Earworm vs SoundHound

Earworm is an iOS song identifier that recognizes a tune from humming, singing, or whistling, even when the original track is not playing and its lyrics are unknown. Tap the orb and provide a clear melody; the maker says five to ten seconds is usually enough. The app returns a ranked shortlist with previews that you can confirm, then opens matched songs in Apple Music or Spotify. An Apple Watch app can identify songs from the wrist. Earworm is currently a free TestFlight beta and is not yet on the App Store; an account is required. Short recordings, search history, and match feedback are stored with the account on Earworm’s servers until deletion. The maker says recording use for improving matches is optional and can be withdrawn in Settings, and that it does not sell personal data or use it for third-party advertising or cross-app tracking. Account deletion removes the account, recordings, and history.

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.