage data may be processed, while users can request deletion and disable location collection in settings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · soundhound.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.8 out of 5 from 181K ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 1.5 out of 5 from 41.3K reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Real-time lyrics
- SoundHound displays synchronized, karaoke-style lyrics for discovered and played songs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Scale
- The product page claims more than 300 million downloads and billions of songs discovered.Read 14 Oct 2026 · music.soundhound.com
- SDKs
- The Python SDK exposes TextHoundClient and StreamingHoundClient classes for text and streaming voice requests and includes sample scripts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pypi.org
- Security statement
- SoundHound describes an information-security program for collected data but states that no storage system can be guaranteed completely secure.Read 14 Oct 2026 · soundhound.com
- Self-hosting limitation
- The documented SDK sends requests to Houndify endpoints, while an endpoint option is described for self-hosted solutions; the consumer music app itself is not offered as self-hosted software.Read 14 Oct 2026 · pypi.org
- Sharing
- Discoveries can be shared through Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, messaging services and email.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Spotify integration
- Spotify accounts can stream tracks, create or update playlists and automatically add discovered songs, subject to a Spotify subscription for some functions.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Spotify requirements
- Playing Spotify playlists by voice requires a Spotify account and registration.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Support documentation
- The support center contains articles covering accounts, fees, music searches, hands-free search, permissions and submitting music.Read 14 Oct 2026 · support.soundhound.com
- Sync and sharing
- Discoveries can sync across multiple devices and be shared through Facebook, Twitter, messaging services, and email.Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Voice control
- Users can say “Hey SoundHound” to identify songs, navigate the app, search lyrics and control playback hands-free.Read 14 Oct 2026 · music.soundhound.com
- YouTube player
- The built-in player streams full tracks and playlists through YouTube without requiring a separate music subscription.Read 14 Oct 2026 · support.soundhound.com
Plans and prices
SoundHound Free Free to use · ads Read 29 Sep 2026 · support.soundhound.com
SoundHound Music App Free Song identification, lyrics, voice control, playlists and YouTube playback; ads may appear Read 14 Oct 2026 · support.soundhound.com
SoundHound Infinity $5.99, paid once one-time purchase Ad-free SoundHound experience Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
SoundHound∞ $6.99, paid once One-time fee; no monthly fees Ad-free experience Read 29 Sep 2026 · apps.apple.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Can identify tunes sung or hummed into the app.
- LiveLyrics displays moving lyrics in real time.
- Discoveries sync across devices and can be shared.
- Apple Watch app can identify music and show lyrics.
Limits
- Offline music identification is not available.
- Free app includes advertising.
- Personalized playlists require a SoundHound account and music subscription.
- Spotify voice playlist playback requires registration.
Who it suits
It suits listeners who want to identify nearby music, search by humming, or control playback by voice. Users of Apple Music or Spotify can connect those accounts, subject to the listed account and subscription requirements for playlists.
SoundHound in depth
Read the full write-up
Overview
SoundHound is a mobile music-identification app that also supports humming search, lyrics, and voice-controlled playback. It suits listeners who want to identify a tune even when they cannot play it, then move from discovery to listening without relying entirely on touch. The trade-off is that its free tier includes ads, while personalized playlists depend on a connected music subscription.
Identification history and listening links help turn a one-off recognition into something you can revisit. Discoveries can also sync across devices and be shared through social networks, messaging, or email.
For a wider comparison, see our Music Identification Apps list.
Key features
Identify songs by listening or humming
SoundHound can recognize music playing nearby or search from a tune you sing or hum. That makes it useful when the melody is familiar but no recording is available. Identification history provides a record of finds, and listening links help you continue from recognition to playback. The important limitation is that identification does not work offline.
Voice, lyrics, and listening
Commands beginning with “Hey SoundHound…” can navigate the app, start discovery, and control playback hands-free. LiveLyrics displays moving lyrics in time with songs, a useful companion for following along rather than simply learning a title. The app also includes a free YouTube player and can connect Apple Music or Spotify.
Personalized playlists through either music service require both a SoundHound account and the relevant music subscription. Playing Spotify playlists by voice also requires a Spotify account and registration, so voice control does not remove the need for service credentials.
Cross-device use and support
Discoveries sync across multiple devices and can be shared through Facebook, Twitter, messaging services, or email. On Apple Watch, SoundHound can identify music and show LiveLyrics; a cellular-enabled watch can do this without an iPhone connection. A Support Center provides FAQs and support information.
Pricing
The freemium model offers a usable free option, with one paid upgrade for listeners who want to remove advertising.
PlanPriceWhat it meansSoundHoundfreeFree to use, with ads. A sensible starting point if advertising is acceptable.SoundHound∞$6.99, paid onceOne-time fee for an ad-free experience, with no monthly fees. Best for regular users who want uninterrupted use.The ad-free upgrade changes the advertising experience; it does not replace the account and subscription requirements for personalized Apple Music or Spotify playlists.
Platforms
SoundHound is a mobile app for Android and iOS. Apple Watch support adds music identification and LiveLyrics, including use without an iPhone connection on a cellular-enabled watch. There is no offline identification, so it is not a fit for finding songs when connectivity is unavailable.
Who it's for
Choose SoundHound if you often need to identify a song from a hummed melody, want lyrics alongside recognition, or value voice-led playback and Apple Watch access. It is less suitable if offline recognition is essential, or if you want personalized playlists without a SoundHound account and a paid subscription to Apple Music or Spotify.
Pros and cons
Pro: Humming search complements recognition of nearby music, covering cases where there is no recording to play.
Pro: Voice control, LiveLyrics, listening links, and identification history take discovery beyond a title match.
Pro: The one-time $6.99, paid once upgrade removes ads without a recurring fee.
Con: The free app includes advertising, and the paid upgrade only removes ads.
Con: Personalized playlists require both a SoundHound account and a music subscription; Spotify voice playlists have additional account and registration requirements.
Con: Identification is unavailable offline.
Alternatives
SoundHound is a music-discovery app, while several linked alternatives address restaurant drive-through operations rather than song identification. Choose Solink Drive-Thru AI if you need a paid drive-through tool on Android, iOS, or web. PAR Ordering is another paid option for Android, iOS, and web, with pricing provided by contacting PAR for a demo. Consider Qu Drive-Thru for a paid Android or iOS drive-through product with pricing on request.
Dine Out Pro Drive-Thru Software is a paid Android and web option with plans that include staff accounts, terminals, ordering, and billing features. Fingermark Eyecue is a paid Android, iOS, and web alternative with custom pricing. DRIVETHRUiQ and Huex AIDA are paid web options, while Hi Auto is a paid alternative.
For category browsing beyond SoundHound, see Restaurant Drive-Thru Software or Voicebot Software.
Verdict
SoundHound is a strong choice for listeners who want more than conventional song recognition: humming search, moving lyrics, voice controls, and watch support make discovery flexible. Its main drawbacks are ads on the free plan, subscription dependencies for personalized playlists, and no offline identification. Choose it if those discovery tools matter more than offline access; look elsewhere if offline recognition or subscription-free playlist access is essential.
Verdict
SoundHound combines music identification, humming search, lyrics, and voice playback controls. The free app includes ads; the listed one-time ad-free upgrade costs $6.99 as a one-time purchase.
Where Specifiction places it
- Restaurant Drive-Thru Software#1 of 238.7
- Voicebot Software#3 of 278.6
- AI Voice Assistants#2 of 188.7
- Music Identification Apps#6 of 238.5
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