Crates
One app for all your music collections and streaming
What is Crates? Complete Overview
Crates is a comprehensive music player designed for music enthusiasts who want to unify all their music collections—both local files and online streaming services—into one seamless experience. It supports a wide range of audio formats including mp3, flac, aac, wav, and aiff, and integrates with popular streaming platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud. Crates automatically organizes your library by fetching metadata such as artwork, genres, and release details, and offers features like BPM calculation, key detection, and waveform visualization. The app also allows for mobile syncing, enabling users to access their entire library on the go. With its unique 'Gems' feature, users can discover and share underrated music, fostering a community of music lovers. Crates is ideal for anyone looking to break free from traditional streaming services and take control of their music collection.
Crates Interface & Screenshots
Crates Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can Crates Do? Key Features
Unified Music Library
Crates brings together all your music from various sources—local files, Discogs, iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube playlists—into a single, searchable library. You can rate, tag, and create playlists across all your collections, ensuring everything is organized just the way you like it.
Automatic Metadata Fetching
Crates saves you time by automatically fetching artwork, genres, release details, and artist information from Discogs and other sources. It also calculates BPM, key, and waveforms, providing a visually stunning and customizable experience.
Mobile Syncing
Sync your entire music library to your mobile device with just a few clicks. Choose to download converted versions of your files to save space or stream directly from online sources, all while keeping your playlists and library structure intact.
Gems Community
Discover and share rare or underrated music with the Gems feature. Post your finds with tags and a personal blurb, and earn reputation points when others reveal your Gems. Highly upvoted users gain priority in the Gems feed, creating a vibrant community of music discovery.
Support for Multiple Formats and Services
Crates supports a wide range of audio formats (mp3, flac, aac, wav, aiff) and integrates with streaming services like YouTube, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud, giving you flexibility in how you listen to your music.
Best Crates Use Cases & Applications
Music Enthusiast with Diverse Collections
A user with music scattered across local files, streaming services, and Discogs can use Crates to unify everything into one library, making it easy to search, organize, and enjoy all their music in one place.
Mobile Listener
Someone who wants to access their entire music library on their phone can sync their Crates library to their mobile device, choosing to download files or stream directly, ensuring they always have their music with them.
Music Discoverer
A user looking to find new and underrated music can use the Gems feature to discover tracks posted by others, contribute their own finds, and engage with a community of like-minded music lovers.
How to Use Crates: Step-by-Step Guide
Download and install Crates from the official website or app store.
Import your existing music collections by connecting to local files, Discogs, iTunes, Spotify, or YouTube playlists.
Let Crates automatically fetch metadata like artwork, genres, and release details to organize your library.
Create playlists, rate, and tag your music to personalize your library.
Sync your library to your mobile device for on-the-go listening or stream directly from online sources.
Explore the Gems feature to discover and share new music with the Crates community.
Crates Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is Crates Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
Crates supports mp3, flac, aac, wav, and aiff formats, among others.
Yes, mobile syncing is available for Supporters, allowing you to download or stream your music on the go.
Gems lets you post and discover underrated music. You earn reputation points when others reveal your Gems, and highly upvoted users gain priority in the Gems feed.
Yes, Crates offers a free version with basic features, while the Supporter version unlocks additional functionalities like mobile syncing.
Crates focuses on helping you own and organize your music, rather than renting it through subscriptions. It also ensures more of your money goes directly to artists.