The easiest free ringtones are the ones already on your phone, and on Android the free Zedge app offers millions more ringtones and notification sounds. On iPhone, the free way to get a new ringtone is to make it yourself in GarageBand from an audio file or a song you made, because Apple's Tone Store charges for ringtones.
A good ringtone is a small thing, but if you take client calls on your mobile it matters. You want something you recognise in a busy room that won't embarrass you in a meeting. Here's where to find one without paying, and the copyright rule that applies even when the tone is free.
Where to get free ringtones
- Your phone's built-in sounds: Apple says you can choose from a variety of built-in sounds or buy ringtones. Most people never scroll past the first few.
- GarageBand on iPhone: Apple's free music app can turn an audio file, a song from your Apple Music library or a song you made into a ringtone.
- Zedge (Android): the Zedge app says it offers millions of free ringtones, notifications and wallpapers, and it's always free to download and use.
- Freesound: a database of sounds released under Creative Commons licences, useful if you want a short sound effect rather than a song.
- Your own recording: a voice memo, your podcast jingle or a clip of your own music. You own it, so there's no licence question at all.
Free ringtone options compared
| Source | Phone | What's free | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in sounds | iPhone and Android | Everything | Limited choice |
| GarageBand | iPhone | The app and your own tones | Ringtones can be up to 30 seconds; protected files can't be used |
| Apple Tone Store | iPhone | Nothing, tones are bought | Purchases tied to your Apple Account |
| Zedge | Android | Millions of tones with ads | Premium content and ad-free use cost extra |
| Freesound | Both, via a file | Sounds under Creative Commons | Some sounds can't be used commercially; many need credit |
How to make a free ringtone on iPhone with GarageBand
This is Apple's own method, and it's the one most iPhone owners don't know exists.
- Download GarageBand from the App Store if it isn't already on your phone.
- On the Home screen, touch and hold the GarageBand icon, then tap Create New Audio Recording.
- Tap the Tracks button at the top of the screen and bring in the audio you want to use.
- Trim it to the section you want. Apple says ringtones can be up to 30 seconds long.
- Tap the Share button, then tap Ringtone, give it a name and tap Export.
- If it's longer than 30 seconds, tap Continue and GarageBand will shorten it for you automatically.
- Set it as your standard ringtone, or assign it to one contact so you know who's calling before you look.
If you're new to the app, my guide on how to use GarageBand covers the basics in more detail.
The catch: free to download isn't the same as free to use
Apple's ringtone guide is clear that if a file is protected, you can't use it for a ringtone. That's the technical block. The legal one is wider. Zedge's own content policy says uploaders must not share recordings of songs they didn't write or recordings they didn't make, and that even your own recording of someone else's song may not be sold through Zedge unless the composition is licensed. Zedge's terms describe what you download as being for personal use.
For a personal phone, that's fine. Where it matters is business use: if you're thinking of using a tone in a video, an app or a podcast, a phone ringtone download isn't a licence. Freesound makes the same point from the other side: some of its sounds can't be used commercially, and many need you to credit the author. Check the licence on each sound.
Android: setting a free ringtone
- Install Zedge from Google Play, or download a sound file you're allowed to use.
- Pick a ringtone in the app and set it as your sound.
- If you'd rather not see ads in the free sections, Zedge offers a paid subscription, but you don't need it to get ringtones.
Your phone's ringtone isn't the only tone that matters for business. If clients reach you on WhatsApp, it's worth setting that separately too, and if you'd like to create something original, my list of GarageBand alternatives includes free tools that work on more devices.
Restoring ringtones you've bought before
If you've bought tones in the past and they've vanished after a new phone, Apple's help page says your purchased tones and ringtones appear at the top of the list of sounds, and on a new device you can tap Download All Purchased Tones. Apple adds that you might not be able to download some previously bought tones again, and that store availability and features vary by country or region.
Purchases from the Tone Store are tied to your Apple Account and the payment method on file, which is another reason I'd make your own in GarageBand instead: a tone you made is a file you control, not a purchase linked to one account.
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My advice
On iPhone, skip the Tone Store and spend five minutes in GarageBand: you'll end up with something nobody else has. On Android, Zedge is the obvious free option, just remember its downloads are for personal use. And for a business number, a short, neutral tone you made yourself beats a song every time. It's recognisable, it's yours, and it won't go off mid-meeting with a chorus everyone knows.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get free ringtones on my iPhone?
Use the built-in sounds, or make your own ringtone for free in GarageBand from an audio file or a song you made. Apple's Tone Store sells ringtones rather than giving them away.
How long can an iPhone ringtone be?
Apple says ringtones can be up to 30 seconds long. GarageBand will offer to shorten a longer clip automatically when you export it.
Is Zedge free?
Zedge says its Android app is always free to download and use. You can pay for premium content from professional creators or for a subscription that removes ads.
Can I use a downloaded ringtone in a business video?
Not safely. Zedge's terms describe downloads as being for personal use, and Freesound says some sounds can't be used commercially. Check the licence of the exact sound.
Why can't I turn a song into a ringtone?
Apple says that if a file is protected, you can't use it for a ringtone. Use an audio file you own or a song you made instead.
