Two and a half months after Apple announced the completion of its Shazam acquisition, the music recognition iOS app is now completely ad-free [Direct Link]. Previously, Shazam would present users with various border advertisements throughout the app, similar to most other ad-supported iOS apps, but as long as you are on version 12.5.1 you will no longer see any ads in Shazam.

shazam ad free
The app still opens on the main "tap to Shazam" screen, where you can discover a song by allowing Shazam to listen to it. To the left of the main screen is the "My Shazam" area, where the app keeps a list of all the songs you have Shazamed recently. To the right of the main screen is Shazam's "Discover" tab with artist, song, and playlist recommendations, user posts, friend Shazams, and more.

Shazam finally going ad-free comes one year after Apple first announced its plans to acquire Shazam back in December 2017. At the time, Apple said, "Apple Music and Shazam are a natural fit," and that the two companies "have exciting plans in store." In September 2018, Apple completed the acquisition and said that the Shazam app would become ad-free soon.

In October 2018, Shazam began informing its users about the Apple acquisition and aligning its data privacy policies with those of Apple. Shazam has been built into Siri since iOS 8 and there are connections with Apple Music in the Shazam app, and Apple is expected to further integrate the music recognition service with its products down the line.

Top Rated Comments

Sovon Halder Avatar
91 months ago
I’m asking, “What does Shazam do that ‘Hey Siri, what’s this song?’ doesn’t do?”

What’s the point of another app? What am I missing?
You are missing these...

* The app is faster. Siri uses Shazam results anyways. With the app you don't have to ask Siri in front of other people which is embarrassing sometimes and in a crowded places, this helps a lot. And also the results are stored in playlist unlike Siri results.
* You can customise settings with the app, playlist and all that directly goes to apple music playlist automatically which is awesome. Play one song while listening for the next all without jumping between apps, unlike Siri.
* The discovery tab is pretty damn useful. Good recommendations there. Some 7-8 cards with good stuff.

[doublepost=1545061473][/doublepost]
What's the point of Shazam Encore now? They still offer it at 2.99
I'd also like to know this.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AnthonyG6 Avatar
91 months ago
I’m asking, “What does Shazam do that ‘Hey Siri, what’s this song?’ doesn’t do?”

What’s the point of another app? What am I missing?
Apart from being more discreet than Siri, the other reason I use Shazam over Siri and it is a key feature for me; is when my iPhone is connected to the car's bluetooth and a song is playing on the radio, asking Siri is not an option because as soon as you invoke Siri, the radio stops playing. In this case only Shazam will do.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Juicy Box Avatar
91 months ago
I’m asking, “What does Shazam do that ‘Hey Siri, what’s this song?’ doesn’t do?”

What’s the point of another app? What am I missing?
I’m not sure if Siri can do this, but I can use the Shazam app to look through my old shazamed songs.

I use the history feature a lot. You can also get lyrics instantly, I use that a lot too.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeatCrazy Avatar
91 months ago
Why does anyone with iOS have any need for Shazam? What’s the point?
Sometimes I don't feel like shouting at Siri to ask her something. A simple tap within the Shazam app will suffice.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
n-evo Avatar
91 months ago
I’m asking, “What does Shazam do that ‘Hey Siri, what’s this song?’ doesn’t do?”

What’s the point of another app? What am I missing?
[LIST=1]
* Because talking to Siri isn't always the best of options when you're standing in a bar or club with loud music on and you want to know the song.
* Some prefer a GUI over Siri. As far as I know there's no way to trigger music recognition in iOS without Siri. As such you need the app.
* Many people downloaded (or bought) Shazam (Encore) years before Siri even existed.
* Not everyone owns an iPhone and as such don't have Siri
* A more visual list without having to dig around the iTunes Store

I'm sure there are some more.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
friednoodles Avatar
91 months ago
They'll use it to encourage more people to sign up to Apple Music.

But as long as its core functionality of recognising songs remains, that's all that matters to me. I'd prefer to eventually see promotion of Apple Music than seeing other random ads.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Apple John Ternus 2019

Will John Ternus Really Be Apple's Next CEO?

Friday December 5, 2025 9:01 am PST by
There is uncertainty about Apple's head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding Tim Cook as CEO, The Information reports. Some former Apple executives apparently hope that a new "dark-horse" candidate will emerge. Ternus is considered to be the most likely candidate to succeed Cook as CEO. The report notes that he is more likely to become CEO than software head chief Craig Federighi, ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....