Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Shazam vs SoundHound

Shazam 4.9★ · Free to download 70
Winner Shazam
SoundHound 4.8★ · Free to download 60

Shazam has a slight edge over SoundHound due to its generally better and more consistent song recognition, despite recent complaints about its performance and Apple Music integration.

Full reviews: Shazam · SoundHound

Shazam and SoundHound are both free music recognition apps, but recent reviews indicate a decline in performance for both. Shazam generally offers more reliable song identification, though users report issues with older or obscure tracks and aggressive Apple Music promotion. SoundHound struggles with recognition and has faced criticism for ads and app stability.

Head to head

Song Recognition Accuracy edge: ShazamR1R3R19R23
Shazam Shazam's accuracy is a mixed bag, with many users praising its ability to identify songs even with background noise R23R30, but a significant number report a decline in performance, struggling with obscure, older, or even mainstream songs R1R3. Some users state it used to be great but is now 'trash' or 'not very good' R13R19.
SoundHound SoundHound also receives mixed reviews on accuracy. Some users find it highly effective, even for humming or singing R74R95R98, with some claiming it's 'more precise than Shazam' or 'better than Shazam' . However, a large number of recent reviews indicate it struggles to identify music, even loud or well-known songs, with many reporting it 'doesn't work' or 'can't find a single song' R67.
Ease of Use / User Experience edge: ShazamR22R30R35R36
Shazam Shazam is generally praised for being quick and convenient R30, but recent updates have led to complaints about navigation and an 'annoying UX' R22. Users are frustrated by aggressive prompts to sign up for Apple Music R36R39R41 and ads interfering with functionality R35R45. There are also issues with previous songs showing up when trying to identify a new one .
SoundHound SoundHound users report issues with the app stopping working, freezing, or showing 'no internet connection' errors R67. Some find it slow compared to Shazam and clunky . The lack of a picture-in-picture mode is a requested feature . There are also complaints about sexually suggestive advertisements .
Features & Integrations tieR7R10R24R25
Shazam Shazam users appreciate its integration with Apple Music, allowing direct playlist additions R26. However, recent changes have removed Apple Watch support for some users R7R10 and disabled account login and song syncing across devices, which was a valued feature R24. Siri integration is also reported as erratic R25.
SoundHound SoundHound offers playlists and the ability to hum or sing to identify songs R74R95R98. However, users report that Apple Music integration for adding songs to playlists or opening them has stopped working . There are also requests for features like uploading videos/audio for identification and adding SoundHound to the iPhone Control Center . Watch app functionality is also problematic, with issues recognizing music and playing identified songs R75.
Reliability & Performance edge: ShazamR13R19R45R67
Shazam Shazam's reliability has decreased for many, with reports of freezing R45 and the app not starting to recognize songs even after multiple attempts R45. Some users note it 'used to be great' but now has 'quality sucks' R13R19.
SoundHound SoundHound suffers from significant reliability issues, with frequent complaints about the app stopping working, not recognizing songs, and displaying 'no internet connection' despite being online R67. Users describe it as 'garbage' and 'ineffective' R67. Some suggest uninstalling and reinstalling to fix issues .
Pick Shazam if

You prioritize generally reliable song identification and integration with Apple Music, and are willing to tolerate occasional ads and prompts for Apple Music R26R30R36.

Pick SoundHound if

You frequently need to identify songs by humming or singing, a feature that SoundHound users praise, and you are okay with potentially inconsistent performance and ads R74R95R98.

Evidence note: Both apps are free, so the negative reviews for both often stem from friction with ads or limitations, rather than a paid tier. Recent reviews for both apps show a decline in performance compared to their lifetime ratings, indicating a possible trend of worsening accuracy and user experience.

Frequently asked

Which app is better at identifying obscure or older songs?
Reviews for both apps indicate struggles with obscure, older, or non-mainstream music; Shazam users specifically mention difficulty with 1920s-1940s music and obscure songs R1R3, while SoundHound also has users reporting it can't find simpler or older songs R90R100.
Can I identify songs by humming or singing with these apps?
SoundHound is explicitly praised by multiple users for its ability to identify songs when hummed or sung R74R95R98, while a Shazam user reported it failed to detect songs they hummed or sang R37.
Do these apps work on Apple Watch?
Shazam users report that the Apple Watch app has disappeared or no longer works for them R7R10, while SoundHound users experience issues with its Apple Watch app, including not hearing music or being unable to play identified songs R75.
Which app has better integration with music streaming services?
Shazam offers direct playlist additions to Apple Music R26, though some users complain about aggressive prompts to subscribe to Apple Music R36R39R41; SoundHound users report that its Apple Music integration for adding or opening songs in playlists has stopped working .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Shazam 2/5 · US Shazam does not recognize all music: When I say all music, this app struggles to find the 20s, 30s, and 40s music, which is absolutely ridiculous.
  2. [R3] Shazam 3/5 · US It can’t find really find obscure songs easily.: Not sure why but I have a big problem with it finding obscure songs so like 4/10 times it works. Sometimes it’s even just the regular song NOT sped up or slowed down. I don’t put the song in a loud environment either as I just go to the quietest place so it won’t have trouble finding it but it still DOES.
  3. [R19] Shazam 2/5 · US What happened to Shazam: Shazam used to be great at identifying songs 90-95% of the time. If it didn’t know the answer it would tell me it couldn’t identify the song but something changed. I’m guessing it can identify songs correctly maybe 50-60% of the time. What’s really frustrating is when Shazam says it identified the songs by and it’s completely wrong. I knew the artist but wanted to find the
  4. [R23] Shazam 5/5 · US Spot on! 100%: Will find the song even with other loud ambient noises in the background! 10/10
  5. [R22] Shazam 1/5 · US What did you do!?!?: Made awful changes can’t navigate. Complete fail from what it was the last 5 years. Deleted!
  6. [R30] Shazam 5/5 · US Love my Shazam!: There is nothing quicker, mire conveinent than having this when im watching a movie etc and hear a song i love and cant remember artist etc! Bam! Got it… with Shazam for all time!! Tk you!
  7. [R35] Shazam 1/5 · US Doesn’t work and has no support: For awhile, this app worked as advertised. Lately I’ve gotten interference from the advertising. I hear a song that I want information on, open Shazam and automatically an ad pops up that insists I respond to it before the app does anything else. Once I respond to the app, it drops me into the last identified song on hold. Now I have to close that window to get the
  8. [R36] Shazam 4/5 · US Pretty good: It’s not the best, but there aren’t many other apps that can compare to it. It does fail to recognize songs sometimes but still a great app and can recognize almost any song. There’s just a problem if you don’t own Apple Music, then it’s gonna ask if you wanna download it almost every time you try and listen to a song but you can also just search the song up on TikTok or YouTube.👍
  9. [R7] Shazam 1/5 · US iWatch?: What happened to the iWatch app??? Bring back the app for the watch!!! · translated
  10. [R10] Shazam 1/5 · US Removed from Apple Watch without warning: App no longer works on Apple Watch. Now says needs Apple OS11. No warning given.
  11. [R24] Shazam 3/5 · GB You Can no longer log in to my account via the app or other platforms: It is dumb that I can no longer sign in to my account via the app. I used Shazam on my iPad, Personal mobile phone as well as my work mobile phone. I also use Shazam on my smart watch. I used to be able to sync my Shazam songs using my account, this is no longer the case. How am I supposed to keep track of my music on other
  12. [R25] Shazam 1/5 · US Erratic and inadequate Siri integration: When triggered from Siri Gives out the diff song titles and I cannot look back later in the library :(
  13. [R13] Shazam 1/5 · US Quality sucks now: Don’t know what happened, this app used to be great, it is now trash
  14. [R45] Shazam 1/5 · US Much worse than the original: Apple took something good and destroyed it when they acquired it. You could touch it 25 times and it still won’t start to recognize the song, it freezes. It’s loaded with ads, I missed the old version and I hope someone launches a viable competitor very soon.
  15. [R67] SoundHound 1/5 · US Garbage: This app is a piece of garbage. I have trouble working at all the time on my iPhone 13. The phone works just fine. This is the only app that has a problem. It used to work just fine. It doesn’t need an update. My phone doesn’t need an update. This app is just garbage. It stops working all the time and I’m sick of it! Then I can’t figure out what the song is before the song is over. Than
  16. [R90] SoundHound 3/5 · GB Didn't work: Just as "accurate" as Shazam, but without even the "no that's not it" button. I get that looking up obscure music is hard, but I wouldn't be looking it up if it wasn't obscure.
  17. [R100] SoundHound 2/5 · US Joe phllysknee: Used to be pretty good but in the last months it couldn’t identify several well known rock songs like G&R Sweet Child of mine .6 try’s six didn’t know .
  18. [R37] Shazam 1/5 · US worst app ever: bruh this app literally cant do anything i hummed it a song, sang the lyrics and tried it in different genres so it could understand and it didnt. I literally hummed it bad romance by lady gaga and it couldnt detect the song, i hummed it trap house by fetty wap and it didnt know I LITERALLY SANG FOR HALF A MINTUE OF LYRICS TO POKER FACE AND IT COULDNT DECECT THE SONG IM PRETTY SUR
  19. [R74] SoundHound 5/5 · US great: either i have perfect pitch and a naturally beautiful singing voice or this app is good at figuring out what song you're singing because it finds the song i'm looking for pretty consistently
  20. [R95] SoundHound 5/5 · GB Amazing: I’ve never written a review for an app before. But my fiance could not stop trying to work out a song she wanted at our wedding. We were so invested. Typed la la la la la/na na na na na into google in many different iterations. It was only when she sang into this app that it found the song INSTANTLY. I am forever in your debt SoundHound. Would you like to come to our wedding?
  21. [R98] SoundHound 5/5 · GB Simply the BEST.: I hum songs from 14 years ago. I said HUMMING, mind you! Not even the real song, and I still found them! Thank you, Soundhound. You’re the best.
  22. [R75] SoundHound 3/5 · US I really need help: So basically, there are 3 problems: 1. Most of the time, when I’m trying to get SoundHound to recognize music on my Apple Watch, it says that that no music was heard, even though it’s really loud and I’m right next to it! 2. The only thing I can see on my watch is the SoundHound music recognize button and the songs it’s recognized, but I can’t play them! What the heck! 3. This
  23. [R26] Shazam 5/5 · US Phenomenal app: Give me a direct playlist to add to Apple Music for. Songs I Shazam not just songs Id
  24. [R39] Shazam 2/5 · US Good but annoying: Works great but very annoying if you don't have Apple music. The constant nagging and begging to sign up for Apple Music makes me want to use something else. If I've already declined the offer for the 49th time.. F off🤷🏿
  25. [R41] Shazam 1/5 · US Sidebar: Always trying to make me buy Apple Music I don’t want it, don’t even try to tempt me.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store