WhoSampled

WhoSampled helps listeners explore connections among songs through samples, covers, and remixes. Its music identification feature can recognize music playing nearby and show related tracks. Sample entries can show when a sample appears, its type, and which part of a track was used. The app also offers music charts, favorites, contextual recommendations, and side-by-side song comparisons. Full-length tracks may be available through YouTube, Spotify with Premium, or Apple Music with a subscription.

WhoSampled says its database contains over 1,280,000 tracks and 398,000 artists, with additions each day; another app listing gives higher totals of over 1,287,000 tracks and 399,000 artists. Its community of over 38,000 contributors builds verified content. Users can scan Spotify and Apple Music libraries for connections, and Spotify users can switch to WhoSampled’s Now Playing feature. A Jump button moves between listed sample timings to compare source and sampled tracks. The free plan includes text search, track identification, library scanning, and an ad-free experience. WhoSampled is available on Android, iOS, and the web.

WhoSampled focuses on tracing relationships among tracks, with identification, library scanning, sample details, and discovery tools. Its free plan covers core search and identification features; some listening options depend on availability or a subscription.

WhoSampled suits listeners curious about musical connections, particularly fans of Hip-Hop, Electronic/Dance, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Reggae, and Classical. Library scanning may be useful to people who use Spotify or Apple Music.

WhoSampled connects music recognition with research into samples, covers and remixes. It suits listeners who want to follow those relationships in tracks they hear or save. Its free plan covers identification and library scanning; playback can depend on a separate music service or subscription.

Overview

Rather than stopping at a song title, WhoSampled gives listeners a route into the musical connections behind a track. Identify music playing nearby or scan a Spotify or Apple Music library, then explore related samples, covers and remixes. The app describes a catalog of over 1,280,000 tracks and 398,000 artists, with daily additions, and says verified content is built by a community of over 38,000 contributors. That scale makes it appealing to curious listeners across genres, though its discovery is centered on musical lineage rather than broad music search.

Key features

Recognition and library scanning

Track ID can identify music around the user and lead into its connections. Spotify and Apple Music scanning applies the same approach to saved libraries, making WhoSampled useful for finding tracks to investigate later. Spotify listeners can also switch to WhoSampled’s Now Playing feature to see a track’s musical connections.

Sample context and listening

Sample entries can show when a sample occurs, its type and the portion of the source track used. On the website, the Jump button moves between listed sample timings, helping listeners compare source and sampled tracks. Side-by-side comparison adds context, while full-length listening is routed through YouTube where available, Spotify with Premium, or Apple Music with a subscription. The detail is valuable for close listening, but playback is not uniformly self-contained.

Charts and discovery

Trending, top-rated and all-time influential charts give users several ways to browse artists and tracks. Favorites and contextual recommendations extend exploration from samples to covers and remixes. These tools reinforce WhoSampled’s strength as a discovery companion for people interested in musical connections, not as a general streaming catalog.

Pricing

WhoSampled uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing and includes text search, Track ID, Spotify and Apple Music library scanning, and an ad-free experience. It is a strong fit for listeners who want to identify tracks and explore relationships without paying for those core tools. The free-plan description does not include a listening quota or subscription; full-length playback may still require YouTube availability, Spotify Premium or an Apple Music subscription.

Platforms

WhoSampled supports Android, iOS and the web, with cross-platform support. That reach makes it practical for both mobile identification and browser-based exploration. Identification history and listening links are supported.

Who it's for

WhoSampled is best for listeners who enjoy tracing musical influence, especially fans of Hip-Hop, Electronic/Dance, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Reggae and Classical music. It is less suited to someone who only wants a quick song name and no follow-up, or who expects every track to play in full within the app without another service.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Track ID and library scanning connect recognition to samples, covers and remixes, giving curious listeners a meaningful next step.
• Pro: Sample timing, type and source-part details support closer comparison than a basic identification result.
• Pro: The free plan includes text search, identification, Spotify and Apple Music scans, and no ads.
• Con: Full-length playback depends on YouTube availability or access to Spotify Premium or Apple Music, so listening can require another service or subscription.
• Con: Its focus on musical relationships makes it a narrower choice for listeners who want recognition alone or broad music discovery.

Alternatives

For a broader set of music-identification choices, see Music Identification Apps. Choose AHA Music instead if you want recognition across Android, iOS, desktop and browser platforms, with BPM and key detection; its Guest plan limits recognition to 5 per day total, is ad-supported, and has no history or playlists. AirScrobble is an iOS alternative with Last.fm integration, Auto Scrobble and Apple Music integration. Annie is a free Android and iOS option for music identification and universal links, with no subscription required. Audile is a free Android choice, though AudD and ACRCloud may require their own API account or token. Earworm is a free TestFlight beta for iPhone and Apple Watch. Google Pixel Now Playing is a free Android alternative. Snag is a free iPhone app. SoundHound is available on Android and iOS, with a free ad-supported plan or SoundHound∞ for a one-time $6.99 fee and an ad-free experience.

Verdict

Choose WhoSampled if you want identification to open a trail through the samples, covers and remixes connected to the music you hear and save. Its free scanning and sample-level context are the clearest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if your priority is identification alone or dependable full-length playback without relying on another service or subscription.