Overview

SoundHound brings recognition and discovery into one app: it can identify music playing nearby or search from a tune you sing or hum. An identification history and listening links make it practical to revisit finds, and discoveries can sync across devices or be shared by messaging, email, Facebook, or Twitter.

The app is made by SoundHound AI Inc., founded in 2005 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For a broader category view, see our Music Identification Apps list.

Key features

Identify by listening or humming

Hum search is useful when a melody is in your head but there is no recording to play. Identification history helps keep track of discoveries, but the app cannot identify music offline, so it is a poor fit where a reliable connection is unavailable.

Voice control, lyrics, and playback

Voice commands starting with “Hey SoundHound…” can navigate the app, launch music discovery, and control playback hands-free. LiveLyrics displays moving lyrics in time with songs, making the app more useful during listening than a recognition tool that stops at the title.

SoundHound can connect Apple Music or Spotify accounts and includes a built-in YouTube player. Personalized playlists through Apple Music or Spotify require both a SoundHound account and the relevant music subscription. Playing Spotify playlists by voice also requires a Spotify account and registration, so voice control does not remove the need for service-specific setup.

Sync and Apple Watch

Discoveries sync across multiple devices and can be shared through social networks, messaging, or email. The Apple Watch app can identify music and show LiveLyrics; a cellular-enabled watch can do this without an iPhone connection. That is a useful extension for watch users, though it does not change the app’s lack of offline identification.

A Support Center provides FAQs and support information.

Pricing

SoundHound uses a freemium model. The SoundHound plan costs 0.00 USD per free and includes the core app with ads. It suits occasional identification and discovery if advertising is an acceptable trade-off.

SoundHound∞ costs 6.99 USD per once, billed as a one-time fee with no monthly fees. It removes ads, making it the straightforward choice for users who want the same app without advertising. Both plans retain the connection requirement for identification; upgrading does not provide offline identification.

Platforms

SoundHound is available on Android and iOS mobile devices. Its Apple Watch app adds music identification and LiveLyrics, with cellular-enabled watches able to operate without an iPhone connection.

Who it's for

SoundHound fits listeners who regularly encounter unfamiliar music, want to search by humming, or value voice control and timed lyrics alongside recognition. It is less suitable for offline use, and people who want personalized playlists need a SoundHound account plus an Apple Music or Spotify subscription.

Pros and cons

Pro: Search works with either nearby music or a hummed tune, giving users an option when no recording is available.
Pro: LiveLyrics, voice playback controls, and listening links carry discovery into listening rather than ending at identification.
Pro: Multi-device syncing, sharing, and Apple Watch support make discoveries accessible beyond the phone app.
Con: Identification is not available offline, limiting usefulness when a connection cannot be relied on.
Con: The free plan includes advertising; avoiding ads requires the one-time SoundHound∞ purchase.
Con: Personalized playlists and Spotify voice playback depend on separate accounts, subscriptions, or registration.

Alternatives

For other music-identification choices, browse our Music Identification Apps list. SoundHound is the relevant fit when humming search, voice controls, and lyrics matter together; the alternatives below address restaurant drive-thru workflows instead.

DRIVETHRUiQ is a paid, web-based option for teams seeking drive-thru software rather than music discovery.
Qu Drive-Thru is a paid Android and iOS drive-thru option with pricing on request.
Solink Drive-Thru AI is a paid drive-thru option for Android, iOS, and web.
VOICEplug Drive-Thru AI is a paid drive-thru option.
Berry AI Drive-Thru Timer is a paid web option with pricing and setup handled through Berry AI.
Dine Out Pro Drive-Thru Software is a paid option for Android and web, with plans that include staff accounts, terminals, ordering, and online/offline modes.
Hi Auto is a paid alternative.
PAR Ordering is a paid Android, iOS, and web option with pricing by demo request.

For adjacent categories, see Voicebot Software and Restaurant Drive-Thru Software.

Verdict

Choose SoundHound if you want a connected mobile app that can identify songs by sound or humming and continue into voice-led playback, lyrics, and listening links. Its strongest reasons to choose it are the breadth of discovery methods and the Apple Watch extension; look elsewhere if offline identification is essential or if you do not want ads and would rather avoid a one-time upgrade.

	SongRec	SoundHound
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Android, iOS
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Platform support	cross-platform	mobile
Identification history	Yes	Yes
Offline identification	No	No
Lyrics	—	Yes
Listening links	—	Yes

SongRec vs SoundHound

SongRec

SoundHound