This section points to places where listening costs nothing and is legal. Free here works in a few ways: a service runs ads to pay for the music, a public library lends out audiobooks, a public archive holds recordings whose copyright has expired, or a rights-holder has simply given the audio away. You will find services that stream and services that let you download files to keep, and this guide says plainly which is which.
Where to Listen to Music Free Online
For music, radio, and podcasts in one place, iHeartRadio and TuneIn are the clearest free options. iHeartRadio presents itself as a free audio service that combines radio, music, and podcasts, and TuneIn brings together live sports, music, news, audiobooks, and podcasts. Both are ad-supported, which means you listen to commercials in exchange for not paying a fee. The exact limits on skipping songs, choosing specific tracks on demand, or how long you can listen are not published in the pages that describe them, so treat these as straightforward streaming services rather than something with a hidden free trial.
These suit someone who wants to open a browser or an app and hear something immediately, without creating an account or entering a card. You will not own anything you hear, and you cannot download tracks for offline listening through these two services. If you want to keep music files, skip to the download section below.
Where to Download Music Free and Legally
Downloading music for free and legally usually means finding recordings where the copyright has expired, or where the rights-holder has explicitly allowed free reuse. The clearest example in this space is the Internet Archive, which hosts a large collection of audio files, including music, that you can download and keep when the item’s rights statement permits it. The Internet Archive does not have one universal rule for every file, so check the specific recording you want; many older or openly licensed recordings are free to download and keep permanently.
Another route is the Library of Congress, which maintains digital collections with a “Free to Use and Reuse” set. These items have no known copyright or have been cleared by the copyright holder for public use. You can download those files and keep them. This is not a music store and there is no single search box for “all free music,” but if you know a specific public-domain piece or an old folk song, this is a legitimate place to find and keep a copy.
Where to Listen to Radio Online Free
For live radio, iHeartRadio and TuneIn are the two names to know. iHeartRadio streams thousands of broadcast radio stations, along with music and podcasts, all for free with ads. TuneIn does the same, and it also carries live sports and news. Both work in a browser or through mobile apps, and neither asks for a card or an account to start listening, though the pages that describe them do not spell out whether a free account is ever required for certain features.
These services suit someone who wants to hear a live station from another city or country, or who wants a curated stream without choosing individual songs. You cannot download anything from these streams, and you cannot keep the audio. If you want to listen live and walk away, this is the simplest option.
Where to Listen to Podcasts Free
Podcasts are almost always free to stream or download directly from the creator’s website or a podcast app, and the two services above also carry them. iHeartRadio includes podcasts in its free tier, and TuneIn does too, so you can use either to find and play episodes without paying. The key difference from music is that most podcasts are released under open licences or with the creator’s permission, so downloading an episode for offline listening is usually allowed, but the specific terms vary by show.
For a broader directory, the Internet Archive also hosts many podcast-style audio files that you can download and keep. This suits someone who wants to listen on a commute without using mobile data, because you can save the file first. There is no single “free podcast” service that has everything, but the ones named here cover the basics without asking for money.
Where to Listen to Audiobooks Free and Legally
For audiobooks, the clearest free and legal source is LibriVox. LibriVox records books that are in the public domain, meaning the original copyright has expired, and volunteers read them aloud. All LibriVox audio is released into the public domain, so you can download the files, keep them forever, and even reuse them in your own projects. This suits classic literature, old novels, poetry, philosophy, not new bestsellers.
For newer books, use your local public library. Many libraries subscribe to OverDrive or Libby, which are lending services for audiobooks and e-books. You borrow a title for a set period, just like a physical book, and then the access expires. This is free with a library card, but it is borrowing, not owning, so you cannot keep the file. The Library of Congress also points to the National Library Service and Project Gutenberg Audio Books as free sources, but those are more specialised and often focus on older works or specific formats.
If you want to keep an audiobook permanently, stick to LibriVox or the Internet Archive’s public-domain audio. If you want a current title without paying, check whether your library offers OverDrive or Libby. Do not expect to find new releases for free and legal download outside of a library loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to listen on iHeartRadio or TuneIn?
The pages that describe these services do not say that an account is required for basic listening. Both present themselves as free, ad-supported services, so you can likely start listening immediately, but the exact account requirements are not published in the information available.
Can I download audiobooks from LibriVox and keep them?
Yes. LibriVox recordings are public domain, which means you can download the audio files and keep them permanently. You can also reuse them for any purpose, because the recordings themselves are released into the public domain.
Is borrowing an audiobook from a library the same as buying one?
No. When you borrow through OverDrive or Libby, you are using a lending service. The file is available for a limited time, and then access expires. You do not own the file, and you cannot keep it after the loan period ends.
Are there any hidden fees on these free services?
No. The services named here are free to use, but they are ad-supported, so you will hear commercials. None of the pages that describe them mention any payment or card requirement for the free tiers, but they also do not document every possible fee or premium upgrade.
Can I find new bestsellers for free and legal audiobooks?
Not for permanent download. New bestsellers are under copyright, so your only free and legal option is to borrow them from a library through OverDrive or Libby. For permanent copies, you are limited to public-domain works from LibriVox or the Internet Archive.
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