Not all music apps for Mac are equal. We list the best music players for Mac that support formats from MP3 to FLAC, both free and paid. Options like Elmedia Player, JustPlay, VOX, 5KPlayer, IINA, VLC, Swinsian, Fidelia, Colibri, Pine Player, and Audirvana are reviewed, highlighting their pros, cons, and pricing. Whether you seek high audio fidelity, playlist creation, or simple interfaces, there’s something for every user. Stay tuned for a detailed tutorial on selecting the perfect music player in our next forum post!
Hey Mac users! 
Not all music apps are born equal. If you’re on the hunt for a dope music player that handles all kinds of audio files, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the best music players for Mac, both free and paid. You can jam to any format, from MP3 to FLAC and AC3. Check out what each player has to offer and find your perfect match. 
We all know about Apple Music on iOS and iTunes on macOS. They’re popular for a reason, but they’re not without their flaws. For example:
‘I have a 2020 M1 Macbook Pro and am running Ventura. I have Apple Music, but when I try to press play, it doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t show it’s playing or anything, it’s as if I didn’t do anything. Apple Music works perfectly on my phone but not my Mac.’ — Daksh432, Apple Support Community
So, if you’re in the same boat, here are some awesome alternatives that could solve your problems:
1. Elmedia Player
If you’re after the best audio player for Mac, Elmedia Player should be on your radar. It supports every music file type you can think of: MP3, M4A, AC3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and more. You can create custom playlists and enjoy high-quality audio playback. It’s got a 10-band audio equalizer for those who love tweaking their sound. Plus, it supports passthrough for hardware decoders like AC3 or DTS for surround sound. The built-in visualizer also adds some cool graphics to your music.
Pros:
Supports tons of formats
Smooth playlist creation
User-friendly interface
Audio equalizer with presets and manual tweaks
Cons:
Advanced features need a PRO upgrade, which isn’t free
Supported Formats: MP3, FLAC, APE, OGG, AC3, M4A, AAC, WMA, WAV, and more
Supported OS: macOS
Price: Free, with PRO upgrade at $19.99
Latest Update: July 20, 2023
2. JustPlay
JustPlay is a lightweight yet powerful music player for Mac. Apart from MP3, it handles WAV and FLAC files like a champ. It has a 10-band audio equalizer and allows you to control the volume independently of your Mac’s system settings. It’s compatible with various external audio devices, making it versatile for different setups.
Pros:
Super lightweight
Full playback control
Also plays videos
Touch Bar support
Cons:
Only available in six languages besides English
Supported Formats: MP4, AVI, MOV, SWF, DAT, MKV, MP3, FLAC, M4V, FLV, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: $4.99
Latest Update: July 28, 2022
3. VOX
VOX is perfect for Hi-Res audio lovers. It supports up to 24bit/192kHz audio and plays FLAC, MP3, CUE, APE, M4A, and more. You can integrate it with iTunes, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music. Plus, you get access to over 30,000 online radio stations and YouTube streaming.
Pros:
- Built-in equalizer with 30 presets
Seamless playback
Native audio engine for great sound quality
Tons of playback control features
Cons:
- Integration with iTunes, SoundCloud, and YouTube Music requires VOX Premium
Free version has ads in online radio stations
Supported Formats: FLAC, DSD, M4A, PCM, APE, MP3
Supported OS: macOS
Price: Free, Premium starts at $4.99/month
Latest Update: August 31, 2023
4. 5KPlayer
Despite the name, 5KPlayer isn’t just for videos. It’s a solid free music player supporting formats like MP3, AAC, OGG, AC3, WMA, FLAC, and ALAC. It even detects and plays Dolby, RStereo, and DTS surround sound.
Pros:
Can download YouTube audio
Supports home theater systems
Free to use- Built-in Radio Player
Cons:
Limited sound settings- Occasional crashes
Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC, AC3, OGG
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: Freeware
Latest Update: October 27, 2021
5. IINA
If you want a modern look, IINA is open-source and designed exclusively for macOS. It integrates well with macOS features like Touch Bar, gestures, and Dark Mode.
Pros:
Free, open-source
Great UI and macOS integration
Picture-in-Picture mode
Dark Mode
Available in over 20 languages
Cons:
May be too minimalistic for advanced users
Supported Formats: M4A, MP3, AAC, M4A, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: Free
Latest Update: July 20, 2023
6. VLC
Don’t dismiss VLC! Even though it’s known as a video player, it’s also an awesome free music player. It handles tons of audio formats without needing extra codecs or plugins.
Pros:
Tons of customization options- Advanced audio settings
- Completely free
- Available on multiple platforms
Cons:
Outdated interface- Occasional glitches after updates
Supported Formats: MP3, AAC, Vorbis, AC3, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, etc.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Price: Free
Latest Update: October 14, 2023
7. Swinsian
Swinsian is a powerful player supporting formats like FLAC, MP3, AAC, ALAC, WAV, Opus, AC3, AIFF, DSF, APE, and WMA. It offers smart playlists, Last.fm scrobbling, global keyboard shortcuts, and advanced tagging.
Pros:
Supports importing iTunes libraries
Album art downloader
Identifies duplicate tracks- Advanced tagging system
Cons:
- Many features require a paid version
Mediocre UI
Last update was over 2 years ago
Supported Formats: FLAC, AAC, MP3, OGG, WMA, ALAC, WAV, AC3, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: Free trial, $24.95 full version
Latest Update: July 21, 2021
8. Fidelia
For high fidelity, Fidelia is your go-to. It’s focused on high-quality audio playback and supports 64-bit audio unit plug-ins. You can also use AirPlay to stream wirelessly or control it via an iOS app.
Pros:
Premium UI
Also available for iOS
Control from mobile devices
Cons:
Only for macOS 10.13 and later
Supported Formats: Apple Lossless, FLAC, MP3, WAV, AAC, Vorbis, CAF
Supported OS: macOS
Price: Free trial, $29.99 full version
Latest Update: September 9, 2022
9. Colibri
Colibri is for audiophiles who want lossless playback with minimal CPU usage. It supports various formats and has a 10-band peaking equalizer. It’s lightweight but packed with features.
Pros:
- Tons of features in a lightweight app
Advanced RAM disk support- Finder integration and many hotkeys
10. Pine Player
First up, we’ve got Pine Player. It’s strictly for audio lovers out there. This app handles practically any format you throw at it: MP3, FLAC, APE, WAV, AIFF, and many more. Talk about versatility, right? It supports sources from 16 to 32-bit and up to 768kHz, making sure your audio is crisp AF.
It’s loaded with features like cross-fade, gapless playback, and text decoding. It even has an Audio Queue for real-time converting to keep your sound quality top-notch, though it does hog some memory. Also, if any sound sources are damaged, Pine Player automatically moves them to a Vault file, so your listening experience stays smooth. It’s not fully integrated with Mac’s media keys, but it’s still a solid pick.
Pros:
- Supports mass storage queues: No more juggling files!
- Automatically isolates damaged sound: Keeps playback smooth.
- Zero ads: This is rare for a free app.
- Control from the center: Playback control function is sweet.
Cons:
- Complex UI: Might be tricky for newbies.
Supported Formats: FLAC, MP3, M4A, APE, AAC, WAV, OGG, AIFF, etc.
Supported OS: macOS
Price: Free
Latest Update: July 10, 2023
11. Audirvana
Next, we’ve got Audirvana Studio, this one’s all about that high-quality sound. It minimizes processor activity so the music playback isn’t interrupted, sticking to the shortest possible software path for audio output. You can fine-tune your system with features like Active Settings Dashboard, Audio Scan, and Device-Specific Settings.
Plus, it’s a goldmine for internet radio and podcasts with over 65,000 stations and 55,000+ podcasts. It also integrates with Tidal, Qobuz, and High Res Audio for streaming. And the cherry on top? A free remote control app for iOS and Android.
Pros:
- Top-notch audio quality: A delight for audiophiles.
- Improved dashboard: All your audio settings, track analysis, and more in one place.
- Long-standing app: Over a decade of reliability.
Cons:
- Subscription-based: You gotta get the Studio monthly/annual subscription. Origin has a one-time purchase option though.
- Pricey: High-end features come at a cost.
Supported Formats: AIFF, WAVE, AAC, MP3, FLAC, Monkey Audio APE, WavPack, Apple Lossless, DSD, etc.
Supported OS: macOS, Windows
Price: Free trial, $69.99
Latest Update: September 24, 2021
Choosing the Right Player 
Here’s how we picked these gems. We looked at format support, compatibility with the latest macOS versions, and constant updates from the developers. Of course, a solid UI/UX and a bunch of helpful features (like playlist support, gapless playback, tagging, and removing duplicates) were also essential.
The Best Players for Mac in 2023 
Check out this comparison table for a quick overview of the top music players:
| Elmedia | JustPlay | VOX | 5KPlayer | IINA | VLC | Swinsian | Fidelia | Colibri | Pine | Audirvana | |
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Wrapping It Up 
Hope you enjoyed these recommendations! From lightweight apps to feature-loaded audio players, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re an audiophile or just a casual listener, there’s definitely a Mac music player out there that’s gonna be your next favorite!
Got any faves or other recommendations? Drop your thoughts below! 