Is there a a viable complete alternative to Apple Music?

[hakr100]

I've been using Apple Music and its iTunes predecessors for years and it is the one app I really dislike. It is the kluge of kluges. I am still looking for an app I can use to import tunes onto my iMac or onto my IOS devices, get access to the libraries, set up playlists, backup the tines and playlists, find and delete dupes, and it just seems like there is too much to remember and too many software changes for me to be comfy with the Apple offerings.

There must be something better, a complete app that works logically and easily. Right? So what is it?

 

[rovostrov]

I have been using Plex and really enjoy it

Music | Plex

www.plex.tv

 

[Apple_Robert]

Take a look at Plum. It may have some features that appeal to you.

‎Plum Music Player

‎Plum is a modern music player app designed for enthusiasts who like to build and manage their own library of music. Since streaming music became popular more and more apps are focusing on introducing new music to listeners while not giving many options to manage their own music library. Plum...

apps.apple.com

 

[ignatius345]

Take a look at Plum. It may have some features that appeal to you.

‎Plum Music Player

‎Plum is a modern music player app designed for enthusiasts who like to build and manage their own library of music. Since streaming music became popular more and more apps are focusing on introducing new music to listeners while not giving many options to manage their own music library. Plum...

apps.apple.com

I think the OP is talking about an app that replaces iTunes on the Mac, for managing their collection of music files.

This looks very cool, but it isn't that.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I think the OP is talking about an app that replaces iTunes on the Mac, for managing their collection of music files. This looks cool, but it isn't that.

My bad. I haven't seen an app like the OP is looking for.

 

[ignatius345]

My bad. I haven't seen an app like the OP is looking for.

Just downloaded Plum for my iPhone, though -- looks pretty cool so far!

 

[Jack Neill]

On Windows I really like MusicBee. No macOS version I know of. EverMusic on iOS is great if you want cloud syncing to a service. On macOS the best I have found is sadly iTunes 12.9.5 with Retroactive and it works much better than the Music app on Catalina and Big Sur on Intel but 12.9.5 doesn't work on M1 Macs. Spotify can also manage local libraries but I haven't tried importing anything into yet. J River looks nice and has a Mac app but it is 60$. Plex can also manage a music library but again I have not tried it for that, but it's fantastic with Movies/Tv Shows.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Just downloaded Plum for my iPhone, though -- looks pretty cool so far!

The developer is a member here. I really like Plum.

 

[hakr100]

Yeah, Plum looks nice but I have no interest in Spotify, et al. I'm looking for what apparently does not exist, a total non-Apple replacement for iTunes/Music that works easily and logically and is available with downloadable or printed directions that cover virtually every aspect of the software and how to use it. The Apple solution is, without question, the worst piece of modern software I have encountered, and I have been playing with computer hardware and software since the first floppy drive IBM PC in the mid 1980s. I use Waltr2 and iMazing, but they have shortcomings.

 

[phrehdd]

Been a long while...but I do recall a JRiver Media Center and I think I read they are ported to OS X. It may be bigger than you want but...

Btw, I used to really enjoy iTunes years ago and for a few years now, I barely bother with it. There is nothing pleasant about that music app.