AI music
Shazam: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Shazam identifies songs from heard audio for people who want to find a track. It keeps recognized songs in a library, displays lyrics, and shows concerts associated with artists. A free tier exists. Access and transparency score: 53/100, #8 of 17 in its category.
| Access | 20/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 10/30 | |
| Trust | 23/40 |
What is Shazam?
Shazam identifies songs from heard audio for people who want to find a track. It keeps recognized songs in a library, displays lyrics, and shows concerts associated with artists.
According to its documentation, Shazam lets you:
- identify a song from heard audio
- find recognized tracks in a library
- view song lyrics
- discover concerts associated with artists
We file it under AI music, the category of tools to compose music and songs. The category lists 17 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Apple Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2002, which gives it some track record.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: musicians. The need it covers is simple to state: compose music and songs.
Shazam is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does Shazam cost?
Pricing model: free. Basic use costs nothing.
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
The publisher does not clearly state where data is hosted. Assume your content may leave your region.
For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.
No export feature is documented: keep a copy of your content elsewhere.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Shazam runs on: web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android, and browser extension.
The interface is available in 19 languages.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 53/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 20/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 10/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 23/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Shazam against other tools in the aI music category:
Verdict
Shazam publishes little verifiable information: look at the better-scored alternatives first.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
- Established since 2002
- Available on many platforms
Limitations
- Data hosting not disclosed
- Data export not documented
Avoid if…
- You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
- You need to easily retrieve your full history
Alternatives
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Shazam free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits.
Where is Shazam data stored?
The publisher does not clearly say so in its public documentation.
Does Shazam have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Shazam?
In the same category: Suno, AIVA, Stable Audio, and Mureka.
Shazam or Suno: which one to choose?
Our score is 53/100 for Shazam and 76/100 for Suno. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score