The Best iTunes Alternatives for macOS and Windows in 2026

After an impressive 18-year run, Apple is finally retiring iTunes. The once-revolutionary media management app will be replaced by dedicated Music, TV and Podcasts apps in macOS Catalina, while device backup and syncing duties are handed off to Finder. It‘s the end of an era, but also an opportunity for a fresh start.

As iconic as it was, iTunes had become bloated and clunky in its old age. It handled music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks, device backup and syncing, app management, and more. While there was something to be said for the centralized control it offered, the user experience suffered as features were bolted on year after year.

For many users, iTunes‘ retirement raises some big questions. Where will you manage your media library now? Is it finally time to embrace streaming? How will you back up your iPhone or iPad? As a long-time iTunes user myself, I‘ve been grappling with these same issues. After extensive research and testing, I‘ve found there are plenty of excellent alternatives that can not only replace iTunes, but improve upon it. Let‘s dive in.

Life After iTunes: Apple‘s New Media Apps

For Mac users, the future of media management is in Apple‘s trio of new apps. Each one aims to provide a focused, best-in-class experience for its respective media type. Here‘s what you can expect:

Apple Music

The new Music app is your home for music playback and management. It includes all the core features of iTunes, like library management, playlists, and smart playlists. But it also offers a streamlined interface that puts your music front and center, rather than burying it behind countless other features.

You‘ll still have access to the iTunes Music Store for digital purchases, as well as the Apple Music streaming service if you choose to subscribe. In a nice touch, the Music app also integrates your lyrics and album art more prominently.

Apple TV

As the name suggests, the Apple TV app focuses on movies, TV shows, and video content. This includes any videos you‘ve purchased from iTunes, as well as your personal library of ripped and downloaded movies.

The app offers a clean, minimal interface for browsing and playing your videos. There are also tabs for discovering new content on the iTunes store and accessing your Apple TV+ streaming subscription. Overall it‘s a more pleasant experience for TV and movie lovers than iTunes ever provided.

Apple Podcasts

The dedicated Podcasts app gives podcast discovery and playback the attention it deserves. You can browse the extensive Apple Podcasts library, subscribe to your favorite shows, and manage your episode queue.

The app offers some useful features for podcast aficionados, like variable speed playback, a sleep timer, and automatic downloads of new episodes. While not drastically different from the podcast functionality in iTunes, having a dedicated app makes the experience more intuitive and enjoyable.

Device Management in Finder

With iTunes out of the picture, syncing and backing up iOS devices now happens through Finder. When you connect an iPhone or iPad, it appears as a device in the Finder sidebar, similar to any external drive.

Clicking the device icon brings up an interface very similar to the old iTunes summary page. You can back up and restore the device, as well as sync music, videos, podcasts, photos, and files. It‘s not a groundbreaking change, but it‘s a more logical place for these features than within a music app.

The Streaming Landscape: Apple Music Alternatives

For many users, iTunes was primarily a way to manage a music library and sync it to their devices. But in the age of streaming, maintaining a collection of MP3s feels a bit antiquated. If you‘re ready to embrace on-demand access to a massive music catalog, there are plenty of excellent streaming options.

Here‘s a quick comparison of the top contenders:

All of these services have their strengths. Spotify boasts collaborative playlists and a podcasts, while Tidal offers lossless audio and exclusive content. YouTube Music leverages its namesake‘s vast library of music videos and live performances.

For Apple devotees, Apple Music is a natural fit. It integrates seamlessly with Siri, the Apple Watch, and HomePod speakers, and you may already have months of free service from a new device purchase. But don‘t rule out the competition – you might be surprised at how much you enjoy Spotify‘s music discovery algorithm or YouTube Music‘s location-based playlists.

Ultimately, the best music service for you depends on your priorities. Do you value audio fidelity above all else? Tidal and Amazon Music HD offer lossless streaming for audiophiles. Want human-curated playlists and exclusive artist content? Check out Tidal or Apple Music. Just want the most possible music for your dollar? YouTube Music is a great value. Most services offer free trials, so don‘t be afraid to experiment until you find your groove.

Take Control of Your Media Library with Plex

Streaming services are incredibly convenient, but you sacrifice some level of ownership and control. If you‘ve spent years curating your media collection, you might not be ready to give that up. That‘s where Plex comes in.

Plex is a client-server media application that lets you create your own personal streaming service. You run the Plex Media Server application on the computer or NAS device where your media files are stored. Plex then organizes your media, downloads cover art and metadata, and makes it available for streaming to a wide range of client apps.

With clients available for smartphones, smart TVs, streaming devices, and more, Plex lets you access your entire media library from anywhere. It supports pretty much any audio and video format, and can even handle less common content like personal video and photo libraries. Live TV and DVR functionality are also available with a Plex Pass subscription.

One of Plex‘s biggest strengths is its extensive customization options. You can fine-tune your library‘s organization, enable audio fingerprinting to clean up music metadata, and even share your server with friends and family. There‘s also a robust plug-in ecosystem that lets you expand Plex‘s capabilities with streaming channels, metadata agents, and more.

Of course, Plex isn‘t the only option for self-hosted media. Kodi (formerly XBMC) is a popular open-source alternative that offers many of the same features. Emby and Jellyfin are two newer entrants that prioritize ease of use and streaming device support. But for its combination of flexibility, power, and polish, Plex is hard to beat as an iTunes replacement.

Managing Your iOS Devices Post-iTunes

For many iPhone and iPad owners, iTunes wasn‘t just a media player – it was a crucial tool for device backup, data transfer, and iOS updates. With iTunes gone, you‘ll need to find a new way to manage your iDevices.

Apple‘s official solution is to use Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows) for local backup and sync, with iCloud handling wireless backup and data syncing duties. It‘s a workable approach, especially if you‘re already paying for sufficient iCloud storage. But it lacks some of the advanced functionality power users crave.

That‘s where third-party iOS managers like iMazing and AnyTrans come in. These apps offer a wealth of tools for backing up, restoring, and transferring data to and from your iPhone or iPad. You can perform full device backups, access individual app data, export messages and voicemails, and much more.

I‘ve been particularly impressed with iMazing‘s combination of power and simplicity. It offers a clean, Mac-like interface for browsing your device‘s data, and makes it easy to transfer files via drag-and-drop. You can even use it to manage multiple devices on a family or small business plan.

AnyTrans is a bit more utilitarian in its design, but offers similar functionality. One handy feature is the ability to merge data from multiple iCloud and iTunes backups, which can be a lifesaver when migrating to a new device.

For most users, Apple‘s combination of Finder/iTunes and iCloud is a perfectly adequate device management solution. But if you want total control over your iOS data, it‘s worth investing in a third-party utility. Just make sure to read reviews and verify the app‘s security and privacy practices before entrusting it with your data.

Transitioning from iTunes: Tips and Best Practices

If you‘ve decided to switch from iTunes to a new setup, you‘ll need to migrate your existing media library and data. The good news is that most media management apps and streaming services can import your iTunes library relatively painlessly.

To start, make sure your iTunes library is fully consolidated and organized. If you have media files scattered across multiple folders or drives, consider consolidating them into iTunes‘ centralized Media folder. This will make the import process much smoother.

Most streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music, can import your iTunes playlists and song ratings. Just look for an option to import an existing library during setup. You may need to use a separate app like Soundiiz or Stamp to transfer your playlists between services.

If you‘re switching to a self-hosted media server like Plex, you‘ll need to point it to your iTunes Media folder during the initial setup. Plex will then scan your files and match them to its metadata database. Depending on the size of your library, this process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

As for iOS device management, both iMazing and AnyTrans can import your existing iTunes backups. This lets you access your device‘s data and settings even after ditching iTunes. Just be sure to make a fresh backup before starting the transition process.

Finally, don‘t forget about your iTunes purchases. While you can‘t play DRM-protected iTunes Store content in third-party apps, you can still access it in the new Music and TV apps on macOS. Windows users can continue using iTunes for the foreseeable future.

The Future is Bright

iTunes had an incredible run, but it was time for a change. By breaking out its functionality into dedicated apps and services, Apple is paving the way for a more modern, streamlined media experience.

Whether you fully embrace Apple‘s first-party apps, switch to a streaming service like Spotify, or go the self-hosted route with Plex, there‘s an iTunes alternative that will suit your needs. The transition might take some getting used to, but in the end, you‘ll have a setup that‘s faster, more focused, and more enjoyable to use. So go forth and explore – your media library has never looked brighter.