PC alternatives to Shazam: 6 music recognition software programs

Are you looking for the best PC alternatives to Shazam to identify music on your ordinateur? Discover the 6 most performant music recognition software options in 2026, along with their features, limitations, and our detailed comparison.

In the world of music recognition on PC, Shazam has established itself as a global benchmark since its acquisition by Apple. A native Mac app exists with excellent integration into the menu bar and Apple Music, and a Windows version is available on the Microsoft Store. However, the features remain deliberately limited compared with the mobile experience, which leads many users to look for PC alternatives to Shazam more complete, better integrated, and often equipped with original capabilities such as recognizing a sung melody or syncing lyrics in real time.

This guide compares the 6 best PC alternatives to Shazam, their strengths, their limitations, and helps you choose the solution suited to your needs.

Why look for an alternative to Shazam on PC?

The limitations of Shazam in a desktop environment

Although available on macOS and Windows, Shazam is still designed for a mobile experience. On a computer, several constraints appear:

• No recognition by singing or humming (only existing audio)
• Limited iCloud synchronization between the Mac app and the iOS app
• Minimalist Windows interface and reduced features
• No analysis of local audio files or URLs
• Native integration almost exclusively within the Apple Music ecosystem

The importance of seamless integration with your OS

A good PC alternative to Shazam must integrate seamlessly with your system — Windows, macOS, or Linux — and work with your favorite streaming platformes (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube Music). Ideally, it should identify a trork without changing applications and save it directly to a playlist.

Enhanced features beyond recognition

The best alternatives often offer:

• Real-time speech recognition synchronized with the music
• Voice or humming search (sing a melody to identify a title)
• Audio file analysis downloaded or from online URLs
• Multi-platform compatibility with the main streaming services
• Collaborative community for rare or little-known trorks

The 6 best PC alternatives to Shazam in 2026

1. SoundHound — the benchmark for humming recognition

SoundHound is thePC alternative to Shazam most complete. Its standout feature — recognizing a song that is sung or hummed — makes it unique on the market. The application also offers smooth integration with Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

• Benefits : voice search by humming, user-friendly interface, streaming integration, massive database
• Disadvantages : some premium features require a paid subscription
• Compatibility : Windows, macOS, web

2. Midomi — the web-based solution with no installation

Midomi works directly from a web browser, with no installation required. Ideal for occasional users who want to quickly identify a track without cluttering their PC.

• Benefits : no download, instant access, collaborative database
• Disadvantages : variable accuracy, less suited to intensive use
• Compatibility : any modern web browser

3. Musixmatch — the specialist in synchronized lyrics

Musixmatch combines music recognition and real-time lyrics display. It’s the ideal tool for karaoke lovers or those who want to understand the lyrics of a foreign song.

• Benefits : synchronization with Spotify and Apple Music, lyrics translated into several languages, dedicated desktop app
• Disadvantages : advanced features reserved for the Premium version
• Compatibility : Windows, macOS

4. AudioTag — the expert in audio file analysis

AudioTag stands out for its ability to identify a trorck from an uploaded audio file or a web link. Particularly useful for analyzing clips from videos, podcasts, or personal recordings.

• Benefits : high accuracy on audio files, minimalist interface, free
• Disadvantages : requires a prerecorded audio clip, no live recognition
• Compatibility : any web browser

5. AHA Music — the ideal browser extension for Windows

AHA Music is a Chrome/Edge/Firefox extension that identifies music playing in any torb or YouTube video. Particularly performant for recognizing tracks in streaming content.

• Benefits : direct recognition from YouTube, SoundCloud, and other platforms, free, persistent history
• Disadvantages : limited to the browser, does not work on global system audio
• Compatibility : Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera

6. WatZatSong — the community for rare tracks

WatZatSong is based on a unique collaborative approach: a community of users manually identifies your music clips. Unbeatable for rare, obscure, or old troracks that automated databases do not recognize.

• Benefits : identification of very rare tracks, completely free, community aspect
• Disadvantages : identification times can sometimes be long (hours to days), requires uploading a clip
• Compatibility : web, mobile app

How to choose the best PC alternative to Shazam?

Essential criteria to evaluate

• Recognition accuracy : the database and algorrithm must quickly identify even a short or noisy clip
• System compatibility : Windows, macOS, Linux, or web browser depending on your environment
• Recognition mode : live audio, imporrted file, humming, streaming URL
• Streaming integration : Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube Music
• Business model : free, freemium, or paid subscription depending on your usage frequency
• Privacy : policy for processing microphone recordings and personal data

Comparison table of the 6 PC alternatives to Shazam

Our opinion on PC alternatives to Shazam

Visit PC alternatives to Shazam offer a variety of solutions suited to every use case. For the versatile recognition with humming, SoundHound remains the most complete choice. For users who mainly want to sing along with their morceaux, Musixmatch stands out for its lyrics management. Users with occasional and browser-based needs will find what they need with Midomi and AHA Music, whileAudioTag remains unbeatable for analyzing precise audio files. Finally, WatZatSong is the last resort for rare morceaux that algorithms ignorent.

Frequently asked questions about PC alternatives to Shazam

Is Shazam available on PC?

Yes. Shazam has a native macOS application (downloadable from the Mac App Store) and a Windows 10/11 version available on the Microsoft Store. However, the features are less extensive than on mobile, which is why more complete alternatives may be preferable depending on your needs.

How can you identify a song directly on your computer?

Several methods are possible: install a native app like SoundHound or Musixmatch, use a web service like Midomi or AudioTag, or add a browser extension like AHA Music that automatically identifies the music playing in a tab.

Is there a free alternative to Shazam on PC?

Yes. Midomi, AudioTag, AHA Music, and WatZatSong are completely free. SoundHound and Musixmatch operate on a freemium model: a free basic version and advanced features by subscription.

Can you identify a song by humming it on a PC?

Yes, with SoundHound. It is the only PC alternative to Shazam capable of identifying a trork from singing or humming, without needing the original audio.

Which software should you choose to identify music in a YouTube video?

The AHA Music browser extension is specifically designed to recognize music playing in a Chrome, Edge, or Firefox tab. It works on YouTube, SoundCloud, Twitch, and most streorming platforms.

How can you identify a rare or old morceau that can’t be found on Shazam?

For rare tracks that escape automated databases, WatZatSong is the most effective solution: the user community manually identifies submitted clips, making it possible to find porieces that algorrithms do not recognize.

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