The best music making app depends on how you like to create: tapping pads and loops, sampling sounds around you, recording real instruments or building full songs track by track. Beginners should start with a free app that makes something fun in minutes; producers can move to a full mobile studio. Nine apps follow in no particular order.
Making music used to mean a studio, a room full of gear and years of practice. Now a phone can record vocals, play virtual instruments and mix a finished track, which makes it the easiest place to start if you've always wanted to try.
The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from simple pad apps to full mobile studios. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. Once you've made something, my guide to uploading music to YouTube Music shows one way to get it onto your devices.
Music making apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own store listing or site describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free apps carry ads or sell optional upgrades.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auxy Studio | Beat maker | Electronic beats | Yes |
| BandLab | Mobile studio | Recording and sharing | Yes |
| FL Studio Mobile | Full production app | Full songs on the go | No |
| GarageBand | Mobile studio | Getting started on iPhone | Yes |
| Groovepad | Pad app | Instant fun with loops | Yes |
| Koala Sampler | Sample-based beat maker | Sampling any sound | No |
| Launchpad | Pad app | Remixing with sound packs | Yes |
| Medly | Sequencer app | Simple melody building | Yes |
| n-Track Studio | Mobile studio | Recording real instruments | Yes |
Nine music making apps
Auxy Studio
Best for: Producers who want to sketch modern beats and electronic tracks quickly on a phone or iPad.
BandLab
Best for: Singers and bands who want to record vocals, make beats and share tracks with collaborators, all for free.
FL Studio Mobile
Best for: Producers who want to record, sequence, mix and render complete multi-track songs on an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
GarageBand
Best for: iPhone and iPad owners who want touch instruments, live loops and a full recording studio built by Apple.
Groovepad
Best for: Total beginners who want to tap pads and build a groovy track in minutes without any music theory.
Koala Sampler
Best for: Beatmakers who love recording sounds with the phone's mic and chopping them into beats with effects.
Launchpad
Best for: Remixers who want to trigger loops from a big library of soundpacks and perform a track live.
Medly
Best for: Songwriters who want a simple, colourful way to sketch melodies, bass lines and drums on a phone.
n-Track Studio
Best for: Guitarists and singers who want to record, edit and mix real instruments on a phone or tablet.
Who owns the song you make
The U.S. Copyright Office explains that when you record a song you may be creating two works protected by copyright: a musical work, meaning the composition and lyrics, and a sound recording.
What that means for you: the tune you write and the recording you make are separate things. And loops, samples and sound packs inside an app come with their own licence terms, so read them before you release a track publicly or use it in a video for your business.
Pad apps, samplers or a full studio?
Pad apps let you trigger loops and drum sounds by tapping, which is the quickest way to make something that sounds good. Samplers record any sound through the mic and turn it into an instrument or beat. Full mobile studios work like desktop software, with tracks, instruments, recording and mixing.
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Beginners tend to have the most fun with pads and simple sequencers. If you play guitar or sing, a mobile studio that records audio cleanly is the better fit.
Making your first track in an evening
- Pick a tempo and build a simple drum pattern.
- Add a bass line that follows the kick drum.
- Layer one melody or chord pattern on top.
- Record a short vocal or instrument idea.
- Balance the volumes so nothing drowns the rest.
- Export it and listen on headphones and a speaker.
Small upgrades that help
- Closed-back headphones. Stop the beat leaking into vocal recordings.
- A small MIDI keyboard. Makes playing melodies easier than tapping glass.
- A quiet room. Soft furnishings cut echo on recordings.
- Regular backups. Export projects so a lost phone doesn't lose your songs.
From phone sketch to finished song
Many songwriters use their phone for ideas and a computer for finishing. If you think you'll want to move a project later, check whether your app can export separate tracks, called stems, or open in desktop software.
Exporting stems means every instrument and vocal comes out as its own audio file, so you can carry on mixing elsewhere without starting again. Some apps also export a project file that opens in their desktop version.
Even if you never leave your phone, export finished songs to a cloud folder regularly. It's heartbreaking to lose a track you loved because a phone was lost or reset.
Don't let file formats put you off, though. You'll pick them up as you go, and the first time you hear your own song play from a speaker, it's worth every fiddly export.
Do you make a music making app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a music making app
Start with a free app and finish one short track before buying anything. Finishing teaches you more than any feature list, and you'll quickly learn whether you prefer tapping loops, sampling sounds or recording yourself.
Use headphones while you create and check the mix on a phone speaker too. And if you need music for videos rather than songs of your own, my guide to making background music with AI for free is a faster route.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best music making app for beginners?
A free app with pads or loops, so you can make something that sounds good in minutes and learn as you go.
Can you make professional music on a phone?
Yes. Full mobile studios can record, sequence and mix complete songs, especially with good headphones.
Are music making apps free?
Several are free downloads. Some charge a one-off download or sell sound packs and upgrades.
Do I own the music I make in an app?
You may own the composition and recording, but loops and samples come with their own licence terms.
Can I record vocals on my phone?
Yes. Several apps here record vocals and instruments through the mic or an audio interface.
Do I need to know music theory?
No. Pad and loop apps let you start by ear, and theory can come later.
