21 Best Music Making Apps to Create Songs, Beats & Loops
Making music isn’t about having a fancy studio anymore.
You can do it right on your phone, on your couch, in bed… wherever you feel like it. All you need is the right app and a bit of curiosity to tap around until something clicks.
Some apps here are so simple you can open them and start making something in seconds.
Others let you dig in deeper — add layers, play with loops, record vocals, mix it all together.
You don’t need to know music theory, and you definitely don’t need expensive gear.
These are the ones that actually work right now.
The ones people keep using because they’re fun, easy, and don’t make you feel like you’re doing homework.
Let’s jump in.
1. BandLab
BandLab is one of those apps you download “just to try” and then end up losing hours to because it’s that easy to make something cool.
You can lay down beats, record vocals, mix tracks, and even collaborate with other people — all without paying a cent.
The built-in sounds and loops cover pretty much every style you can think of, from chill lo-fi to full-on rock.
If you want to share your music, BandLab doubles as a little social network where other creators can hear what you’ve made.
It works in your browser too, so you can start an idea on your phone and finish it on your laptop. No pressure, no limits — just open it up and start making noise that turns into music.
Also Read: Best Music Editing Apps to Mix, Cut & Create Like a Pro
2. GarageBand
If you’ve got an iPhone or iPad, you already have access to one of the most powerful free music-making tools out there — GarageBand.
It’s basically a full recording studio in your pocket, with virtual instruments, loops, and pro-quality effects built right in.
You can plug in a guitar, connect a MIDI keyboard, or just use the touchscreen to play drums, piano, bass — even orchestral strings. The “Smart Instruments” make it easy to sound good without spending months learning how to play.
You can layer tracks, tweak the mix, and export your song when it’s ready.
It’s perfect if you want studio-level quality without spending a dime, and it’s so polished that even pro musicians use it to sketch ideas on the go.
3. FL Studio Mobile
FL Studio Mobile is like carrying a mini pro studio in your pocket.
It’s not the cheapest app out there, but you’re paying for serious power. You get multi-track editing, a bunch of synths, drum kits, loops, and effects that can make your music sound polished right from your phone.
It’s perfect if you want more control over your tracks — adjusting every beat, adding automation, and layering sounds until it’s exactly how you want it.
The interface takes a little getting used to, but once you learn it, you can create beats, EDM drops, or even full cinematic tracks without touching a computer.
And if you use the desktop version, you can move your project back and forth without losing a thing.
4. Groovepad
Groovepad is one of those apps that makes you feel like a music producer in seconds.
You just pick a style — hip-hop, EDM, lo-fi, whatever — and start tapping pads to trigger loops and sounds.
Everything’s already synced, so no matter what you hit, it’s going to sound good.
It’s perfect for beginners who want to mess around without worrying about music theory, but it’s also fun for experienced creators who just want quick inspiration.
You can record your sessions, add effects like reverb or delay, and slowly build a track that actually feels like a song.
It’s not about overthinking — it’s about jumping in, layering sounds, and seeing where it takes you. Pure instant gratification in app form.
5. Soundtrap by Spotify
Soundtrap is like Google Docs, but for making music.
You can work on a song from your phone, then hop on your laptop later and keep going — it’s all synced in the cloud. The best part… You can invite friends to join in and add their own parts, even if they’re across the world.
It comes loaded with loops, virtual instruments, and effects, so you can build a track without any extra gear.
You can also plug in a mic or instrument if you want to record live.
Since it’s owned by Spotify, it has some neat extras for podcasters and vocal work too.
It’s perfect if you love the idea of music as a shared, “let’s make something together” kind of process.
6. n-Track Studio
n-Track Studio turns your phone into a legit multi-track recording setup.
You can record as many tracks as you want — vocals, guitars, keyboards, anything — and then mix them like you’re in a real studio.
It supports MIDI instruments, has a bunch of built-in effects, and even lets you connect external gear if you want to go all-in.
The interface feels a bit more “pro software” than some of the other beginner-friendly apps here, but that’s exactly why musicians who want more control love it.
You can fine-tune every detail of your mix, automate volume changes, and master your track so it’s ready to share.
7. Walk Band
Walk Band is like having a bag full of instruments without actually owning any.
You can play piano, guitar, bass, drums, and even some orchestral instruments right on your phone. It’s fun if you just want to mess around, but it also works as a serious tool for recording and layering tracks.
You can connect a MIDI keyboard, record your own voice or instrument, and build full songs piece by piece.
The sounds are surprisingly realistic for a free app, and it even supports MIDI file import so you can work on existing projects.
It’s a solid choice if you want that “one app does it all” feel without having to learn complicated software.
8. Caustic 3
Caustic 3 feels like a playground for people who love messing with synths, samplers, and drum machines.
The whole app is built around these “rack” modules you can load up — each one is a different instrument or effect — and you can stack them together to create your own custom setup.
It’s definitely more hands-on than tap-and-play apps, but that’s what makes it fun if you like experimenting.
You can tweak every knob, automate changes, and build tracks that sound completely unique.
It’s portable, works offline, and gives you a ton of creative freedom without needing a laptop. If you’re into the technical side of music-making, this app will keep you busy for hours.
9. Soundation
Soundation is a cloud-based music studio that works great on both phone and desktop, so you can start an idea anywhere and pick it up later without missing a beat. I
t’s perfect for people who like to collaborate — you can invite friends to join your project in real time, adding their own loops, beats, or vocals while you work on yours.
The app comes loaded with ready-to-use sounds, instruments, and effects, so you can start creating right away without hunting for samples.
It’s also beginner-friendly, with a clean layout that makes it easy to arrange and layer tracks.
If you want a tool that’s flexible, social, and works from anywhere, Soundation is a solid pick.
10. Medly
Medly is like drag-and-drop music making done right.
You don’t have to know how to read music or play an instrument — you just pick sounds, drop them onto a grid, and watch your track come together.
The interface is super clean, so it never feels overwhelming, even if you’re adding multiple layers.
There’s a huge library of instruments and loops, and if you want more, you can grab extra sound packs for specific genres.
It’s great for quick ideas, but you can also polish your songs enough to release them.
Medly makes the whole process feel playful instead of technical, which is why so many people stick with it once they try it.
11. Auxy Studio
Auxy Studio is a clean, no-clutter music maker that’s all about speed and creativity.
You open it, pick your sounds, and start building beats or melodies without getting lost in menus.
The app comes with a solid range of synths, drum kits, and loops, and you can easily tweak them to match your style.
It’s especially good for EDM, hip-hop, and lo-fi producers who want a quick way to capture ideas that actually sound professional.
Everything stays in sync, so you can layer multiple tracks without worrying about timing.
It’s one of those apps that feels simple when you start, but keeps surprising you with how much you can actually do.
12. Roland Zenbeats
Roland Zenbeats gives you that classic Roland sound — the same brand behind legendary drum machines like the TR-808 — right on your phone.
It’s built around loops and layers, so you can quickly put together beats, add melodies, and mix everything without feeling overwhelmed.
You get a bunch of built-in instruments and effects, plus access to premium sound packs if you want to expand.
The layout is beginner-friendly, but there’s still plenty of depth for more advanced producers.
It works across phone, tablet, and desktop, so your songs can follow you anywhere. If you want a mix of old-school vibe and modern tools, Zenbeats nails it.
13. BeatSnap
BeatSnap is the kind of app you open when you just want to start tapping and see what happens.
The interface is basically a grid of colorful pads, each loaded with a sound — drums, bass, synths, effects — all ready to go.
You can switch between kits, record your patterns, and layer them into full tracks without touching a single piece of real gear.
Everything’s already timed perfectly, so it’s impossible to make something that sounds off.
It’s great for quick beat ideas, practicing rhythm, or just zoning out and making loops for fun.
If you’ve never made music before, this is the kind of app that makes you feel like you actually can.
14. BeatMaker 3
BeatMaker 3 is like the Swiss Army knife of mobile music production.
It’s packed with pro-level tools, but still portable enough to use on the couch. You get a full sampler, drum machine, and multi-track recorder all in one, plus deep MIDI support if you want to hook up gear.
The layout is built for touchscreen use, so even with all those features, it doesn’t feel clunky.
You can chop samples, map them to pads, build complex arrangements, and mix everything down without touching a computer.
It’s definitely geared toward producers who like having full control, but if you’re ready to level up from basic beat-making apps, this one delivers in a big way.
15. Groovebox
Groovebox is perfect for those “I’ve got five minutes and a melody stuck in my head” moments.
You open it up, pick a synth or drum machine, and start building loops instantly.
The app gives you ready-made patterns to kick things off, and you can tweak them until they feel like your own. The sounds lean heavily toward electronic, hip-hop, and lo-fi vibes, but you can push it in other directions too.
It’s not overloaded with features, which makes it fast and distraction-free.
Great for quick ideas, but still solid enough to grow a track into something you’d actually share. It’s like a creative spark in app form.
16. Koala Sampler
Koala Sampler is tiny, simple, and ridiculously fun. You can record any sound — your voice, a clap, a random noise from your kitchen — and instantly turn it into something musical.
Once it’s in the app, you can chop it up, rearrange it, and play it on pads like a drum machine.
There are built-in effects to twist your sounds into something completely new, and you can layer loops to build full tracks.
It’s the kind of app that makes you start looking for weird noises to record just so you can sample them.
Perfect for experimental ideas, quick beat-making, or adding unique touches to your music.
17. Jamm Pro
Jamm Pro is for people who love performing music live, not just making it.
It’s built for live looping, remixing, and triggering sounds on the fly, so you can literally “play” your tracks like an instrument.
You can load your own samples, chop them up, and then twist and mash them in real time with effects, filters, and loop controls.
It’s a bit wild compared to traditional music-making apps, but that’s the point — it’s about energy, movement, and reacting to the moment.
DJs, beatmakers, and anyone who likes improvising will have a blast with it. It’s not just about making a track; it’s about performing it.
18. HumOn
HumOn is for anyone who’s ever hummed a tune in the shower and thought, “That could be a song.”
You just hum into your phone, and the app turns your melody into sheet music with instruments playing along. From there, you can choose a style — pop, ballad, R&B, and more — and HumOn will build the arrangement for you.
You can tweak the tempo, key, and instruments until it matches what you hear in your head.
It’s not for hardcore producers, but it’s amazing for capturing ideas before they disappear. You don’t even need to know music theory — if you can hum, you can make music here.
19. Splash
Splash is like having an AI music buddy that’s always ready to jam.
You pick a genre, set the vibe, and the app instantly generates beats and melodies you can build on. You can add vocals, loops, and effects to make it your own, or just let the AI keep throwing you ideas until something clicks.
It’s super beginner-friendly — you don’t have to worry about timing or key, because the app keeps everything in sync.
It’s great for quick song ideas, making backing tracks for videos, or just having fun messing around.
You can even perform live with it, tapping pads to trigger loops in real time.
20. Boomy
Boomy is all about speed. You can literally make a full song in under a minute.
Just pick a style, hit create, and the app’s AI builds a track for you. From there, you can tweak the arrangement, change instruments, and add your own vocals if you want.
It’s not meant to replace a full studio, but it’s perfect for quick demos, background music, or even uploading songs to streaming platforms without much hassle.
The best part… You don’t need any music skills at all — it handles all the technical stuff so you can focus on ideas.
If you’ve got zero patience for complicated tools, Boomy will feel like magic.
21. Voloco
Voloco is like a pocket vocal booth with auto-tune built in.
You can record your voice over a beat, and it’ll instantly pitch-correct and add effects so you sound polished (or wild, if that’s your thing).
It’s loaded with vocal presets — from subtle tuning to full-on T-Pain vibes — plus EQ, reverb, and compression so you don’t have to mix anything yourself.
You can import your own beats or use the ones in the app, then share your track straight to socials or save it for later.
It’s perfect for rappers, singers, or anyone who wants to mess around with vocals without setting up a whole studio.
My Final Take
Making music doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or stuck in a studio.
You can pull out your phone right now and start building something — a beat, a melody, a full song — before the idea slips away.
Some of these apps are perfect for quick “just for fun” sessions, others give you pro-level control, and a few can literally make music for you with AI.
Pick one that feels easy, mess around, and don’t overthink it.
The best tracks usually come from just playing around and following the vibe, not stressing over perfection. You don’t need to be a “musician” to make music you actually love listening to.
So, open an app, start tapping, and see where it takes you.
