Sometimes you just want to go for a run and listen to great music to relax– without doing the prep work of finding new songs, creating a playlist on your computer and transferring it to your device. Or head out on a road trip sans stacks of mix tapes (and the hours spent burning them).

We’ve made a list of our go-to music apps, all of which let you stream hours of music free of charge. Point of caution: While you can stream for hours for free, save that for when you’re using the computer. Too much music on your phone = huge data bill. Use for phone for shorter bursts of time, like your workout or commute.

Songza: Songza lets you choose music based on the time of day and your mood. Their playlists are created by music experts. For example, as I write this, I’m listening to a “Late Monday Morning” playlist for “Boosting Energy.” I could have chosen “Enjoying the Morning” or “Taking A Sunny Stroll” as well. After interacting (very briefly) with an ad, you can listen commercial free for 24 hours (free, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire).

Swell: Often described as “the Pandora of news radio,” Swell is a streaming service for podcasts and other talk radio. Large controls make it easy to swipe through and find something you want to listen to. The app learns your preferences the more you use it, and finds content that fits your tastes (free, iOS).

Spotify: Through Spotify, you can search for specific songs to listen to and create playlists. You can also search through friends’ or celebrities’ playlists to find new music and get inspired. Pro tip: Download playlists to listen to them offline and save data. Unlimited and Premium accounts available for $4.99/mo and $9.99/mo, respectively (free, iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry).

8tracks: The 8tracks app and website lets you select playlists to listen to in various genres. Their slogan is “8tracks is internet radio created by people, not algorithms.” Anyone can upload playlists of 8 songs or more (free, iOS, Android).

TuneIn Radio: This app lets you listen to a radio station from your phone or computer. You can tune in to your local stations as well as thousands of others from around the world. Catch up on your favorite talk show while you’re out walking, or discover a new station you love from across the country (free, iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry).

Pandora: An oldie but a goodie. Choose an artist or a song you like, and a radio station is created devoted to music in a similar vein. Pro tip: To narrow your genre, create a station based off of an individual song, not the artist’s entire body of work. For $36/year, you can upgrade to a premium account with no advertisements (free, iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry, Kindle Fire).

Written by Liz Wassmann

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